 Dear Friends & Neighbors:
The chaos and damage that Trump & Musk are inflicting on Maryland's residents and economy is coming fast & furious.
Below you can read about how Maryland is fighting back.
The state legislative session just ended, and we passed a number of bills to defend our residents, stand up for our values, and put Maryland on a path to greater self-reliance. Read key legislative summaries & news clips below.
We did our best to minimize harm to our state, but Trump has already cost Maryland a year's worth of jobs losses in just three months -- and the damage to our economy is ongoing. Meanwhile, the White House is ignoring orders to turn over hundreds of millions owed to our state for schools and environmental programs. This is all currently winding through court challenges.
Thanks for being engaged as we defend Maryland!
 Majority Leader David Moon
david@davidmoon.us
P.S. My office has college & grad school scholarships available for District 20 residents attending school in Maryland. Apply online by May 31, 2025 at https://tinyurl.com/2025moon.
P.P.S. Gov. Moore launched a site to connect workers to jobs & benefits: https://response.maryland.gov/federalpublicservants/
Maryland Responds to Trump & Musk
Maryland officials are collaborating at all levels to protect residents & fight the illegal gutting of our government:
Maryland Approves Federal Worker Emergency Loans - To assist our federal workers in withstanding the assault from Trump & Musk, we voted to authorize emergency loan assistance. I was proud to defend the bill (HB1424) from partisan attacks and explain why it's needed to help Marylanders survive the damage being inflicted on every corner of our state: "It's not about deficit reduction. They're adding trillions to the federal deficit to give rich people a tax cut -- even while they're culling the federal workforce."'
Maryland Takes Action to Protect Health Care Access - This year we enacted numerous strategies to protect against Trump rolling back health care. While defending these efforts, I highlighted the longterm damage Trump is causing to development of lifesaving medicine: "We live in Maryland. This is the headquarters of the Food & Drug Administration. It's the headquarters of NIH. All of these federal institutions -- the very ones that bring you those lifesaving drugs and that foster the research & development on those drugs --are headquartered in this state. I read members of the minority party claiming these layoffs are a blessing...."
Maryland Sues Trump Administration to Protect Workers & Collect Funds Owed - During the first Trump presidency, we authorized Maryland's Attorney General to sue the federal government. But with the the flood of illegal federal actions this year, HB1424 increased resources to protect workers, block illegal executive orders, and pursue funding owed to Maryland.
Maryland Adds Millions to Fund Unemployment Insurance - Each week Trump is in office, hundreds of laid off Marylanders join our state's unemployment rolls. In anticipation of ongoing government & related private sector layoffs, Gov. Moore & the General Assembly added $9 million to provide impacted workers temporary cash assistance through Maryland's unemployment insurance fund.
Maryland Reins in ICE Deportation Activities - After Trump's first-term policy of intentionally separating children from parents, Maryland banned counties from running for-profit ICE jails. This year we added additional reforms through HB1222, including policies sponsored by my teammates Sen. Will Smith & Delegates Jheanelle Wilkins & Lorig Charkoudian:
Failure to End Maryland Police Deportation Contracts - This year the House of Delegates voted to stop our local law enforcement from becoming ICE deportation agents, after ICE announced an explicit policy of deporting non-criminals. We believe ICE's new rule makes residents afraid to call police for help. As a result, the Maryland House voted to replace these county contracts (called "287g" agreements) with a statewide policy focusing all counties on violent & dangerous criminals. Unfortunately, the Senate did not approve this reform:
BALTIMORE SUN: "House Majority Leader David Moon, a Montgomery County Democrat, said he thinks his chamber 'struck a balance' between the desires of counties with and without 287(g) agreements....'The Trump administration, as told to us by Maryland's field director for ICE, now has an explicit policy of deporting people that have no criminal record,' he said. 'They’ve told us that, if you happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, they will pick you up and ship you off for deportation — and that now includes Guantanamo Bay and some of the worst prisons in El Salvador that are meant for murderers and rapists, and they do not care. It was time for us to seize the issue and try and strike a compromise ... that we feel balances public safety concerns.'"
