Senate leaders said the legislature is preparing for as much as $500 million in additional cuts to an already strapped fiscal 2026 budget, as they brace for federal reductions and look to rework Gov. Wes Moore’s tax proposals. “We do believe in the next couple of weeks we will get a better picture as to the extent of the, honestly, disastrous cuts that are likely going to be shifted to the states ahead of the March 14 shutdown date,” Senate President Bill Ferguson explained.
What’s to come: Lawmakers face a time crunch as delayed revenue estimates push back the budget handoff, likely missing the March 31 deadline. This will trigger an extended session unless they fast-track negotiations. Federal uncertainty is adding to the budget planning challenge.
