Maryland State Updates: Job Cuts, Gambling Trends, Clean Energy & Health Oversight

How many state jobs were eliminated and what are the expected savings?

The Board of Public Works eliminated 502 state positions, which is expected to save $27.4 million in fiscal 2026 through a combination of eliminating vacant positions and early employee buyouts.

What has been the impact of legal mobile sports betting in Maryland?

Since Maryland legalized online sports betting, there has been an uptick in disordered gambling behaviors, which problem gambling experts describe as a concerning trend that could worsen as newer gambling modes become available.

What are Maryland regulators requiring utilities to do regarding clean energy?

The Maryland Public Service Commission is directing Baltimore Gas and Electric and other investor-owned utilities to accelerate their transition to clean energy, strengthen grid resilience, and reduce consumer costs while supporting greater electric vehicle use.

What issues were identified with Maryland’s health department oversight boards?

Auditors found that professional oversight boards within the Maryland Department of Health lack consistency and accountability, with no single person responsible for implementing recommendations to address repeated findings.

What challenges is the Ocean City offshore wind developer facing?

US Wind, developer of Maryland’s only permitted offshore wind farm, says the Trump administration’s effort to block its project through a lawsuit and permit revocation could drive the company into bankruptcy, despite the project’s potential to produce over two gigawatts of zero-emissions power.

What new benefit card system is Maryland implementing and why?

Maryland will become one of the first states to distribute ’tap and go’ EBT cards to nearly 1 million residents receiving state cash and food benefits, in an effort to curb benefit theft.

How were the 500 state jobs eliminated?

The job elimination was achieved through a combination of eliminating vacant positions and the departure of hundreds of workers who took an early buyout program.

What report documented the gambling trends in Maryland?

The findings come from ‘Statewide Gambling Prevalence in Maryland: 2024,’ which is the newest edition of legislatively mandated reporting on gambling trends and the first report since mobile sports betting became legally available.

Which utilities are affected by the clean energy transition order?

The Maryland Public Service Commission’s order applies to investor-owned utilities in the state, specifically mentioning Baltimore Gas and Electric among others.