Fighting Trump's Illegal Withholding of Funds - Trump administration officials are plainly attempting a radical and unconstitutional expansion of White House powers, including illegally withholding federal funds that have already been appropriated by Congress. As a result, I introduced novel legislation to generate options & highlight constitutional questions that emerge when the federal government is a deadbeat debtor. These included bills to put liens on federal property (HB1546) or withhold funds Maryland owes to the federal government (HB1545):
MARYLAND MATTERS: "Moon said that both measures are standard fare for debt collectors – and familiar to Trump and Musk, both of whom he said 'have been subject to liens on their own company’s properties' as a result of business disputes. Last March, New York Attorney General Letitia James placed liens on Trump properties during his civil fraud case in the state. Musk’s SpaceX and associated contractors were hit with scores of liens last year, as well, by multiple construction companies in Texas."
Defending Diversity as a Maryland Value - With Trump & Musk attacking the benefits of mutual respect and a diverse society, Maryland passed legislation to codify dignity & opportunity for all residents, including:
Helping Displaced Workers Find Jobs & Benefits - Maryland officials are highlighting ways to connect impacted workers with jobs and government benefits, including:
Maintaining Access to Reproductive Health Services - Given the Trump administration's ongoing assault on abortion, we passed HB930 to endow a public health abortion grant program with $25 million in funding. These are unspent abortion coverage funds that can't be used for other purposes.
My Bills That Passed This Year
Updating Penalties for Illegal Guns & Drugs (HB413) - After years of trying, I finally passed a bill to update Maryland's gun and drug crimes to reflect current conditions. In a world after marijuana legalization, HB413 repeals lengthy mandatory minimum prison sentences for cannabis offenses. But with a surge in illegal guns in Maryland, the bill also makes it a felony to procure untreaceable guns and skip our state's background checks. I introduced this bill with Sen. Will Smith & Del. Luke Clippinger.
Lowering Cost of Building New Child Care Facilities (HB1230) -This legislation lowers the cost of building new child care spaces in Montgomery County by waiving up to $80,000 of their water & sewer connection fees.
Improving Pedestrian Safety at School Bus Stops (HB1227) -This bill moves Montgomery County public school bus stops away from locations where large numbers of drivers fail to stop for kids riding the bus.
Closing Murder & Rape Investigations with DNA (HB301) - With Maryland police departments now successfully solving cold cases using familial DNA searches, this bill clarifies that the technology can also be used to help identify suspects in active murder & rape cases.
Protecting Workers from Retaliation (HB302) - This bill protects adult & child welfare investigators from unfounded retaliation while working.
The District 20 Team Brings Home Capital Funding
The District 20 Team (me, Sen. Will Smith & Delegates Jheanelle Wilkins & Lorig Charkoudian) was proud to bring home millions in funding for local projects this year including:
Budget Updates & Other Notable Bills That Passed
Below I've flagged additional key legislation we passed this year, but you can read the full digest summarizing our bills online:
Maryland Closes Budget Deficit While Leaving Cushion for Future Challenges: We started the legislative session needing to close a $3 billion deficit, but within weeks Trump's layoffs started adding hundreds of millions of dollars to Maryland's deficit:
NBC4: "Maryland lawmakers ended the legislative session Monday night, approving a $67 billion budget that includes $1.6 billion in tax and fee increases, as well as cuts to erase a structural deficit. State legislators faced a $3.3 billion deficit and hundreds of millions in cuts from the Trump administration. The approved budget includes a 3% IT services tax and increases in marijuana and online sports betting taxes. 'We did, in fact, leave here with that deficit closed and a cash cushion to be able to weather the ongoing storm from what [President Donald] Trump and [Elon] Musk are doing to Maryland's economy, Democratic House Majority Leader David Moon said.'"
"The state's wealthier residents also will pay more. Two new tax brackets will apply to those who make $500,000 per year and $1 million or more — a so-called millionaires tax. Gov. Wes Moore says 94% of Marylanders will either see a cut in their income taxes or they'll stay the same. But lawmakers also provided for local jurisdictions to impose a 0.1% 'piggyback' tax on income. 'There are sacrifices that we are asking some Marylanders to make, but again, it's for the benefit of the overall state economy,' Moon said."
