2026 Session Begins: MSEA Prioritizes Educator Workplace, Budget, Rights, Testing

And other legislative updates in this week’s Up the Street

During Wednesday’s MSEA Open House that Gov. Moore and Lieutenant Gov. Miller (at left) attended, he expressed that public education has his focus because it impacts every aspect of Maryland’s success. MSEA Vice President Nikki Woodward (right of governor) and President Paul Lemle (far right) thanked the Moore-Miller Administration for exceptionally open communication lines. (Photo: Governor’s Office)

THIS WEEK IN ANNAPOLIS

MSEA Advances Legislative Priorities Amid Intense Federal, Local Pressures

The 447th General Assembly session opened on Wednesday, at the start of an election year for all 188 seats in the legislature. As session opens, Maryland faces challenges to ongoing and new commitments: federal chaos creating funding uncertainty, educator shortages, a national push toward vouchers, and the growing needs and targeting of vulnerable communities. To build on the progress toward strengthening public schools and school communities, and increasing respect for the education profession, MSEA has the following legislative priorities:

Protect Public Education Investments 

While budget pressures, enrollment counts, and national politics create uncertainty, we must safeguard the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and the long-term investments that make it possible for every student to learn in a well-resourced school. Those investments pay dividends for decades, and the damage that underfunding does lasts a lifetime for students and communities. Educators must ensure that Maryland continues forward with equitable funding, career and technical education expansion, mental health supports, and staffing to reduce workloads and class sizes.

Develop a Better, Fairer Star Rating System 

Test scores alone cannot define student or school success. MSEA will advocate for improvements to the new star rating system that more holistically captures academic growth, school climate, well-rounded curriculum, and the many indicators that truly reflect student opportunity. Improvements to the rating system should make it easier to understand, measure meaningful school characteristics, and help better measure student growth opportunities.

Build Guardrails Around Technology

MSEA will advocate for legislation that requires local school systems to have clear policies and consistent enforcement around personal technology devices in the classroom to reduce student distraction and school disruption. The use, availability, and challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI) in education also requires consideration, clear expectations, and guidance for students and educators.

Stand Firm Against Vouchers 

The threat of losing more public dollars to private schools grew exponentially with the federal voucher plan in the Trump Administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill. MSEA will oppose participating in any voucher scheme or expansion that drains resources from public schools.

Reduce the Educator Shortage

MSEA will strongly support the continuation of the Grow Your Own program, stipends for aspiring educators, and the expansion of apprenticeship opportunities. MSEA will continue to advocate for changes to ease educator workloads and help educators stay in the profession.

Strengthen Worker Rights

To get a living wage and better contracts for education support professionals (ESPs), MSEA continues the fight for the ESP Bill of Rights and for strengthening worker power in general, especially as federal threats against labor are multiplying. MSEA supports ensuring that educators have a right to strike without sanctions against their licenses or their unions, as educators in many other states do, and as private employees do. We also support expanding bargaining rights to public sector workers who currently lack those rights and binding arbitration for state employees.

Defend Maryland’s Most Vulnerable 

Marylanders have suffered disproportionately to other states from federal layoffs and funding cuts. They face greater poverty, immigration brutality, and potential federal government shutdowns. MSEA will support policies that protect families, students, and communities from traumatizing actions by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers; ensure access to healthcare; preserve democracy and elections; and protect civil and human rights for the LGBTQ+ community that are at risk in a dismantled U.S. Department of Education.

Governor Proposes $373 Million Increase in FY27 Education Budget

Standing beside former educator and MSEA member Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater (D), Gov. Moore announced $10.2 billion for public education that marks continued strong state investment in Maryland’s public schools. His budget announcement includes: a $572 million (16% increase) for community schools, $19.4 million for GYO program continuation, $228 million correction in lapse of compensatory education eligibility, and a $480.5 million Capital Budget for school construction.

Watch this space for budget details and out-year projections and impacts as they become available.

