Chamber Chat: Highs & Lows of 2026 Maryland General Assembly

SALISBURY, Md. – In this week’s Chamber Chat, WMDT’s John Trout and Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce President Bill Chambers discuss the highlights and lowlights of the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session.

Bill says some of this year’s wins included no new taxes or fees, something businesses watch every fiscal year, and a constitutionally-mandated balanced budget. Additionally, Bill was pleased to see Maryland’s redistricting measures fail to pass.

“There was a big push to redistrict, that did not happen,” Bill says. “That took a lot of political pressure off the table, and that was one that I thought we would see pass through.”

However, Bill argues that there were also some disappointments. In part, political fallout is plaguing the chambers after the redistricting measure failed, considering how hard Governor Wes Moore was pushing for the legislation. Additionally, business are concerned about the possibility of a large future state budget deficits.

Yet, the most significant loss is the $127 million cut to the Developmental Disabilities Agency. That cut is expected to impact resources available to individuals on the Shore, and statewide, who these organizations serve.

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