ANNAPOLIS — The pace of the 2023 session of the Maryland General Assembly may likely seem different than in recent years. The vast majority of COVID-19 restrictions and modifications are gone, as is an eight-year era of divided government.
The legislature will have a new Democratic governor in Wes Moore, the first Black man to lead Maryland and just the third elected as governor in the country. The Democratic-controlled assembly will also have new budget authority.
There will also be dozens of new legislators in the House, led by Speaker Adrienne Jones, and in the Senate, led by Senate President Bill Ferguson.
Not including any appointments Moore may announce, the 141-member House will have at least 29 new members. The 41-member Senate will have nine freshman.
“This is a different year, since we’re now (not) only in a new term, new governor and a lot of other new members, we have several new members and others that are in the positions that we need to deal with in terms of our priority,” said Jones.
With all of that change, the pace and priorities might seem more modest than usual, at least at the start.
Both Ferguson and Jones expressed optimism and believed there would be improved communication with the governor’s office under Moore. Still, Ferguson said, the work of the General Assembly will continue even as the new administration, led by an executive with no government experience, finds its footing.
“You know, look at the end of the day, and I think about the last...
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