Medicaid
Provider spending, utilization patterns, and anomaly detection for Maryland.
SNAP / HR1 Compliance
Updated Feb 22, 2026State vs National PER
Projected Annual State Cost Share (effective FY2028)
Based on FY2024 SNAP Payment Error Rates. Cost sharing enacted under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-94, signed July 4, 2025), effective October 2027.
Housing Affordability
Updated Mar 30, 2026Broadband Access
Updated Mar 30, 2026Subscription Types
Drinking Water Quality
Updated Mar 30, 2026Violation Rate vs National Avg (3.6%)
Quarterly Grant Spending (FY2021-FY2025)
Top Agencies
Top Programs (CFDA)
Budget & Fiscal Health
FY2022Updated Mar 30, 2026Credit Ratings (GO Bonds)
Workforce & Employment
Updated Mar 30, 2026Fastest Growing Sectors
Shrinking Sectors
Employment data from Census ACS 1-year estimates (BLS LAUS unavailable). Trend data not available.
State of the State: 2025 vs 2026
Governor Wes Moore -- comparing priorities year over year
Maryland 2025 vs. 2026: Governor Wes Moore's State of the State Analysis
Governor Moore's 2025 address was fundamentally organized around confronting Maryland's $3 billion structural budget deficit while simultaneously bracing for uncertainty from the new Trump administration. The speech laid out a three-pillar framework: investing in industries of the future, reforming the tax system, and investing in people. It featured detailed tax reform proposals — closing corporate loopholes, doubling the Standard Deduction, expanding the Child Tax Credit, adding a quarter-point surcharge on top earners — and promised that two-thirds of Marylanders would receive a tax cut. By 2026, the fiscal crisis framing has largely receded; Moore instead emphasizes delivering a balanced budget with a General Fund smaller than the prior year and no new taxes or fees, positioning fiscal discipline as an accomplished fact rather than an urgent challenge.
The most dramatic shift is the escalation of anti-Washington rhetoric and concrete defensive actions. In 2025, Moore spoke cautiously about hoping to work with the federal administration while warning of potential harm. By 2026, the damage is quantified and visceral: ~25,000 Maryland federal workers fired (the most of any state), up to 180,000 Marylanders threatened with loss of health care, and 680,000 at risk of losing food assistance. Moore's response has moved from anticipation to action — $40 million to fill the SNAP funding gap, $14 billion for Medicaid, $12 million for flood recovery in Allegany County after FEMA denial, legislation to decouple state vaccine authority from the federal government, and new protections for immigrant communities including the launch of Citizenship Maryland to help 150,000 eligible residents obtain citizenship.
Economic development claims have matured significantly. The 2025 speech outlined aspirational goals around quantum, AI, clean energy, and biotech, and announced the Tradepoint Atlantic port expansion. By 2026, Moore cites $10 billion in attracted private investment, names specific deals — AstraZeneca's $2 billion commitment creating 2,600 jobs, Microsoft's $1 billion Capital of Quantum Initiative, South Korea's largest biotech company building its first U.S. facility in Maryland, and the Sphere entertainment venue at National Harbor generating $1 billion annually. The 2026 speech also introduces a comprehensive AI strategy with three pillars (worker training, public service delivery, economic growth), including a $4 million workforce training investment and AI-powered tools for navigating government services.
The 2026 address introduces several entirely new policy areas. Energy affordability emerges as a major theme with $100 million in additional energy rebates on top of $200 million provided the prior year, calls for a PJM energy price cap, requirements that data centers cover their own power costs and hire locally, and advocacy for an all-of-the-above energy portfolio including natural gas and nuclear. Immigration protection receives sustained attention for the first time, including the Citizenship Maryland initiative and legislation to hold federal agents accountable. The Maryland 250 Commission and historical narrative framing are entirely new. Meanwhile, several 2025 priorities — the detailed tax reform package, the men and boys initiative, the Blueprint for Maryland's Future education law, cannabis pardon expansion and expungement legislation, and the teacher recruitment national campaign — either disappear or receive dramatically less attention in 2026.
