Friday Five
Nov. 6, 2026 | This week's latest on Maryland business and government
1 — Maryland Senate leadership shakeup comes as lawmakers face multi-billion budget shortfall
Senate President Bill Ferguson has reshuffled committee leadership ahead of the 2027 legislative session as Maryland faces a projected $2.5 billion budget shortfall. The changes elevate key lawmakers overseeing budget and taxation, economic development, energy, labor and business regulation, with expanded roles intended to bring private-sector perspectives into budget discussions and address the state’s fiscal challenges.
Quoted: Senate President Ferguson also emphasized the importance of private-sector involvement in the coming legislative process, saying that Senator Brian Feldman's appointment to majority leader and chief of policy will help ensure "the private sector voice is infused within every part of the budget negotiations."
2 — Handful of legislative seats shift, but Maryland General Assembly overall unchanged
Democrats have retained their strong majorities in both chambers of the Maryland General Assembly, with no change to the overall balance of power following Tuesday's election. Republicans held onto two closely watched Senate seats, while Democrats picked up two House of Delegates seats by unseating Republican incumbents in Anne Arundel and Wicomico counties. Several other competitive races resulted in incumbents or candidates from the same party retaining seats.
What's next: The 2027 legislative session will include debates over taxes, energy costs, labor and regulations. Maryland’s elections highlight the importance of continued business community engagement with lawmakers as priorities for the coming session take shape.
3 — Months of congressional redistricting fights end with win for Question 3
Maryland voters Tuesday approved Question 3, a constitutional amendment removing state-level constitutional criteria for congressional district boundaries and opening the door for lawmakers to draw new, potentially more partisan maps. The measure passed with approximately 60 percent support in unofficial results, marking a significant victory for Governor Moore, who has advocated for redistricting in response to similar efforts in other states. New congressional maps could be considered as early as 2027 but are not required.
Moving forward: Post-election, Maryland will now grapple with a $2.57 billion structural deficit for FY2028. Engagement from the business community during the 2027 legislative session will be critical to ensure enacted policies promote economic development and job creation.
4 — Lawmakers turn attention to business-friendly policies
Maryland lawmakers are launching new efforts to improve the state’s business climate, with House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk creating a committee to explore business-friendly policies and Senate President Bill Ferguson selecting Senator Brian Feldman to lead a similar business development initiative. Both efforts aim to attract businesses and create jobs ahead of the 2027 legislative session, potentially providing an opportunity to address longstanding concerns about Maryland’s competitiveness and business reputation.
Our take: The Maryland Chamber welcomes renewed attention to business-friendly policies and stands ready to work with legislative leaders to advance meaningful reforms that strengthen our competitiveness. The focus must translate into action that reduces regulatory and tax burdens, encourages investment, supports job creation and makes Maryland a better place to live and work.
5 — Feds approve Chesapeake Bay Bridge replacement
The Federal Highway Administration has granted final environmental approval for Maryland to replace both Chesapeake Bay Bridge spans with two new four-lane bridges featuring full shoulders and improved navigational clearance. The Maryland Transportation Authority expects design work to begin in 2028, with construction starting as early as 2032. The project also includes widening approaching portions of U.S. Route 50/301 to accommodate increased traffic capacity.
Projected economic activity: Along with nearly doubling the capacity of the existing bridges, which will be removed as part of the plan, the project will add $23 billion to the local economy and create more than 60,000 jobs as forecasted by the Maryland Transportation Authority.
Advancing inclusive partnerships for a Maryland where all businesses and their communities thrive
The Maryland Chamber of Commerce is the state’s leading business advocacy organization — committed to working with our alliance of partners on critical public policy issues. With a focus on economic development and grassroots advocacy, we impact policies that directly affect Maryland business.
