Mary D. Kane Marks Four Years as Maryland Chamber President & CEO

Dear Fellow Business Leaders,

Something extraordinary is happening in Maryland — and it’s happening because businesses are refusing to accept the status quo. As I mark four years as your Chamber President, I want to pause and recognize something important: the Chamber’s successes are not mine alone. They belong to all of us.

Maryland’s business climate is still tough. We rank poorly in national competitiveness measures, and regulatory pressures continue to mount. But when I visit the Light of Baltimore’s incubator hub, Anne Arundel’s manufacturing floors, or Montgomery County’s biotech companies, I see a very different story: resilience, innovation and a growing determination to change Maryland’s narrative.

That determination showed up in Annapolis this year. And it made all the difference.

The Power of Business Voices in 2025

Because business leaders like you stepped up, we delivered major victories that protect jobs and preserve flexibility for Maryland employers:

• Stopped B2B Taxes: Blocked a proposed 2.5% services tax that would have hit nearly every business.
• Defeated Unclear Mandates: Prevented harmful and impractical climate and technology proposals.
• Protected Liability Caps: Preserved limits on non-economic damages — critical for keeping insurance costs predictable.
• Preserved Flexibility: Maintained employer scheduling freedom and statewide consistency.

And the numbers tell an even bigger story:

• 93% success rate on business-relevant bills
• 200+ bills closely tracked
• 400+ business leaders testified in Annapolis
• 100,000+ messages sent to lawmakers
• 30+ industry groups and chambers collaborated

Each of these wins benefits every Maryland business — member or not. But let’s be clear: these victories don’t happen on their own. They happen when businesses engage.

Building Momentum, Not Just Defending Ground

The Chamber’s work is about more than defeating bad policy. It’s about proposing solutions and building a better environment for business growth and opportunity. This year, we advanced solutions-oriented initiatives that look beyond today’s debates to prepare Maryland for long-term competitiveness:

• Economic Competitiveness: Through our Competitiveness Redbook and new tax policy study, we’re identifying the reforms Maryland needs to close its budget gaps without raising costs on businesses — drawing lessons from other states that faced similar fiscal challenges.

• Workforce: We hosted statewide job fairs to connect job seekers with job creators. We are partnering with U.S. Chamber Foundation, Student Veterans Association and Governor Moore to host a Hiring Our Heroes roundtable — connecting talent, employers and policymakers.

• Manufacturing: Through the newly launched Voices for Manufacturing initiative, created in partnership with the Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland, we have launched 14 legislative-manufacturer conversations across the state, giving policymakers a firsthand look at the jobs and innovations this sector drives.

And we’re preparing for what’s next. Our proactive Fair Opportunity Maryland campaign, launched in 2025, will continue to amplify business voices, share real stories, and help policymakers — and the public — see what Maryland could and should be. It’s about momentum, solutions and making sure business stays at the center of shaping Maryland’s future.

Looking Ahead: The 2026 Session and Beyond

October is when things begin to ramp up. Behind the scenes, lawmakers, candidates and stakeholders are preparing for the next session of the Maryland General Assembly. With elections ahead, new faces and shifting priorities will enter the conversation. Some proposals will be opportunities. Others will test our resolve. Either way, decisions are being shaped now that will affect your business — and your bottom line — next year.

The question is: will your voice be part of making those decisions?

Here’s what engagement looks like:

• Policy Committees: Lend your expertise to help shape our agenda, positions, and strategies.

• Events: Join dialogue with legislators and other business leaders at the upcoming Policy Forum for Maryland’s Future (focused on energy, AI/tech, taxes), or join us for our 2026 events including Meet the State, the Maryland Business Outlook, Inspire MD and more.

• Direct Advocacy: Share your story. Nothing influences policymakers more than the real-world impact on employers and employees.

• Coalition Building: Stand with 7,800+ businesses amplifying the same message for growth and competitiveness.

Why It Matters

When Maryland businesses unite, the impact is undeniable. Stopping a harmful tax means cost savings for every employer. Preserving scheduling flexibility means businesses can operate more efficiently. Workforce programs create pipelines of talent that every industry needs.

The opposite is also true: when businesses stay silent, harmful regulations slip through. Promising reforms die in committees. And Maryland falls further behind competing states.

The Choice Ahead

Whether you’ve been part of the Chamber for years or are just learning about our work, this is your invitation to be part of shaping Maryland’s future.

We can wait for someone else to act, or we can lead together. We can accept a challenging business climate, or we can transform it. We can stand on the sidelines, or we can write the next chapter of Maryland’s economy.

The momentum is real. The renaissance is possible. And your voice can accelerate it.

With determination and hope,