Legislators Expected To Tackle The Budget Deficit During 2025 Maryland General Assembly

The state is facing at $3 billion shortfall for fiscal year 2026.Delegate Jesse PippyAnnapolis, Md (KM) Legislators are getting down to work in Annapolis now that the 2025 Maryland General Assembly is underway.Frederick County Delegate Jesse Pippy says he and other lawmakers are not necessarily “excited,” but “anxious”: about tackling the issues  facing the state. “So I think anxious because we’re ready to get to work. We got to solve some of these challenges. This is just the beginning. It starts off slow, but it picks up quickly,” he says.Pippy says one of he challenges facing legislators is the state’s projected $3 billion deficit. “The Minority Caucuses—both the Minority House and Senate Caucuses— had a press conference yesterday (Wed) morning where we outlined our priority and what we were not willing to do which was to raise taxes or increase fees,” he says.Pippy is the Minority Whip in the Maryland General Assembly.”We’re hoping to find $3 billion dollars.” Pippy continues, “either in the reduction in increased spending, or to make some of our agencies a bit leaner and meaner, so to speak, so the government can work and live within its means.”Governor Wes Moore is expected to release his fiscal year 2026 budget  on Wednesday, January 15th, 2025.Another issue expected to come before the General Assembly this year is energy. “Our energy policy is completely out of whack,” says Pippy. “We’re closing down energy-producing facilities. We’re having to import more energy which is causing more problems similar to like transmission lines and other things.”Pippy says a number of Marylanders are concerned that they could be facing higher electric rates. “Energy is become a significant point of contention in our state,” he says. “You’re going to have Marylanders all over the place that have a sharp increase in ratepayer fees and costs. And, on top of that, people don’t like these transmission lines crisscrossing through their personal property, through their historic areas, and protected environmental easements.”In his comments, Pippy was referring to the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project, which is 500-kilovolt, 70-mile long electric transmission line which is proposed to go through northern Baltimore County, central Carroll County and southern Frederick County, ending at the Doubs substation in Adamstown. The electricity going through this line is expected to power data centers in northern Virginia.”That project impacts my district significantly,” Pippy says. “We have been on record as opposed to the project, Our delegation is opposed to the project. That’s an active application with the Public Service Commission as we speak. That’s why we’re in the legislative process.”A number of bills are expected to be put forward during this General Assembly Session to address issues connected with Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project.By Kevin McManus