January was a busy month with nearly 2,000 bills introduced in the Maryland General Assembly. AFT Maryland has done its best to keep up with them and alert our affiliate unions on pending legislation. AFT Maryland and affiliates have taken positions on 30 bills. Below are updates on several of our priorities.
MARYLAND STATE BUDGET (HB 350 / SB 319)
The proposed 2026 State Budget reduces state contributions to teacher and community college faculty retirement funds, shifting financial stress to local governments. AFT Maryland opposes these cuts and is lobbying for their rejection. The budget also delays key provisions of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, affecting teacher collaboration time and community school expansion, disproportionately impacting low-income students. If enacted, city schools could lose nearly $300 million by 2030. AFT Maryland argues that the fiscal deficit is not caused by the Blueprint and that cutting education programs now is unnecessary and urge legislators to prioritize high-quality education over budgetary pauses.
THE FAIR SHARE FOR MARYLAND ACT
The Fair Share for Maryland Act is legislation that works for a more equitable tax system in Maryland to ensure adequate funding for public schools, higher education, and a strong state workforce. The current system disproportionately burdens working families and small businesses while allowing wealthy corporations and high-income individuals to exploit loopholes.
Closes Corporate Tax Loopholes:
- Adopts combined reporting to prevent corporations from avoiding state taxes.
- Closes the LLC loophole to impose a corporate tax on large pass-through businesses.
- Restores the operating loss cap to prevent corporations from using losses to avoid taxes.
Fixes the Upside-Down Tax System:
- Raises income taxes on millionaires and those who make over $250,000.
- Implements a 1% surtax on investment income to align tax rates on wealth and work.
- Reinstates a lower exemption for the estate tax to ensure wealthy estates contribute fairly.
Expands Tax Credits for Working Families:
- Expands the Child Tax Credit of $750 per child under 5 and $500 for older children.
- Broadens eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit to support low-income workers.
The plan aims to ensure that Maryland’s tax system is fair, sustainable, and capable of funding essential services for all residents. AFT Maryland is working with the Fair Share Coalition to pass this needed legislation for increases in revenues to offset the budget cuts to education.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS FOR UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND FACULTY
HB 661/SB 750 grants collective bargaining rights to the faculty members at Maryland’s public universities, aligning them with most other state public employees. Maryland would join 25 states and D.C. that already provide these rights, including neighboring Delaware and Pennsylvania. Many peer institutions already have collective bargaining, reinforces the need for Maryland to extend these rights to enhance university accountability and education quality. AFT Maryland continues to work with the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) to pass this needed legislation.
ADD 911 SPECIALISTS TO THE HOMETOWN HEROES ACT (HB 590 / SB 759)
Maryland set a national precedent by reclassifying 911 Specialists as “first responders, a bill introduced by AFT Maryland. Now, they should be included in the Hometown Heroes Act.911 Specialists play a critical role in emergency response by providing life-saving instructions, coordinating with field responders, and managing multiple communication systems under high-stress conditions. They also endure significant emotional strain from handling crises. A shortage of 911 Specialists threatens emergency response capabilities, largely due to insufficient resources, benefits, and incentives. Including them in the Hometown Heroes Act would help recruit and retain these essential personnel.
AFT Maryland affiliate unions will testify in the hearing for this important legislation.
Article by AFT Maryland staff
2025-02-03