Julie’s Bills — 2026 Legislative Session

Helping Maryland families

  • Free School Meals: Children cannot succeed in school if they are hungry.  School meal programs improve academic achievement, attendance, and classroom behavior.  Congress made school meals free for all students during the pandemic, but that policy expired.  Almost 500,000 children in Maryland have lost this important financial support.  This bill would extend free school meals to all students in the highest need schools.

  • Local Child Tax Credit: The federal and state Child Tax Credits have been impactful tools at fighting childhood poverty.  The recently enacted Big Ugly Bill prevents many children from ever receiving the federal Child Tax Credit.  This bill builds on my work on the Maryland Child Tax Credit by allowing counties to also offer a local tax credit to families with children who are in need.

  • Decouple from Federal Tax Giveaways: The federally enacted Big Ugly Bill doesn’t just provide federal tax breaks to big corporations and the wealthy few.  Some of these tax breaks also flow down and will cost Maryland money.  As part of my ongoing efforts to address tax fairness, Maryland should decouple our state tax code from some of the most problematic and costliest tax giveaways included in HR 1.

  • Earned Income Tax Credit Study: The Earned income Tax Credit (EITC) is one of the most effective poverty tools in the U.S., yet roughly 15% of eligible Marylanders do not claim the credit.  In 2022, I passed legislation that would have streamlined the process to get these residents their tax refunds.  Unfortunately, implementation of this law has become impossible because of the Trump Administration’s changes in the IRS.  This bill will delay implementation and in the meanwhile direct a study to evaluate recent and potential future efforts to increase uptake of the EITC.

Child Care and Education

  • Ensure Funding for Child Care Credentialing Program: This program recognizes and rewards child care providers who go above and beyond state licensing requirements by pursuing additional education and training.  A budget disruption occurred in Fiscal Year 2025 and left providers without this vital funding.  This bill will ensure that the Maryland Child Care Credential Program is protected from future funding interruptions.

  • Promoting Child Literacy: Many school PTAs hold book fairs to promote student reading and to raise money for school activities.  Although these are fundraisers held by a non-profit (the PTA), state law still requires sales tax to be collected because PTAs typically partner with a third-party vendor.  This bill would clarify that school book fairs are exempt from sales tax, just as other PTA fundraising activities are exempt.

Protecting Consumers

  • Prohibit Rent Price Fixing: It’s illegal for businesses to collude to set prices, yet some landlords have found a loophole using new technology that involves artificial intelligence.  This bill will prevent landlords from using non-public competitor data to set rents or determine occupancy rates.

  • Consumer Protections for Medical Credit Cards: The rise in specialized medical credit cards that can only be used for health expenses has raised consumer concerns about high interest rates, complex terms, and aggressive marketing tactics.  The bill will strengthen consumer disclosure laws and regulate the conduct of providers who offer these cards to patients. 

  • Stronger Protections in Gambling: As legalized gambling has expanded in Maryland, we’ve seen a rise in gambling addiction. It’s beyond time to act to better protect players. This bill will strengthen player protections by prohibiting use of credit cards in mobile sports betting, referring more people to free counseling, and prohibiting email marketing to players who have temporarily suspended their accounts.

  • Repeal Data Center Tax Breaks: Data centers strain electricity grids, water supply, and land use while creating few long-term jobs.  Property and sales tax exemptions can cost taxpayers more than the economic value they generate. This bill will repeal the existing property and sales tax exemptions that benefit data centers.

Elections and Ethics Reforms

  • Reform Legislative Appointments: Maryland’s state constitution doesn’t allow for special elections to fill vacancies in the General Assembly. This bill will ensure that the appointment process is transparent and includes appropriate public notice and participation.

  • Modernizing Ethics Disclosures: The annual financial disclosures for public officials are meant to provide transparency to the public that officials are acting in the best interests of Marylanders, rather than working to enrich themselves through their office.  Updates are needed to add disclosure requirements for cryptocurrency assets and to add “domestic partner” relationships, in addition to reporting requirements for spouses.

  • Increase Transparency for Exploratory Committees: For too long, exploratory campaign committees have been exempt from our elections accountability and disclosure laws. Marylanders deserve to know who is financing prospective candidates for elected office.

  • Increase Voter Awareness of Municipal Elections: Many municipal elections are held off-cycle on dates not aligned with statewide primary or general elections.  As a result, voter turnout in these elections is significantly lower.  This bill will increase voter awareness by requiring the dates of municipal elections to be publicized online by the State Board of Elections, county boards of elections, and by the municipalities.

Environmental Conservation

  • Endangered Species Act Protections: At a time when the Trump Administration is actively rolling back federal protections for endangered and threatened species, it’s more important than ever that Maryland have strong environmental protection laws.  This bill will ensure that Maryland continues to provide the same level of protections for rare species as the entire country did for years.

Transportation

  • Bicyclist Safety: We can make our roads safer for bicyclists by allowing them to proceed through an intersection when pedestrians have a walk signal.  Allowing vulnerable roadway users to get into the intersection before vehicles proceed is a proven safety measure.

  • Road Safety Near Schools: This local bill would allow Rockville and Gaithersburg the option to use stop sign cameras in school zones.  By utilizing automated enforcement, these cities can mitigate risky driving behavior, reduce crashes, and protect students as they travel between school and home.

  • Front License Plates: Maryland law requires most vehicles to have a license plate on the front and rear of the vehicle, yet some drivers are choosing to break the law by not displaying a front plate.  This bill would ensure that new and used vehicles sold in Maryland have a front plate holder installed prior to the sale, thereby making it easier for motorists to comply with the law.