Neither of the AV/RCV bills in the #MGA made it through crossover day. HB1289, and HB0580. I was hopeful this time would be different because in '26 we had a new Speaker and a new Chair of the elections committee. Unfortunately it seems that like in almost every single year since the MoCo bill was first introduced in (I think) 2018, the legislation will die without a vote.
These reforms are important. First-Past-The-Post is generating extremism in #Maryland counties red and blue. #endFPTP
https://marylandmatters.org/2026/03/17/energy-bill-passes-house/
#Republicans made some good points during the #Maryland #energy debate.
D's blocked "Other Republican amendments aimed to encourage natural gas and small modular #nuclear reactors"...
"One Republican... proposed an amendment that would have eliminated EmPOWER ...argued that only a small fraction of Marylanders actually use the program, and wealthier individuals who own their homes are more likely to take advantage of the appliance rebates."
The House gave overwhelming approval Tuesday night to a broad piece of energy legislation that Democrats believe will lead to a noticeable reduction in peoples' gas and electric bills, starting as soon as this summer.
Interesting story. I think grocery stores are low-margin, so if profits didn't rise much, and the extra revenue was used to expand grocery stores into places that are currently food deserts, then you could see why it might be not so bad. The rich are willing to pay higher prices for groceries, so it'd be a cross-subsidy. The problem is... I'm not sure stores are so competitive this wouldn't just increase profits with no benefits for consumers.
"eliminate minimum #parking requirements for certain transit-oriented developments, according to the release, and promote mixed-use development around key stations, and give the state more authority over the development of land adjacent to #transit."
Better for the #environment , cheaper #rent . A counter-argument was that more apartments would lower property value for home-owners, but #housing should be something you live in, not invest in.
Interesting profile of Sen. Katie Fry-Hester...
"we’re all united in feeling that the federal overreach is horrible, and the impact on #Maryland is really acute. The administration is lawless, and we’re going down the road of fascism and dictatorship.”
Wow, what a quote. We need law makers like her who think seriously about the effects #AI is going to have on #education and the #economy . She's also behind the "no bonuses for #energy executives" bill.
Freedom Bank Kazakhstan, a part of Freedom Holding Corp., a NASDAQ-listed finance and technology group, received the award in the category ‘Growth Driver for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)’.
Cool bill just introduced into the #MGA by @ggwash , legalizes residential in commercial #zoning in the largest counties in #Maryland "Bring Back Mainstreet." Housing over stores.
https://youtu.be/lSI1XnJsRhU?list=PLeM0kxAEV5MmUy1WPYY8NoD3Z6Tex1aRO&t=3812
Also appreciated Sen. Fry-Hester's question to MD Assc. of Counties: "It seems like there's several #Housing bills this year, and you seem opposed to most of them, except for your own... but, I kinda like this one? And I'm just curious... is there anything that would make this, like, better?"
https://www.baltimoresun.com/2026/02/22/housing-bills-concerns-carroll-county/
"Among the 16 are two of Moore’s three affordable housing bills, along with another bill backed by MACO that is something of a middle ground ...All of these bills are still being considered by committees in the state legislature, and it’s not certain whether they will pass..."
Anyone who's interested in getting a mortgage sometime this century (or even just cheaper rent, honestly) should be invested in this story. E-mail your reps!
https://youtu.be/S6ZMdkiF-tA?list=PLOsmSj9g47xW9Hncwvp_f1xeMoko-wOj4&t=6709
Notes from the #MGA hearing on #IRV #AV
-Proponents say IRV would make it easier to establish consensus, IRV doesn't reduce turnout, and it would help black candidates win races, and IRV "can lead to more civil campaigns"
-League of Women Voters: "I've never quite been able to understand why it's not made it out of committee when it's clear that this is something that Montgomery County elected officials want, and that the residents of Montgomery County" want as well!
The #electricity debate in the #MGA has a new twist thanks to our friends the corporate lobbyists. I see two different issues in the article here (paywalled). 1) Should #naturalgas and #nuclear energy (sorry Trump, #coal is dead) be part of the mix, maybe imperiling #Maryland 's #CO2 #emissions targets? 2) Should regulations permit vertical consolidation of transmission and generation?
I'm for 1) and against 2). Advocates should recognize #Power $$ hits the poor hard.
BGE and its parent company, Exelon, have emphasized their interest in building climate-friendly solar and battery projects in Maryland. But a bill backed by the utility would also lay a pathway for building fossil fuel plants, including natural gas.
Michael McKee
Miniphernalia.co.uk 🏳️🌈🇺🇦