RESPONDING TO ACTIONS BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
CHALLENGE: President Donald Trump and Elon Musk are illegally firing public servants who have dedicated their careers to serving our country. Layoffs at FDA, NIH, USAID, HHS, and other federal agencies have left our neighbors suddenly unemployed.
SOLUTION: I supported two legislative actions to support federal public servants:
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Loans For Federal Workers: I voted for and co-sponsored HB 1424: Protect Our Federal Workers Act. This legislation expands the use of existing employee-assistance funds to include federal workers laid off by the Trump administration illegal actions.
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Empowering the Attorney General: HB1424 empowers the Attorney General to sue on behalf of federal workers illegally fired by the Trump administration. AG Brown has been leading the federal lawsuit to reinstate unlawfully fired probationary workers.
The state is recruiting laid-off federal workers for open positions and offering support resources. Visit LiveWorkMaryland.com for more information. My office is also helping those facing issues with unemployment insurance—if you're experiencing delays or complications, please reach out.
CHALLENGE: After President Trump fired top NLRB officials, the new leadership began rolling back key worker protections—like the ban on captive audience meetings.
SOLUTION: This session, I re-introduced the Maryland Worker Freedom Act to stop employers from forcing workers into anti-union, political, or religious captive-audience meetings. These meetings are the tool of choice for union busters, and have killed union organizing campaigns.
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED BY DEL. VOGEL
STATUS: PASSED HOUSE OF DELEGATES
HB 233 Maryland Worker Freedom Act
MD Matters: House advances bill aimed at protecting worker rights ahead of possible Trump challenges
“The House passed a bill that would ban an effective union-busting tactic, a first step toward codifying the worker-protection measure at the state level in the face of a threat from the Trump administration.
While the National Labor Relations Board deemed captive audience meetings illegal in 2024, there has been renewed concern that the protection might be rolled back under President Donald Trump.”
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED BY DEL. VOGEL
STATUS: PASSED ECONOMIC MATTERS COMMITTEE
HB 582 Labor and Employment - Exemptions From Overtime Pay
A Biden Department of Labor rule would have made 4.3 million salaried workers eligible for overtime pay – covering those earning under $58,656. A Trump-appointed judge struck it down. I introduced HB582 to match that threshold in Maryland and raise wages for thousands of Maryland families.
CHALLENGE: ICE operations have been relentless, affecting U.S. citizens, DACA recipients, and those with protected status. Just weeks ago, the Trump administration admitted to wrongly deporting a Maryland father due to an “administrative error.” He now sits in a Salvadoran maximum-security prison, and they refuse to bring him back.
SOLUTION: Here are two legislative actions I supported to ensure that Maryland is not committing state resources to ICE actions, and to limit enforcement of immigration policies at “sensitive locations” while continuing efforts to get violent criminals off our streets:
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Sensitive Locations Protections: Recent federal actions have made immigrant communities vulnerable to ICE enforcement in places where they should feel safe. HB579 pushes back—directing the Attorney General to work with stakeholders to limit enforcement at “sensitive locations” including schools, hospitals, libraries, and churches.
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Maryland Values Act: HB1222 establishes a statewide standard for immigration enforcement by banning local law enforcement from entering 287(g) agreements, which deputize them to enforce federal immigration laws. The program primarily targets nonviolent individuals, often for minor offenses, and its inadequate training leads to civil rights violations, including racial profiling and false arrests.
This legislation requires notification to federal authorities if an undocumented individual is convicted of a crime of violence, any felony, the use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime, driving under the influence, or engaging in criminal gang activity.
LOWERING COSTS FOR MARYLAND FAMILIES
Families in Gaithersburg and Rockville consistently share their concerns with me about the growing financial strain caused by rising costs for housing, food, healthcare, child care, and energy. Easing this burden remains one of my highest priorities. I’m committed to advancing practical, responsible policies that bring real relief to families by lowering costs.
CHALLENGE: Taxpayers paid $870M in research grants to help develop Jardiance, and Farxiga which treat diabetes and vascular disease. Yet in Maryland, between 2020-24 the prices of those drugs rose from $14.5M to $29.3M. Furthermore, the Trump Administration is rolling-back policies to reduce the cost of prescription drugs.
SOLUTION: I voted for HB424 to make prescription medications more affordable by expanding the Prescription Drug Affordability Board’s (PDAB) authority. This bill allows PDAB to set payment limits for the commercial market, helping Maryland negotiate better prices with pharmaceutical companies. By enabling more efficient drug purchases, Marylanders will see lower healthcare premiums and savings for taxpayers.
CHALLENGE: Healthcare costs remain high as President Trump continues to undermine the Affordable Care Act and the U.S. Congress prepares for cuts to Medicaid.