House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk Breaks New Ground

The session will include a historic first as Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D-Prince George’s and Anne Arundel) presides from the dais in the House of Delegates. She is the first Afro-Latina and second woman to hold the office. She succeeds Delegate Adrienne Jones (D-Baltimore County), who continues to serve as delegate and was the first woman and first person of color to the lead the House. Jones played an integral role in shaping and passing legislation that will have a long-lasting impact on Maryland schools and communities: from the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and its focus on equitable investment in all students to the Built to Learn Act and its emphasis on safe, modern schools across the state, to ensuring that HBCUs receive the funding they deserve, generations of students will benefit from her leadership, advocacy, and example.

Peña-Melnyk, who has served in the House since 2007, was chair of the House Health and Government Operations Committee, where she shepherded legislation to improve the health and welfare of children and families.

MSEA President Paul Lemle said, “We look forward to partnering with Speaker Peña-Melnyk to build on the work of Speaker Jones in improving resources for our public schools and opportunities for our students. As Maryland faces the challenges of chaotic and destructive budget actions from Washington, D.C., Speaker Peña-Melnyk will be a forceful leader to make sure that Marylanders—and the schools and services that we depend on—are protected and supported.”

House Leadership, Roles, Committee Membership Change

A new House speaker often makes changes in committee assignments, leadership, and titles. Among Speaker Peña-Melnyk’s first acts was to split her former committee into two: the Health Committee, and a new Government, Labor and Elections Committee: Delegate Melissa Wells (D-Baltimore City) is chair of the new committee, and vice chair is Delegate Ken Kerr (D-Frederick). Other leadership appointments include:

Senate President Makes Some New Committee Assignments

On the Senate side, President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) retains his title, and, in addition to some committee membership changes, two committees have new leaders: Senator Benjamin Brooks (Baltimore County) is chair of the Executive Nominations Committee; and Senator Katie Fry Hester (Howard and Montgomery) is chair of the Rules Committee.

Governor Makes Appointments to Fill Former Delegates’ Seats

Resignations have led to three new members joining the House of Delegates. Gov. Moore appointed Democrats Gabriel M. Moreno to replace former Ways and Means Committee Chair Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary (D-Howard), Derrick Coley to replace former House Majority Whip Delegate Jazz Lewis (D- Prince George’s), and Darrell Odom Sr. to replace now-Senator Kevin Harris (D-Prince George’s and Charles). Harris was appointed to the Senate seat for District 27. Atterbeary resigned from her seat to run for Howard county executive, and Lewis resigned to become director of government relations for the University of Maryland.

2026 CAMPAIGN NEWS

Governor Starts Year with High Approval, Fire Fighters’ Endorsement      

Gov. Moore continues to enjoy high approval ratings and has a record of supporting workers that has earned him powerful union endorsements in his reelection bid.

This week, the Maryland International Association of Fire Fighters announced their endorsement, which complements the October 2025 endorsement from MSEA. “Gov. Moore has supported collective bargaining rights, presumptive health protections, and funding for fire fighter training initiatives that ensure our members are prepared to meet the demands of an increasingly complex and dangerous profession,” said Jeff Buddle, Maryland IAFF President.

A poll published Tuesday by Gonzales Research & Media Services reported the governor has a job approval rating among Marylanders of 52%, and 41% disapproval. In a hypothetical race between Moore and “generic” Republican candidate, Moore would get 50%, compared to 28% for the generic Republican candidate and 6% for a generic third-party candidate. About 16% of those polled were undecided. 

Longest Serving House Democrat, Rep. Hoyer to Step Down; Contenders Emerge

At the conclusion of nearly 46 years in Congress this year, Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-5th) will step down. He is the longest serving House Democrat, and served as House Majority Leader from 2007-11 and 2019-23. For 20 years, he was the second-ranking Democrat in the U.S. House, behind Baltimore-born Nancy Pelosi. As a state legislator and in Congress he advanced legislation to improve education, worker rights, healthcare, and civil rights. The 5th District includes portions of Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties and all of Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties. Several current elected Democratic officials and recent candidates have announced their interest in the seat, including: former Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker; state Delegates Adrian Boafo (D-Prince George’s) and Nicole Williams (D-Prince George’s); state Senator Arthur Ellis (D-Charles); Harry Dunn, retired U.S. Capitol police officer and former 3rd Congressional District candidate; and Wala Blegay, Prince George’s County Council member at large.

The primary election will be held on June 23, with early voting from June 11-18. Early voting for the general election runs October 22-29, and Election Day is Nov. 3.