New Priorities in 2026
- +Energy affordability as a central policy focus, including $100 million in new energy rebates, calls for PJM to cap energy prices for two years, and requirements that data centers hire locally and cover their own power costs
- +Comprehensive AI strategy with $4 million in workforce training, AI-powered tools for navigating government benefits (SNAP, Medicaid, unemployment, child care), and economic growth partnerships with Bloomberg Philanthropies
- +Robust immigrant protection agenda including the launch of Citizenship Maryland to help 150,000 eligible residents obtain citizenship, legislation to hold federal agents accountable for unconstitutional actions, and crackdowns on immigration scam artists
- +Direct federal gap-filling with $40 million to replace cut SNAP funding and $12 million for Allegany County flood recovery after FEMA denied the governor's appeal to President Trump
- +Legislation to decouple Maryland's vaccine authority from the federal government, citing federal shift away from science-based policy
- +Maryland 250 Commission and an extended historical narrative framing the state's identity around its complicated history as the 'northernmost southern state'
- +Redistricting reform through a reestablished Governor's Redistricting Advisory Commission, urging the Senate to vote on the House-passed map
- +Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act of 2026, linking housing construction to transit infrastructure so residents can get from where they live to where they work
- +Specific major economic development wins announced: AstraZeneca's $2 billion investment, Sphere venue at National Harbor, South Korea biotech facility, and Microsoft quantum partnership
- +Coalition of Democratic and Republican governors signing a Statement of Principles at the White House calling for energy reform and grid operator accountability
Dropped from 2025
- −Comprehensive tax reform package including doubling the Standard Deduction, expanding the Child Tax Credit, closing corporate loopholes to lower the corporate tax rate, and adding a quarter-point surcharge on top earners — none of this appears in 2026
- −The $3 billion structural deficit as a central organizing challenge; in 2026 the budget is presented as already balanced with no tax increases needed
- −Men and boys initiative, which was a significant 2025 focus citing declining labor force participation, rising suicide rates, stagnant college attainment, and high youth incarceration rates
- −Cannabis pardon expansion and expungement legislation for individuals who violated parole or probation, highlighted through the story of Carlos Battle
- −Blueprint for Maryland's Future education law, which received extensive 2025 attention with pledges to implement it effectively; it goes unmentioned in 2026
- −National teacher recruitment campaign seeking legislative authority to recruit educators from across the country with debt-free paths to teaching
- −Tradepoint Atlantic port expansion project to increase container capacity by 70%, create 8,000 jobs, and generate $1 billion in private investment
- −Nomination of Harry Coker as Commerce Secretary, highlighted as a major strategic hire for the state's economic future
- −Specific transportation funding figure of $21 billion and detailed highway project descriptions (I-81, US 15, Route 97) — though some projects are briefly mentioned in 2026, the scope is reduced
- −The $550 million K-12 education funding increase described as the largest in state history; replaced in 2026 by a broader $10 billion schools figure without the same emphasis on being a record increase
Shifted Emphasis
- ↔Federal government relations shifted from cautious hope about potential partnership to explicit adversarial framing, with quantified harms (25,000 fired workers, 180,000 at risk of losing health care, 680,000 at risk of losing food assistance) and concrete countermeasures
- ↔Economic development moved from aspirational industry identification (life sciences, IT, aerospace/defense) to claiming $10 billion in attracted private investment with named corporate partnerships and specific dollar commitments
- ↔Education shifted from Blueprint implementation and addressing the teacher shortage through a national recruitment campaign to celebrating results (three consecutive years of improvement, vacancy rate cut in half, 20-slot jump in early literacy rankings) and proposing a $10 billion schools budget with a new Academic Excellence Program of coaching support
- ↔Crime reduction shifted from a forward-looking commitment to 'breaking the back of violent crime' to triumphant retrospective claims — homicides down nearly 50% statewide, Baltimore's homicide rate at its lowest since before Moore was born
- ↔Housing policy evolved from the 2025 emphasis on passing aggressive affordability legislation to a 2026 focus on supply-side building (4,000 new rental units funded) and the Transit and Housing Opportunity Act linking housing to transit
- ↔Broadband and child care went from being highlighted as signature achievements (100,000 connected, 16,000 additional children) to updated but less prominent metrics (child care access expanded by 70% to 41,000 children; broadband not mentioned)
- ↔The tone shifted from a crisis-management framework ('batten down the hatches,' 'two storms have made landfall') to a more confident 'protect, deliver, and lead' framework emphasizing state strength and self-sufficiency
- ↔Apprenticeships evolved from a pledge to recruit 500 employers and 5,000 apprentices to claiming over 5,000 apprentices graduated with a goal of 4,000 high school apprenticeship graduates per year by end of second term
- ↔Transportation investments shifted from a broad $21 billion budget announcement to spotlighting specific marquee projects — the $1.4 billion Baltimore light rail modernization, the Key Bridge rebuild as the fastest large rebuild in the US, and the American Legion Bridge
Policy Topics Addressed
Affordability
Governor Moore highlighted rising costs (energy up 13%, beef up 19%) driven partly by federal tariffs. He proposed $100 million in additional energy rebates on top of $200 million delivered last year, called for data centers to cover their own power costs, and partnered with other governors to demand PJM cap energy prices for two years. He also emphasized housing supply through the Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act and proposed a $10 billion investment in public schools.
Economy & Jobs
Governor Moore reported attracting more than $10 billion in private investment in three years, including Microsoft's $1 billion Capital of Quantum initiative, AstraZeneca's $2 billion commitment, and the Sphere venue at National Harbor. He emphasized creating nearly 100,000 new jobs and graduating over 5,000 apprentices, with a goal of 4,000 high school Registered Apprenticeship graduates annually. He identified IT, life sciences, and aerospace/defense as lighthouse industries.
Education
Governor Moore proposed a historic $10 billion for public schools including a new Academic Excellence Program with academic coaches. He celebrated three consecutive years of improvement, graduation rates up, and a 20-slot jump in national early literacy rankings in just two years. He highlighted cutting the teacher vacancy rate in half and recognized Maryland's Teacher of the Year, School Counselor of the Year, and High School Principal of the Year.
