🗞️ Thursday Update: Maryland Politics Roundup
Week of June 27 – July 2, 2025
As the fiscal year turned over, Maryland politics delivered a week of legal shifts, electoral moves, and Supreme Court drama. Here’s your curated rundown of what mattered most:
⚖️ Supreme Court Shake-Up
- Montgomery County Parents Win Opt-Out Rights: In a landmark 6–3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Maryland parents can opt their children out of public school lessons using LGBTQ+ storybooks if they cite religious objections. Justice Alito wrote that the curriculum “substantially interferes with the religious development of their children.” Justice Sotomayor dissented, warning of “chaos” for public schools.
🗳️ Election Moves & Campaign Buzz
- Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher (D) announced his reelection bid for 2026, backed by Gov. Wes Moore and other Democratic heavyweights.
- Montgomery County Executive Race heats up:
- Andrew Friedson (D) launched his campaign with endorsements from four state senators.
- Will Jawando (D) and Evan Glass (D) are also in the mix.
- Marc Elrich (D) is term-limited and backing Jawando.
- Tazeen Ahmad, former president of the Montgomery County Women’s Democratic Club, entered the race for Delegate in District 16, citing concerns over federal instability.
🧾 Laws That Took Effect July 1
- Tech & Wealth Taxes: A 3% tax now applies to IT services like cloud storage. New brackets hit high earners: 6.25% for $500K+, 6.5% for $1M+ incomes43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054.
- Cannabis Regulation: Products with more than 0.5mg THC per serving or 2.5mg per package are banned unless licensed43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054.
- Clean Energy & Climate:
- Transportation and Climate Alignment Act: MDOT must assess emissions from highway projects.
- Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act: Boosts watershed restoration and aquaculture modernization43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054.
- Renewable Energy Certainty Act: Expands solar incentives and forestry education.
- Tenant Protections: Maryland now requires a Tenants’ Bill of Rights in every lease.
- Education & Workforce:
- Teacher Retention Programs mandated statewide.
- Office of Disability Employment Advancement created.
- Child Support Arrearage to Work Pilot connects unemployed parents with jobs.
- Digital & Consumer Protections:
- AI-generated “revenge porn” now covered under civil law
- Virtual currency kiosks must register with the state.
- GED exams now offered in Spanish statewide.
🧃 Symbolic & Quirky
- Orange Crush Cocktail officially named Maryland’s state drink. Delaware had claimed it first, but Maryland struck back with legislation.
- Chromite declared the new state mineral.
