Key Takeaways:

Fiscal analysts warn Maryland will face a $1.4 billion deficit during the 2026 legislative session, reversing earlier surplus projections.

Federal job cuts and Trump’s tax changes have hit Maryland harder than other states, with 15,000 jobs lost in 2025.

Republican lawmakers blame state overspending and recent tax hikes for worsening the fiscal outlook.

Senate President Bill Ferguson vowed to focus on balancing the budget in the 2026 session.

Maryland lawmakers were briefed by fiscal analysts who said Wednesday that they should expect to tangle with a $1.4 billion budget deficit during the 2026 legislative session — a reversal of what was previously projected.

“For those who haven’t been following the budget closely, the outlook is a lot worse for fiscal ’27 than it

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