SOLUTION: I voted for six bills to effectively lower health care costs for Maryland families.
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HB718 creates a commission to assess federal changes to healthcare programs and provide annual recommendations to protect affordable healthcare access.
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HB974 preserves Biden-era coverage for preventive services with no cost-sharing, including immunizations, cancer screenings, and birth control.
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HB1045 updates Maryland’s 2017 law guaranteeing continued funding for family planning and women’s health services if federal funding is cut.
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HB1082 establishes a state-based insurance subsidies program to offset the impact of eliminating federal premium tax credits, preventing a $3K increase in premiums for families.
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HB297 makes Maryland's Young Adult Health Insurance Subsidy Program permanent, improving healthcare affordability for younger Marylanders.
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HB869 makes insurance coverage for telehealth services permanent.
CHALLENGE: Maryland ranks 11th in childcare costs, with families paying an average of $19,000 annually. A key factor is the 26% decline in childcare workers from 2019 to 2022, with the industry still struggling to attract new staff.
SOLUTION: HB 859 promotes access to health insurance for child care professionals and helps them obtain health insurance through the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange or Medicaid. HB 785 will help to lower the price of child care centers while making them more accessible and closer to where families live.
CHALLENGE: Maryland faces a significant housing crisis with an estimated shortage of 96,000 units. 53.3% of renters were ‘cost-burdened’ in 2023, which is the ninth highest rate in the country. Housing prices and rents are rising, as Marylanders struggle to afford housing costs.
SOLUTION: Last year, we made major investments to boost housing construction. HB 503, which I co-sponsored, requires state and local governments to set housing production targets.
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED BY DEL. VOGEL
STATUS: PASSED HOUSE
HB 1257 Residential Leases - Fee Disclosures
Washington Post: Hidden ‘junk fees’ for trash pickup or common areas shock, anger tenants
Renters are being hit with hidden junk fees that drive up already high rents. I introduced HB1257 to stop this practice by requiring commercial landlords to include all mandatory fees in the advertised rent.
CHALLENGE: Rising energy costs are straining families in Gaithersburg and Rockville. Supply issues, gas prices, aging infrastructure, and regulatory delays are driving up prices, leaving many struggling to afford heat and electricity.
SOLUTION: We took important steps to lower energy costs for Maryland families, offering relief from rising rates and creating incentives for new energy generation.
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The Next Generation Energy Act will:
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Provide $200 million in direct relief to residential ratepayers, distributed twice during the 2026 fiscal year when energy rates are highest.
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Accelerates deployment of new energy generation, prioritizing advanced battery storage infrastructure to support delivery of power during peak demand periods.
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Prohibit use of Multiyear Rate Plans by PSC unless they prevent electric companies from filing for reconciliation, saving ratepayers $40 million.
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Ensure gas infrastructure improvements are for safety and require utilities to justify gas infrastructure investments paid for by consumers.
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Ban energy companies from using ratepayer funds for private plane acquisitions, after Exelon justified using funds for executive travel.
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The Renewable Energy Certainty Act will address the two biggest barriers to energy development in Maryland: financing and siting. The legislation:
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Establishes standards for solar and battery storage projects, removing excessive restrictions that slow renewable energy and increase costs.
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Protects consumers from predatory practices, requires 5-year warranties for residential solar systems, and creates a license for solar contractors.
GROWING MARYLAND’S ECONOMY
CHALLENGE: Maryland's economy is facing significant challenges, with Montgomery County in an even more concerning position. Despite statewide GDP growth, job growth remains sluggish, ranking 49th nationally. Additionally, new business creation has slowed, further highlighting the need for targeted policies to drive sustainable economic development across the state. A slow economy means fewer good-paying jobs and reduced state revenue, exacerbating our budget deficit.
SOLUTION: Last year, I sponsored legislation to bolster Maryland's climate tech industry. While engaging with these businesses and others, I learned that delays in permitting and licensing were stalling growth, prompting me to introduce two bills to resolve this. I also introduced HB799 to expand entrepreneurship across Maryland by building on TEDCO's successful MII program and making Montgomery College and other universities eligible for tech entrepreneurship initiatives.
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED BY DEL. VOGEL
HB1038 Department of Commerce - Complaint Portal and Annual Report
FOX 45: Delegate Vogel fights for Maryland businesses, targets permit delays with new legislation
“Delegate Vogel, a Democrat from Montgomery County, is co-sponsoring House Bill 1038, a bipartisan effort to address the issue. The proposed law would require the Department of Commerce to create a complaint portal for reporting when a governmental unit takes longer than 60 days to process an application for a license or permit.”
