The following article was submitted by Sixth District Delegate Bob Long as he shares his thoughts about the 2026 Legislative Session
Fiscal responsibility and voter integrity were among my primary objectives this session. I know these issues are on the minds of many in our District, particularly the need to ensure the state manages its budget wisely. Maryland never had a taxing problem.
It always had a spending problem. Now is the time that we must stop out-of-control spending. My decision to vote against the Budget and the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BRFA) comes from a commitment to fiscal responsibility.
Too often, we see public funds mismanaged. I want government that is fully accountable to hardworking Marylanders.
This year the budget was approved for $70.8 billion, but still faces a structural deficit of approximately $1.5 billion. The budget has increased steadily over the past several years, but the Democrats will say that they didn’t raise taxes. Instead, they relied on a combination of targeted reductions, fund transfers and revenue adjustments to achieve balance, while leaving underlying structural challenges largely unresolved.
While the Maryland General Assembly typically is more conservative during an election year, we cannot forget the wave of tax and fee increases passed last session. From hiking vehicle registration fees to attempting a “Sugar Tax” on sodas, a move successfully blocked by Republicans, the pattern is clear.
The Democratic Majority remains focused on shifting the burden to its residents rather than offering tax relief Marylanders need.
While Marylanders face rising costs, the Republican Party has proposed clear solutions for relief. We offered an amendment to the BRFA that would have suspended the state’s 46 cent-per-gallon gas tax for 30 days.
This move was rejected by the Majority Party despite gas prices climbing to $4 a gallon. Furthermore, our legislation to roll back the 2024 vehicle registration fee hikes never made it out of committee.
At $120 to $191 annually, Maryland’s registration fee is higher than neighboring states, yet the Democratic Majority continues to block these essential cost saving measures.
I believe that it should be easy to vote, but hard to cheat. That is why I have fought for years for voter identification and absentee ballot verification.
Unfortunately, The Majority Party is moving in the opposite direction. On Sine Die, they pushed through SB255– Voting Rights Act of 2026, an emergency bill that allows the Attorney General or individuals to sue the local governments over election outcomes.
Not only could this bill increase state expenses for any monetary awards under this bill, but also it seems they want to remove any opposition to Majority Party views.
This is a terrible bill that Republicans fought tooth and nail, but in the end, we were outnumbered.
We saw a direct attack on fair representation with HB488- Election Districts – General Assembly and Representatives in Congress, a gerrymandering attempt supported by Governor Moore to eliminate Maryland’s only Republican held congressional seat. While Republicans successfully fought to kill that bill, I will continue to fight for transparent elections.
This Legislative Session was disappointing since issues facing our State remain unaddressed. With the upcoming elections, I encourage voters to research the Majority Party’s voting records and consider whether it really aligns with what is best for our State.