Week 8 of the 2025 Session
Entering the Second Half and Into March
As February comes to a close and we enter March we have begun the second half of the 2025 Session. Bills will be crossing from the Senate to House and vice versa. We continue to work hard to properly represent all of our constituents and work out the kinks in the budget.
The Senate Kills HB380
Today, I was proud to join my colleagues in the Judicial Proceedings Committee unanimously reject House Bill 380: Criminal Law – Prohibition on Sale of Contraceptives and Contraceptive Devices by Vending Machine in School – Repeal. This bill would allow vending machines in any school (which includes preschool, elementary, middle, and high schools) and repeals the misdemeanor charge.
This is a victory for parents across Maryland. I am proud of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for swiftly voting this down and recognizing that it was wholly inappropriate and a massive overreach of state government.
Water Issues Back in District 1
I wanted to address the issue regarding many residents of District 1. Many of you have contacted my office in regards to price hikes for their water bills to which it has drastically effected their lives. As such, I sent a letter to the Attorney General’s office to schedule a meeting with him and explore any solutions to this issue. Below is the letter I sent.
February 25, 2025
The Honorable Anthony Brown
Maryland Attorney General
200 St. Paul Place
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Dear Attorney General Brown,
I am writing to address an issue that is affecting my constituents who are residents of the Bel Air, Glen Oaks, and Rawlings communities in Allegany County.
These families have been subjected to unreasonable increases to their water and wastewater service bills by the Maryland Water Service Company. The increases were approved by the PSC and took effect December 2024. Many of the bills have doubled with no significant increase in the amount of water consumption to these households.
Many of these residents appeared and spoke before the PSC and voiced their concerns to no avail. Several of these people are senior citizens living on fixed incomes and unable to continually absorb these skyrocketing increases.
My constituents have also contacted the Office of People’s Counsel for guidance; however, they have been informed they did not have any suggestions under their purview.
Some have filed an online “General Consumer Complaint” concerning price gouging by the Maryland Water Service Company. It is my understanding the current backlog to investigate these complaints is at least two months.
My ask of you is the following: I would like to elevate the investigation of my constituents’ complaints for the purpose of entering possible emergency legislation in the Maryland General Assembly’s 2025 session that concludes in April, if your office determines necessary.
Also, I would like schedule a meeting with you to seek your advice on other avenues available to help the citizens in my district.
Sincerely,
Senator Mike McKay
District 1
Allegany, Garrett, and Washington Counties
The Republican Caucus Addresses Governor Moore’s Spending
In advance of today and tomorrow’s hearings of the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2025 (the BRFA), Senate and House Republican Leadership discussed Maryland’s budget choices and outlined several spending cuts to offset the need for increased taxes and fees.
The Joint Republican Caucus will not support any tax increase to balance Maryland’s budget. In just two years, a $5 billion surplus has become a $2.8 billion deficit that will continue to grow unless we can curb spending and scale back the unfunded mandates that put us in this position.”
While the Governor sold his budget plan with rhetoric proclaiming tax cuts, data from the Comptroller’s Office clearly indicates that with the combined impact of the Governor’s income tax changes, Maryland families making over $75,000 a year will see a net increase in their tax liability. In addition, there are also numerous additional tax and fee increases proposed by the Governor as well as his fellow Democrats, especially in the House, that will impact families and businesses.
The Joint Republican caucus did present two major cuts to the budget to help rein in spending. While not the silver bullet to fix the entire deficit, these two measures would make a significant impact.
Republicans propose several proactive measures to reduce costs and also protect the existing state workforce from future furloughs and layoffs.
- A hiring freeze on all unfilled positions – with the exception of critical positions in public safety, nurses in state facilities and social workers in the Department of Human Services providing foster care and protective services. This action will save $25-$50 million.
- Not moving ahead with planned step increases for state workers. This action will save $125 million.
- Not moving ahead with a planned cost-of-living increase. This will save $71 million.
- Maintaining a 10% vacancy rate in state agencies. Maintaining this rate saves $120 million.
Collectively, these actions would save approximately $340 – $360 million.
A second tranche of savings can be found in cutting the $90 million increase in funding for the implementation of Democrats’ Green Agenda as well as halting the implementation of the Climate Solutions Act of 2022 which has an estimated cost of $1 billion/year.
Taxpayers are ratepayers. Governor Moore has created new taxes and fees while simultaneously doubling down on the energy policies that have been driving up Marylander’s energy bills. Marylanders are being crushed and having to make some very hard spending decisions. Democrats in Annapolis should have the courage to do the same.
Reminder for District 1 Night!
I want to remind everyone that we are having our District 1 night this coming Wednesday, March 5th, 2025 at 6pm! This will be a wonderful celebration of our three counties and a great time to mingle and get to know all of the Delegation, staff, and people from the district. I encourage all of you to come and join us for a night of fun!
I also want to hear from you. As you all know, I serve Garrett, Allegany, and Washington Counties and all of your voices are important to me. The best way to represent you is to have your voice heard. Please feel free to contact my Annapolis Office at (410) 841-3565 or my District Office at (240) 362-7040. My public email address is now mike.mckay@senate.state.md.us. Please feel free to email me at anytime. I also have a District Office at the Williamsport Town Hall. It is on the second floor in the first office. Our mailing address below remains the same however.
I continue to be your voice and advocate in Annapolis so I want to hear from you. Please reach out to me if you have any questions or what I can do to help you. I am on the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and the Executive Nominations Committee. All of our hearings are streamed live on Youtube and the MGA website.
If you are interested in seeing where my bills are in the process, you can create a MyMGA account or you can click here to view bills I am sponsoring by clicking “Legislation” under my name. You can sign up to testify on any bill you wish.