Annapolis, Md. — Governor Wes Moore celebrated the full passage of his 2026 legislative agenda following the adjournment of the Maryland General Assembly session, describing it as a major victory achieved through partnership with lawmakers.
The Moore-Miller Administration advanced three core goals: protecting residents, making Maryland more affordable and increasing the state’s economic competitiveness. The agenda cleared both chambers before sine die on April 13, 2026.
“This session we faced extraordinary pressures, but together with the Maryland General Assembly, we delivered real results for the people of Maryland,” Gov. Moore said. “From protecting our people against price hikes to boosting our state’s economic competitiveness, the passage of our entire legislative agenda is a testament to what is possible in partnership with our legislative leaders. This session, we proved that when we work together, we can defy expectations and deliver monumental, forward-thinking solutions for the people of Maryland.”
The DECADE Act establishes a comprehensive economic development framework to make Maryland more business-friendly and position the state as a leader in future industries. It extends and modernizes the Build Our Future Grant Program with matching grants of up to $2 million for innovative infrastructure in high-growth sectors. The legislation also revitalizes the Regional Institution Strategic Enterprise (RISE) Zone program, which leverages higher education and federal facilities to attract businesses and create jobs, while providing long-term tax credit certainty for research, development and security-related contract work.
The Maryland Transit & Housing Opportunity Act targets station-adjacent land to produce more than 7,000 new housing units and unlock nearly $1.4 billion in state and local tax revenue. It prioritizes investments in high-capacity rail corridors for transit-oriented development, proposes targeted zoning reforms around high-density rail stations and extends financial incentives. Certain transit-oriented developments would receive automatic Enterprise Zone designation, with priority for Maryland Economic Development Corporation financing. The measure aims to expand affordable housing options so residents can live, work and travel within their communities.
The Protection from Predatory Pricing Act addresses the use of electronic shelf labels that enable instant price changes in grocery stores. It requires prices to remain fixed for at least one business day and prohibits the use of surveillance data to set individualized prices. Enforcement falls to the Office of the Attorney General. The legislation responds to concerns over data-driven price increases for basic household goods and aligns with efforts to make Maryland more affordable for working families.
The Vax Act empowers the secretary of the Maryland Department of Health to issue official recommendations for immunizations, screenings and preventive services based on scientific and clinical guidance from independent medical organizations. It decouples state vaccine authority from federal bodies, treating federal guidance as elective while maintaining insurance coverage for critical immunizations and preserving pharmacist administration authority. The measure, signed April 14, 2026, as part of the first post-session bill signing ceremony, seeks to keep Maryland health policies grounded in evidence.
These bills join other measures signed by Gov. Moore, including the Jillian and Lindsay Wiener Short-Term Rental Safety Act, which requires fire safety equipment and annual inspections for short-term rentals. Southern Maryland counties, including Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s, stand to benefit from the economic and housing components through potential job growth, transit-oriented projects near regional corridors and protections against rising costs.
Local impacts could include expanded workforce opportunities via RISE Zones near federal and educational assets, additional housing supply to address affordability challenges highlighted in the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies 2026 report, and stable grocery pricing for families. St. Mary’s County officials continue reviewing state outcomes after sine die, as noted in their April 14 meeting.
Gov. Moore is scheduled for additional bill signing ceremonies in the coming weeks. Full details of signed legislation are available through the governor’s office website.
The 2026 session outcomes reflect coordinated efforts between the executive and legislative branches amid national policy shifts and state fiscal pressures. Southern Maryland communities, with their mix of military, federal, agricultural and tourism economies, may see ripple effects from enhanced economic tools and housing incentives in the months ahead.
