Skip to content
A graphic showing the Maryland state flag waving in the wind

Legislative Priorities & Critical Issues 

Champion policies that benefit companies, employees and communities

Our Legislative Priorities & Critical Issues for 2024 

Our 2024 priorities reflect member input and will drive our work this year. Focused on areas including business regulations, health care, taxes, transportation and more in Annapolis and Washington, the priorities drive our work to make Maryland better for business and communities.

Make sure you have a voice in Annapolis and Washington, D.C. Join a policy committee and lend your voice, perspective and expertise. Together, we will shape policy to make Maryland a state where all business and their communities can thrive.

Our policy agenda focuses on issues including:

Legislative Priorities & Critical Issues in Maryland

Get an in-depth look at the pressing issues and legislative priorities we've identified for the 2024 Legislative Session.

2024 STATE ISSUE

Business Taxes

As Maryland’s FY 2024 budget remains uncertain alongside expectations of budget deficits in the coming years, the Maryland Chamber supports responsible government spending alongside targeted cuts to maintain key government programs while avoiding new cost burdens on businesses. We urge Governor Moore and the General Assembly to develop well-balanced fiscal strategies that promote economic stability and foster job creation without disproportionately impacting Maryland’s business community. Policy makers must consider the trade-off between generating new revenue and enhancing Maryland’s economic competitiveness.

2024 STATE ISSUE

Transportation Funding Solutions 

As Maryland continues to incentivize electric vehicle adoption, it is imperative the General Assembly take steps to address the sustainability of the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) and its reliance on the gas-tax as a key funding source. The TTF is Maryland’s primary source of funding for infrastructure and transportation needs. Enhanced and sustainable funding solutions are necessary for Maryland’s economy and the safe and efficient movement of people and goods. As such, the Maryland Chamber will use our voice on the Maryland Commission on Transportation Revenue and Infrastructure Needs to advocate for equitable transportation funding solutions and a first-class transportation network.

2024 STATE ISSUE

Data Privacy 

The General Assembly has consistently considered data privacy legislation for several years. The Maryland Chamber supports a comprehensive approach to data privacy, enforced by Maryland’s Attorney General, keeping in mind policies already adopted by neighboring states. Avoiding a patchwork of laws provides a clear set of rules for businesses, no matter their location.

2024 STATE ISSUE

Military Retirement Relief

Recognizing the many benefits veterans bring to their communities, Maryland’s neighboring states have made it a priority to recruit and retain military retirees. As a result, Maryland continues to suffer brain drain as military retirees take their talents and experiences elsewhere. With a high concentration of cybersecurity, intelligence and defense related jobs alongside major workforce challenges, it is time Maryland’s elected leaders get serious about veteran retention. The Maryland Chamber supports the elimination of the state income tax on uniformed services retirement pay. The elimination of the state income tax on military retirement pay will make Maryland competitive in retaining veterans and their families while solving a major workforce challenge.

2024 STATE ISSUE

Increasing Child Care Availability

The Maryland Chamber has supported legislation and budget initiatives in the past several sessions aimed at incentivizing the opening of new childcare facilities, as well as the expansion of existing ones. The cost and availability of childcare remains a contributing factor to Marylanders’ decisions to return to the workforce. Addressing Maryland’s workforce shortage must be a priority issue for the Governor and the General Assembly. In fact, according to data from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Maryland only has 40 workers for every 100 jobs in the state, ranking the state in the third most severe worker shortage index in the country. As such, we will continue to support legislative and budget initiatives in the 2024 session to expand and support childcare facilities, allowing Marylanders to get back to work and address this critical piece of the workforce shortage.

Join us. By working together with our 6,800+ members, alliance of partners and state legislators on critical policy issues that directly effect Maryland’s job creators and economy, we can make Maryland better for business — and in turn, make Maryland more prosperous, resilient and better for all. 

Apply for membership

I’m interested