March 8, 2026

Ready Report: Protecting Public Safety, Fighting for Relief on Energy Costs & Car Registration Taxes

The eighth week of the 90-day 2026 Legislative Session in Annapolis has concluded. To watch my weekly video update on crime/public safety, budget and more, click the picture below.

Ready in the Press – Senate/House Republican Energy Relief Plan:

From WBAL Radio: Earlier this week I joined WBAL radio to discuss legislation I’ve introduced aimed at providing monthly energy relief to residents, contrasting with Governor Moore’s plan for a one-time rebate. There are several programs that can be cancelled, or at the least pause that will provide instant monthly releif to struggling ratepayers. To listen to this full interview, click here.

Fighting to Stop “Vagrancy Legalization Bill”:

Radical, anti-public safety and anti-public health legislation has passed the House of Delegates (opposed by 35 Maryland House Republican members including Delegate Tomlinson and Delegate Rose) – HB 432 – would stop counties and towns from outlawing vagrancy and clearing encampments. Some of the worst things we see from cities like NYC and San Francisco are from this kind of policy. The Senate Bill is SB 463 and I’m currently working to keep it held in the Senate but it could be voted anytime. I encourage you to contact your State Senator (if it’s not me) and ask them to vote no. (You can look up at MDElect.net.)

I filmed a short video on this earlier this week – you can see that here: Bad bill alert – HB 432 – legalizes vagrancy statewide in Maryland…

Senate Hearing – Ready Bill on Prescription Drug Costs & Protecting Consumers:

The cost of prescription drugs are a major concern for everyone in our community. A few years ago, Maryland created a Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) to try to set limits on what could be charged for certain specific drugs. I did not support that because history and basic economics tells us artificially set price controls do not work long term. They can hold down costs initially but it then often results in shortages, lack of investment or rationing. Drugs are a little different for a variety of reasons but I voted against establishing this board.

However, the “PDAB” is the law in Maryland and will be coming out with price limits on up to 6 drugs in the next year. The concern that I and many patients and providers have is that when the payment limit is set, insurance companies and Medicaid will simply add in extra utilization restrictions like step therapy, fail first or other tricks or even lower their reimbursement rates for drugs to compensate for the changes – so the consumer will lose access (and the savings on the drugs will benefit the insurance company and state government as opposed to the consumer).

So, earlier this week I presented SB 837, bipartisan legislation Crossfield with Delegate Woorman in the House, a Democrat, and cosponsored by Republican and Democratic Senators to ensure that insurance carriers and other “payers” can’t set up utilization restrictions and barriers to access for drugs that have been given an “Upper Payment Limit” – price restriction – from PDAB. We are working through issues and I am hoping we can make progress and pass this protection this year.

Republicans Seeking to Roll Back Vehicle Registration Fee Hikes

After two consecutive legislative sessions of steep vehicle registration fee increases, Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey and I, along with all 13 members of the Maryland Senate Republican Caucus are pushing legislation to roll back these hikes and provide relief to Maryland drivers. Hershey, the lead sponsor of Senate Bill 896 – Vehicle Law – Registration Fees – Alterations, testified in support of the bill yesterday before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.

Beginning July 1, 2024, vehicle registration fees increased between 60% and 70%, costing many Maryland families between $70 and $162 more per year simply to keep their vehicles legally registered. SB 896 would return registration fees to the levels in place before those increases took effect, effectively undoing the hikes passed in recent legislative sessions.

SB 896 was heard in front of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on Wednesday, and will need to be put to a vote by the committee chair in order for it to pass to the full Senate floor.

Senatorial Scholarships Available

If you are or know a high school senior or college student, please consider applying for a Senatorial Scholarship.  For more information or to request an application, email Emily Van Horn at [email protected] and include your full address.  Scholarships will be accepted up to April 15, 2026.

It is an honor to represent you in the Maryland Senate. As always, feel free to reach out to my office anytime with questions or concerns. Please be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter/X for the most up-to-date information.

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