Addressing Skyrocketing Energy Prices - After months of debate, Maryland lawmakers passed legislation attempting to balance competing perspectives about energy production. The package of bills provide a rebate on future utility bills, end subsidies for trash incineration, facilitate more solar and clean energy production, and seek to generate more energy within Maryland in future years:
MARYLAND MATTERS: "The legislation, which will spur in-state power generation, came as a response to escalating electric bills for Maryland consumers.... Together, the bills would create uniform siting standards for solar arrays, replacing a patchwork of local policies, and set up a new state office focused on energy planning. They would also establish expedited procedures for new power facilities in Maryland, potentially including nuclear and natural gas, as well as battery energy storage. In an effort to reduce costs for power customers, the bills would also limit certain utility spending and ratemaking practices, and hand out an electric bill rebate averaging $80 per household...."
"Del. Lorig Charkoudian took to the microphone to list off provisions in the bill she expects to save power customers money. Under the bill, Maryland’s utility regulator wouldn’t be able to approve multiyear rate plans, which can lock in successive rate increases over a period of several years, unless there is a benefit to customers. The bill also wouldn’t allow utilities to use a 'reconciliation' process to recoup additional spending through rates. The bill also places new limits on using ratepayer dollars to replace gas pipelines, requiring utilities to show a safety need. And it restricts other spending of ratepayer dollars, Charkoudian said, including on trade association memberships. 'These things, over the next years and decades, will save hundreds of millions of dollars for our ratepayers, and we should be proud to vote green for that,' Charkoudian said.'Oh, and as a bonus, ratepayers aren’t going to be paying for private jets for Exelon.'"
HB 604: Stopping Financial Exploitation of Vulnerable and Senior Adults (Sponsor: Attorney General) - HB 604 protects vulnerable Marylanders and seniors from financial exploitation by caregivers, family, or household members.
HB 504: Ensuring Excellence in Maryland Public Schools (Sponsor: Admin) - HB 504 retains essential funding for community schools, for students from low-income families, for multilingual leaner services, and for teacher collaborative time. Additionally, with targeted investments in teacher recruitment, retention, and professional development, along with strategic enhancements to community school programs, HB 504 will continue our progress to build a resilient and inclusive education system.
HB 428: Protecting Homes from Medical Debt (Sponsor: Del. Embry) - HB 428 will protect people's primary residence from the placement of a lien for collection of medical debt, ensuring that no one will lose their home because of medical costs in Maryland.
HB 767: Requiring Advance Notice of Eviction Dates (Sponsor: Del. Terrasa) - HB 767 adopts a more humane eviction process by requiring tenants be given additional notice of their eviction date and specific notice to safeguard their possessions. The bill requires landlords to send a notice of the scheduled eviction date at least 6 days in advance, giving tenants a better opportunity to “pay and stay” or plan to move.
HB1020: Shielding Medical Debt from Credit Reports (Sponsor: Del. Palakovich Carr) - HB 1020 removes medical debt from Marylanders' credit reports. Many Marylanders incur medical debt due to emergencies or because they are underinsured, and studies have shown that this debt is not an accurate predictor of a person's creditworthiness. By passing this bill, Maryland joins 10 other states in prohibiting the inclusion of medical debt in credit reports, which will lift Marylanders' credit scores and make it easier to get approved for a mortgage, a loan, or other forms of credit.
HB785: Family Child Care Zoning Reform (Sponsor: Del. Feldmark) - HB 785 will allow licensed family childcare homes across Maryland without unnecessary barriers from local zoning or common ownership communities. This will increase access to childcare, let more parents return to the workforce, and empower child care providers to own and run their own small businesses.
