2025 End of Session Letter
- Stephen-Michael Thompson Jr
- May 2
- 5 min read
Dear Friends,
On Monday, April 7th, 2025, the 447th Legislative Session of the Maryland General Assembly adjourned Sine Die. As we close out another historic session, I want to thank you, the residents of Legislative District 27B, for your engagement, advocacy, and trust. From Clinton to Cheltenham, Brandywine to Aquasco, Upper Marlboro to Eagle Harbor, and across Baden, Lower Marlboro, Dunkirk, North Beach, and Chesapeake Beach, your voices powered the work we did in Annapolis despite the many challenges we faced this year statewide, and nationally. Whether through testimony, emails, phone calls, or conversations in the community, you helped shape policies that reflect the values and priorities of Southern Maryland. Prince George's and Calvert Counties may have different challenges, but we share a united purpose.
This year, I'm proud to announce that we passed two vital pieces of my agenda: HB0796/SB0566 and $315,000.00 for Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center, a beautiful part of Southern Maryland, an open area for families to enjoy.
Our Legislation:
HB0796/SB0566 Real Property – Filing Fee for Residential Mortgage Foreclosure – Increase: This bill increases the filing fee of residential foreclosures from $300 to $450, While this may seem like a slight procedural shift, it has real consequences: the additional funds can support foreclosure prevention efforts, legal aid services, and mediation programs that help families stay in their homes. With federal workers across the state now facing layoffs and financial instability, many of whom are at risk of foreclosure through no fault of their own — this bill represents a critical buffer. It's a safeguard not just for individual homeowners but for entire communities. Keeping Marylanders housed during economic uncertainty strengthens our social fabric, protects property values, and saves the state costly downstream interventions.
Co-Sponsored Legislation for D27B:
HB0375 Bicycles, Play Vehicles, and Unicycles—Authorizations and Requirements (Jay's Law): This bill allows cyclists to use sidewalks unless explicitly banned by local ordinances. It prioritizes safety for riders, especially young people and those in urban or high-traffic areas. It also reinforces that cyclists must yield to pedestrians.
HB1222 Public Safety - Immigration Enforcement (Maryland Values Act):This bill requires an employee or agent of a State or local correctional facility and a law enforcement agent to provide specific notice of the release of an individual who is the subject of an active immigration detainer request and has been convicted of a particular crime of violence and transfer the individual to federal immigration authorities under certain circumstances; requiring the termination of an existing immigration enforcement agreement.
HB0500 Procurement Reform Act of 2025: This bill streamlines decision-making and improves efficiency. It also redefines procurement authority across key agencies like the Department of Transportation and the Maryland Transportation Authority, ensuring that purchasing for transportation-related goods and services is faster, more responsive, and better aligned with operational needs. The bottom line is that this bill cuts red tape, increases flexibility, and helps the government work smarter — not slower.
The Budget:
HB350/HB352, this legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly was faced with a structural deficit that the Moore/Miller administration didn't cause. Still, by underlying errors that predated my time in Office and weren't addressed in sessions past this year, we rolled up our sleeves to make sure middle-class Marylanders wouldn't feel any statewide tax increases. Our FY26 budget protects Maryland's fiscal health in both the short and long term. The legislature has done the following:
• Funded the blueprint entirely through 2025 without any cuts to community schools, English language learners, or students with disabilities.
• Added $800 million annually to the Transportation Trust Fund over the past two years for safer roads and bridges, expanded commuter bus service, and more accessible, efficient public transit.
• Provided tax fairness for working families, 94% of Marylanders will pay the same or less in taxes.
• Restored $181.5M for Services for the Developmentally Disabled.
• Boosts Public Safety Funding: $121.8M for police aid—$46M above statutory requirements—and full funding for $60M in victim services.
• Strengthens Juvenile and Community Services: Includes new investments of $5.5M in juvenile services and $5M for parole and probation staffing.
And much more, to review the budget please get in touch with my Office for more information.
Energy:
Another significant challenge we faced in this session was the rising cost for ratepayers. My Office received dozens of calls about what we could do to address their rising energy expenses. The Maryland General Assembly has delivered for the people of Maryland by passing HB1035 / SB937, the Next Generation Energy Act, HB1036 / SB931, the Renewable Energy Certainty Act, and HB1037 / SB909, the Energy Resource Adequacy and Planning Act.
• HB1035 / SB937 prohibits the use of Multiyear Rate Plans at the Public Service Commission (PSC) unless they do not allow an electric company to file for reconciliation. With this change, we can expect immediate savings to ratepayers of $40 million.
• HB1036/SB931 adds requirements to the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) process and to the local site development plan process to require solar energy generating systems to meet the standard siting and decommissioning requirements.
• HB1037 / SB909 establishes a new independent office within the Public Service Commission (PSC) called the Strategic Energy Planning Office. Every three years, the Office will develop a Comprehensive Wholesale Energy Markets and Bulk Power System Risk Report.
Federal Workers:
With this new federal administration on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, they have wreaked havoc and attacked the federal workforce, more than 30,000+ of which live in Prince George's County and over 1,500+ in Calvert County, excluding contractors. Federal workers are the backbone of the federal government, and it's disgraceful to treat them when they keep Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and all other public programs working. This year, the Maryland General Assembly introduced and passed HB1424, the Protect Our Federal Workers Act; the legislation seeks to do the following:
• Expands existing funds and accounts to provide interest-free loans to federal workers impacted by unforeseen employment disruptions. The bill also provides an additional $1.5 million to the Attorney General to sue the Trump Administration for their wrongful and illegal firing of federal workers.
Sine-Die:
The aforementioned is a brief synopsis of some of the legislation that I supported during this year's legislative session. Should you desire a more detailed review, please do not hesitate to contact my Office. Please note that during the interim (April-December), we have limited in-person hours, so please allow 48 hours for a response. For a more immediate response or to request a proclamation, citation, or assistance with a State Agency, please email jeffrie.long@house.state.md.us.
I am excited to share that my 2025-2026 Legislative Scholarship has been released; I am happy to help all future scholars coming out of high school, scholars continuing their education, and returning scholars. Please follow the link: https://www.jeffrielong.com/scholarship to learn more about how to apply and the requirements.
Finally, I'd like to thank each and every one of you for your understanding throughout this difficult time as I had to take a step back due to the passing of my grandfather, one of the people's shoulders I stand on to be in the Maryland General Assembly-serving you and your families today. The support I received throughout this time reinforced my duty to serve you in the People's House.
The 447th legislative session may be over, but the work doesn't stop here. Let's carry this momentum forward together. I encourage you to stay engaged in the legislative process. I look forward to hearing from you and working together to create a brighter future for our community and state. Thank you again for the honor of serving as your Delegate, and I wish you all the best.
Very truly yours,
Delegate Jeffrie E. Long, Jr.
Legislative District 27B
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