Environment & Energy
Governor Moore addressed rising energy prices (up 13% since last year) and proposed an additional $100 million in energy rebates on top of $200 million provided the prior year. He led a coalition of governors calling on PJM to cap energy prices for two years and demanded data centers hire local workers, engage communities, and cover their own power costs. He called for doubling down on solar, wind, and energy storage while maintaining a diverse portfolio including natural gas and nuclear.
Government Reform
Governor Moore announced a $4 million investment for AI workforce training and plans to use AI to help Marylanders navigate SNAP, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, and child care. He highlighted reforming procurement processes, cutting wait times for state contracts from months to weeks, and noted the budget is smaller than the previous year for the fourth consecutive year without raising taxes or fees.
Healthcare
Governor Moore warned that the Trump administration's domestic policy could kick up to 180,000 Marylanders off healthcare. His budget fully funds the $14 billion Medicaid program and proposes legislation to decouple the state's vaccine authority from the federal government, pledging that 'our vaccine policy will be led by science, not internet conspiracy theories.'
Housing
Governor Moore highlighted the Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act of 2026, emphasizing building more housing near transit and investing in transportation connecting people with opportunity. He reported providing funding to build 4,000 new rental housing units in the last fiscal year — the highest level since the COVID pandemic — and stated Maryland's population is growing faster than it has in a decade.
Immigration
Governor Moore highlighted the story of Pastor Omar Fuentes Espinal, who was detained by ICE after 24 years in the U.S. He announced "Citizenship Maryland" to help 150,000 eligible Marylanders obtain citizenship and pledged legislation to protect Marylanders from unconstitutional actions by federal agents, while noting nearly one in five Marylanders was born in another country.
Infrastructure
Governor Moore highlighted the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild as the fastest large rebuild in the United States, along with a historic $1.4 billion project to modernize Baltimore's light rail system. He emphasized partnerships on projects including I-81, US 15, and the American Legion Bridge, and called for energy infrastructure reform including more solar, wind, and energy storage alongside natural gas and nuclear power.
Public Safety
Governor Moore reported homicides down nearly 50% statewide, with the lowest homicide rate in Baltimore since before he was born. He credited the ENOUGH Initiative, bridging gaps between police and prosecutors, and community-based approaches. He emphasized that addressing violent crime requires addressing failed conditions in communities where violence thrives.
Social Services
Governor Moore announced filling the $40 million SNAP funding gap created by federal cuts, proposed $14 billion for the state's Medicaid program serving 1.4 million Marylanders, and highlighted expanding child care access by 70% to support over 41,000 children. He also proposed $100 million in additional energy rebates and announced the Citizenship Maryland program to help 150,000 eligible residents obtain citizenship.
Tax & Budget
Governor Moore presented a balanced budget with a General Fund smaller than the previous year for the fourth consecutive time, without raising taxes or fees. He proposed $100 million in additional energy rebates, filling a $40 million SNAP funding gap created by federal cuts, and $14 billion for Medicaid. He noted the state faces $25,000 federal job cuts — the most of any state — and emphasized protecting services while maintaining fiscal discipline.
Technology
Governor Moore announced a $4 million investment in AI workforce training, plans to use AI to help residents navigate government services (SNAP, Medicaid, childcare), and an AI-powered small business navigation tool with Bloomberg Philanthropies. He identified I.T., life sciences, and aerospace/defense as three lighthouse industries, highlighted the $1 billion Capital of Quantum Initiative with Microsoft, and announced conditions for data center projects requiring local hiring, community engagement, and covering their own power costs.
Veterans & Military
Governor Moore highlighted the transformation of Charlotte Hall Veterans Home from a one-star to a four-star rated facility and pledged to achieve five stars. He recognized administrators Emily and Dorine for their work and emphasized that when they say 'thank you for your service,' it should actually mean something.
Public Health Outcomes
Updated Mar 30, 2026Better than national avgWorse than national avg
Education
Updated Mar 30, 2026NAEP Scores (2024 Nation's Report Card)
Infrastructure
Grade: AUpdated Mar 30, 2026Bridges (FHWA NBI 2025)
Drinking Water (EPA SDWIS)
Campaign Finance
Contributions by Party
Top Recipients
Regulatory Reform Ideas
100 candidatesTop Easy Wins
- 1.Maryland APA Rule Review Enforcement (Automatic Repeal)(All agencies / General Assembly)
- 2.Unified Professional Licensing Portal (All 20+ Boards)(DLLR / 20+ boards / DoIT / General Assembly)
- 3.Cannabis Regulatory Streamlining (Implementation Optimization)(MMCC / Comptroller / General Assembly)
- 4.MDE Unified Permitting Portal (Cross-Program Integration)(MDE (all programs) / DoIT)
- 5.Administrative Hearing Processing Time Standards (150-Day Maximum)(General Assembly / All agencies / OAH)
IT Status Report & Strategic Plan
Comprehensive IT capability assessment with 100-day and 200-day strategic initiatives.