HB 389: Providing Childcare Property Tax Credits (Sponsor: Palakovich Carr) - HB 389 expands property tax credits to support Maryland's childcare industry and make childcare more affordable. Maryland has seen a steep decline in the number of childcare providers over the last several years, and this bill will provide counties with enhanced tools to incentivize growth and keep childcare providers' doors open. The bill expands two local option property tax credits that local governments can give to childcare providers and to businesses that offer childcare to their employees.
HB 1049: Funding Behavioral Health Crisis Response (Sponsor: Del. Feldmark) HB 1049 funds critical behavioral healthcare programs through Fiscal Year 2029. These programs include mobile crisis vans, crisis call centers, and walk-in crisis centers for adults and youth, which are vital to addressing mental health crises before they escalate into emergency room visits or law enforcement encounters.
HB 268: Reforming Hospital Debt Collection (Sponsor: Del. Charkoudian) - HB 268 will alleviate the worst aspects of financially devastating hospital debt held by low-and moderate-income patients. The bill creates a standard amount of financial assistance that hospitals must offer to those patients and protects patients from predatory lawsuits and deceptive practices. '
HB 601: Simplifying Small Business Funds (Sponsor: Del. Phillips) - HB 601 empowers Maryland’s Small Business Guaranty Fund by making it easier for small businesses to access the capital they need to grow.
HB 799: Investing in College Tech Entrepreneurship (Sponsor: Del. Vogel) - HB 799 invests in technology entrepreneurship programs at colleges and universities that have historically been overlooked for such funding. It will also provide an opportunity for expansion with other eligible institutions, such as community colleges, to enter into partnerships with the Maryland Technology Development Corporation.
Maryland News Clips
MASS LAYOFFS IN MARYLAND (Baltimore Banner): "It’s only Day 35 of the Trump administration, said Del. David Moon, and the Trump administration has already 'inflicted mass layoffs on thousands of Marylanders — both in the private sector and government.' The Montgomery County Democrat said the state needs to 'brace for impact, litigate for the rule of law and protect our economy.' 'The ‘wait and see’ period is over."
DEFENDING SCIENCE & LOWERING DRUG COSTS (Maryland Matters): "HB424 would give the board the power to rein in the cost of drugs.... GOP lawmakers offered a string of unsuccessful amendments they said were aimed at potential unintended consequences of the bill, such as limiting access to prescription drugs.... By the time Majority Leader David Moon stood to explain his vote, he had heard enough of what he called the 'Bizarro World floor debate' of the Republicans. 'The minority party is claiming to worry about research and development into lifesaving medications. They claim to care about access to health care. This bill is not your problem if those are concerns,' said Moon, who turned the debate into an argument over the rapid-fire cuts to federal agencies by President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk, who is in charge of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency. Moon referenced recent layoffs at federal regulatory agencies such as National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration, which are housed in Maryland...."
MARYLAND NEEDS TO BECOME MORE SELF-RELIANT (WAMU): "Moon shared his concern about the impact of a second Trump administration could have on the state’s economy. With cuts to the federal government on the table, there will likely be less federal funding flowing to states for transit, climate change goals, and education. In addition, Maryland is home to around 160,000 federal employees whose jobs could be at risk. Moon said the state and localities need to prepare. 'Maryland and Montgomery County are going to have to try to be a lot more self-reliant in the coming years and do everything we can to broaden and expand our local tax base so that whatever happens at the federal level, we are going to be economically competitive in growing our economy,' he said."
ELON MUSK THREATENS FEDERAL WORKERS (Maryland Matters): "Musk announced in a social media post Saturday that federal workers would be getting an email calling on them to send a message to the Office of Personnel Management detailing five things they accomplished in the prior week. Musk’s post said that failure to respond would be 'taken as a resignation,' though that threat was absent from the OPM email that was eventually sent to employees.... Del. David Moon said the confusion and apparent contradictions from within the Trump administration are proof of a lack of a plan other than to 'cull the workforce.' Moon said legislators are looking into ways to mitigate the damage of any job cuts to Maryland, where more than 160,000 people are federal employees."
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By Authority: Friends of David Moon.
Chair: Marlana Valdez. Treasurer: Nathaniel Giddings.
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