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED BY DEL. VOGEL
STATUS: PASSED HOUSE, SENATE, ON ITS WAY TO GOVERNOR’S DESK
HB 799 Economic Development - Maryland Innovation Initiative Institution Partnership Extension
"This legislation invests in technology entrepreneurship programs at colleges and universities that have historically been overlooked for such funding. A successful pilot at Frostburg State and Bowie State Universities demonstrated the strong potential of these initiatives to drive innovation and grow the economy.
KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE
Protecting the safety and well-being of Marylanders is one of my highest priorities. This session, I introduced several bills to provide relief to victims of scams, promote safe gun storage, and address critical staffing shortages of 911 operators who are essential to our first response system.
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HB250 Income Tax - Credit for Firearm Safety Devices: Studies have found that safe firearm storage can reduce suicide and unintentional gun deaths among children and teens by up to 54%. HB 250 incentivizes the secure storage and usage of firearms by providing a tax credit for the purchase of a gun safe, lock box, or gun lock.
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HB1390 Income Tax - Subtraction Modification - Losses From Theft or Fraud: In 2023, Marylanders lost over $164 million to scams, from fake online deals to crypto fraud. HB1390 helps victims by letting them deduct stolen funds from their taxable earnings. This tax policy was in place prior to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. As AI-driven scams rise, this bill offers critical relief—especially for seniors.
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HB590 Subtraction Modification - Public Safety Employee Retirement Income: 9-1-1 Specialists are critical first responders, coordinating emergency services to ensure swift and safe help. HB590 grants them the same tax benefits as other public safety workers, recognizing the stress and PTSD risk of their life-saving work.
PUBLIC HEALTH
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED BY DEL. VOGEL
STATUS: PASSED HOUSE, SENATE, ON ITS WAY TO GOVERNOR’S DESK
HB 1131: Buprenorphine - Training Grant Program and Workgroup
This bill creates a $50,000 grant program to train paramedics to administer buprenorphine for fentanyl overdoses and requires a study on access to medically assisted treatment.
GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR ALL MARYLANDERS
This session we made smart, student-focused adjustments to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future— the comprehensive, ten-year plan to strengthen public education in Maryland. The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is fully funded through 2027—without any cuts to community schools, English language learners, or students with disabilities.
The House protected community schools, compensatory education, English learners, and special education. All existing formulas remain intact for these programs.
As a member of the House Education Subcommittee, I worked on key education policies this session—including legislation on cell phone use in schools. We passed a bill requiring local policies to manage classroom use. I also sponsored HB72 to create the Civic Excellence Program, giving students hands-on opportunities to engage in civics and leadership.
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED BY DEL. VOGEL
STATUS: PASSED HOUSE, SENATE, ON ITS WAY TO GOVERNOR’S DESK
HB86: Institutions of Higher Education and Elementary and Secondary Schools - Title VI Coordinators
Jewish Insider: Maryland state legislator introduces legislation to designate Title VI enforcer
Maryland state Del. Joe Vogel is pushing for legislation to require every college and university in the state to publicly designate a coordinator to enforce Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 — a significant expansion of the coordinator mandate already in place for K-12 public schools in Maryland.
A BALANCED BUDGET FOR MARYLAND
Heading into the Legislative Session, Maryland faced its largest budget shortfall since the Great Recession, driven by the expiration of federal COVID-19 relief funds and compounded by federal layoffs under the Trump Administration that are projected to reduce state income tax revenue by $350 million through FY2026.
The Trump–Musk Administration is taking direct shots at Maryland’s economy as they attempt to balance tax cuts for billionaires on the backs of federal workers, public school students, and our most vulnerable residents. In the face of this chaos and uncertainty, our budget represents a balanced and responsible approach that best prepares our state for the economic fallout that Trump’s policies will cause.
In response, we took decisive, responsible action to protect our fiscal stability while laying the groundwork for long-term growth—focusing on strengthening our economy, modernizing government, and enacting targeted spending cuts and tax reforms.
The budget we voted on contains over $1.9 billion in cuts – the biggest cut taken in 16 years. FY26 spending is $400 million less than FY25.
94% of Marylanders will pay the same or less in taxes. We’re asking the wealthiest to pay their fair share and modernizing our tax code to reflect today’s economy.
We’ve added $800 million annually to the Transportation Trust Fund over the past two years. That means safer roads and bridges, expanded commuter bus service, and more accessible, efficient public transit so our constituents can get to work and school safely and on time.
Even in a tight budget year, we increased K–12 education funding by $551 million, raised higher education support by 2%, protected $122 million in local police aid, and protected Developmental Disability funding from devastating cuts. With a record $9.8 billion for public schools and targeted support for high-growth sectors like quantum computing, clean energy, and biotech, we are positioning Maryland for a more resilient and prosperous future.