Senator Mike McKay
Allegany, Garrett and Washington Counties Serving Appalachia Maryland

Maryland Senate Republican Caucus

March 13, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PRESS RELEASE

CONTACT:
Megan Miller, Communications Director
megan.miller@mlis.state.md.us | 410-881-3203
Senate Republicans Blast Democrats’ Last-Minute “Frankenstein” Energy Bill
Republican solutions already introduced would lower energy costs for Maryland families
ANNAPOLIS, MD — Senate Republicans today criticized Democrats’ sweeping energy legislation as a last-minute “Frankenstein bill,” a 122-page collection of cobbled-together policy proposals assembled late in the legislative session after months of inaction while Republican proposals that would lower energy costs remain waiting for a committee vote.

The legislation surfaced on day 60 of the 90-day legislative session and is now being pushed through the General Assembly with little opportunity for lawmakers, stakeholders, or the public to fully review its impacts.

Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey said Maryland families are paying the price for years of energy policies passed in Annapolis.

“Marylanders are dealing with higher energy bills because of the regulatory environment Democrats created in Annapolis,” Hershey said. “Now, on day 60 of session, they’ve assembled a 122-page Frankenstein bill and want to rush it through before anyone has time to understand what it actually does.”

Democratic leaders and the Moore Administration have blamed rising costs on the federal government, PJM, and utility companies. Hershey said those arguments ignore the role state policy has played.

“The Governor says the system is broken, and he’s right,” Hershey said. “But instead of acknowledging the failed policies that got us here, they are pointing fingers everywhere else.”

Hershey also noted that while the Governor has repeatedly said he is willing to work with anyone to address rising energy costs, Republican lawmakers who already have solutions on the table have yet to hear from him.

“We keep hearing that the Governor wants to work with anyone to fix this problem,” Hershey said. “But he hasn’t called a single Republican, even though our solutions have already been introduced, heard in committee, and are waiting for a vote.”

Senate Republicans have introduced a package of legislation aimed at lowering energy costs for Maryland families. Those proposals include:
• Pausing the costly EmPOWER surcharge
• Rebalancing Maryland’s RPS Green Energy Mandates
• Withdrawing Maryland from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)

Republicans say these reforms would reduce regulatory burdens and expand reliable energy generation, steps that would deliver meaningful relief for ratepayers.

By contrast, Hershey said the Democrats’ proposal largely shifts money between government programs instead of delivering meaningful relief.

“Democrats are promoting this bill as rate relief, but by their own estimates it only returns about $12 a month to the average household,” Hershey said. “When families are facing energy bills that have increased by hundreds of dollars, that’s hardly meaningful relief.”

Instead of lowering costs, Hershey said the legislation largely redistributes money that ratepayers were forced to pay through higher electric bills in the first place.

“For years Maryland families have been overcharged through state green energy mandates and surcharges,” Hershey said. “Now Democrats want to hand a small portion of that money back and claim they’re solving the problem.”

Senator Justin Ready said the legislation ultimately amounts to Democrats walking back policies Republicans warned would increase energy prices.

“All this bill really does is start rolling back some of the bad policies Democrats passed in the first place,” Ready said. “Republicans warned them years ago that these mandates and regulations would drive up energy costs for Maryland families. Unfortunately, we were right.”

Hershey said the rushed legislation reflects a familiar pattern in Annapolis.

“This feels like the classic Annapolis approach — pass the bill now and figure it out later.”

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I want to thank everyone who participated in this great event. Most importantly, I want to thank our Lord for all the blessings he has given us.

Two of the most important pieces of legislation – Senate Bill 282 – The Budget Bill, and House Bill 392 – Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act are expected to reach the Senate floor this week for Second Reader.

Committees have until March 17, 2026, to finalize legislation before voting bills out of committee. The Crossover deadline is March 23, 2026, which means any bill that remains active must pass out of its chamber of origin and move “across the street” to the other chamber. In Annapolis, this often means long days that turn into even longer nights as lawmakers work to meet these deadlines.

I would also like to recognize and thank the dedicated analysts who work alongside elected officials on the Budget & Taxation Committee and across all legislative committees. Their work is invaluable. The Department of Legislative Audits has been especially helpful this year in shedding light on troubling findings, and I commend them for their diligence.

Together with the Department of Legislative Services, they play a critical role in identifying government waste and raising important questions about transparency in how federal and state dollars are being spent.

Senator Mike McKay
Allegany, Garrett and Washington Counties Serving Appalachia Maryland