Two Weeks In: An Annapolis Update | Redistricting and the Budget

Dear Neighbor,

We are officially two weeks into the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session, and I wanted to share an update on how things are going in Annapolis and what we have been working on so far.

This session began with a historic moment for the Maryland House of Delegates. We have a new Speaker, Joseline Peña-Melnyk, who is not only an extraordinary leader but also my longtime friend, mentor and former committee chair. Watching her step into this role has been deeply meaningful to me, both personally and professionally. With a new Speaker came many changes across the House, including new leadership roles for many people and new committee structures.

I am honored to share that Speaker Peña-Melnyk appointed me as a Deputy Majority Whip. In this role, I work closely with House leadership and colleagues to help move legislation forward and ensure we are delivering results for Marylanders! I am grateful for the trust she has placed in me and energized by the responsibility as I continue representing District 16.

I am also proud to be continuing my work on the newly reorganized Health Committee. Last session, I served on the Health and Government Operations Committee, and health policy remains at the core of why I came to Annapolis. This year, I am serving on three subcommittees: Elder and Long-Term Care, Maternal, Infant and Child Health, and Public Health and Minority Health Disparities subcommittees. These issues come up constantly when I am visiting with constituents in the district, from caring for aging loved ones to addressing longstanding health disparities.

Please allow me to share my perspective on three important issues that have generated a lot of questions and concern from constituents:

Why I’m Voting Yes on Redistricting and Why We Need to Act Now

Over the past several months, many of you have reached out asking where I stand on mid-cycle congressional redistricting and why this moment feels different. I was proud to come out in support of redistricting early, before this conversation became mainstream, because I believed then, as I do now, that failing to act carries real and serious risks for Maryland and for our democracy.

I am also excited to report that there is real movement on this issue. The bill had its hearing today in the House Rules and Executive Nominations Committee and is expected to advance out of committee and reach the House floor later this week. When it does, I will be a very enthusiastic YES vote. You can see the bill information here: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0488/?ys=2026rs

When House leadership asked last year whether I would support moving forward on redistricting, I quickly responded yes. I did so after closely following what is happening across the country and considering what is at stake in the 2026 elections.

Red states, after direct pressure from President Trump and his allies, have already moved aggressively to redraw congressional maps mid-decade. Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, Utah, and others have openly stated that their goal is to manufacture additional Republican seats, in some cases dismantling minority districts that were protected by the Voting Rights Act. The Supreme Court has effectively given states the green light to engage in partisan gerrymandering, and Republican legislatures are using it boldly and without apology.

In Maryland, this bill takes a very different approach.

HB 488 creates a new congressional map for the 2026 election based on the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Commission, with precise population balance. It then does something critically important: it puts the long-term use of that map directly in voters’ hands through a constitutional amendment. Marylanders, not politicians, will decide whether to use this map for the remainder of the decade. If voters reject it, the state reverts to the current map until the next census.

The bill also clarifies state constitutional language that has recently been misinterpreted by the courts and allows for expedited review by the Maryland Supreme Court, preventing years of legal limbo and uncertainty.

In short, this legislation is careful and democratic. And it recognizes a hard truth: there is risk in acting, but there is also risk in doing nothing.

Right now, the House of Delegates appears to be prepared to pass this bill. But the Senate is where we need your help.

The Senate President thus far is refusing to bring this legislation up for a vote, even though many individual senators have expressed support. We have seen this pattern before. The House leads on urgent issues, the Senate urges caution, and real people pay the price for delay.

Last year, the House passed legislation banning 287(g) agreements because we knew how devastating inaction would be for our immigrant communities under a Trump administration. The Senate chose to wait. A year later, after countless harms, they are now eager to pass the very bill they once said was not necessary yet. After a year of devastating ICE actions against citizens and non-citizens, documented and undocumented alike.

We cannot keep governing that way.

Leadership means being willing to act before the damage is done, not after. That is why I believe so strongly that we must move forward now.

Here is how you can help. Contact your state senator and other state senators you know. Ask them how they plan to vote on this bill. And if they say they support it or will support it if it comes to a vote, push them to do more than quietly agree. Ask them to speak to their colleagues and to the Senate President and demand that this bill be brought to the floor for a vote.  An issue this important to democracy should get an up or down vote on the Senate floor.

The House is doing its job, making tough decisions to protect Marylanders and our democratic institutions. It is time for the Senate to join us now, not when it is politically safer or when the consequences of inaction are already behind us.

I also want to be clear about this. I understand that not everyone reading this will agree with me. While I am very open about my views, I value thoughtful discourse on this issue and on all others. I want to know what is on your mind. If you have thoughts you want to share, please reply directly to this email. I read those messages, and your perspective matters to me.

As always, I value your engagement and your voice. These decisions affect every Marylander, and they are stronger when you are part of them.

Standing Against Hate in Our Community

Last week, anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian graffiti was discovered on the exterior of Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda. While it was quickly removed, the harm it caused to students and families is real.

This is unacceptable. Hate-filled language that targets Muslims and Palestinians, or any community, is threatening, dehumanizing, and has no place in our schools or our community. As civil rights leaders have made clear, language that calls for violence or the erasure of an entire people is not something we can shrug off or normalize.

I am grateful to the students, staff, and community members who reported the graffiti right away, and to school officials and first responders who acted quickly to remove it and begin an investigation. I’m also grateful to the many community leaders across our county who spoke out against it. Montgomery County is better than this. We all must condemn hate clearly and consistently, support the students and families who are hurt, and ensure our schools remain places where every child knows they belong. There is no place for Islamophobia, antisemitism, racism, or hate of any kind in our classrooms, our neighborhoods, or our county.

Budget Update: The Reality We’re Facing and What It Means Locally

Last week, we received the Governor’s proposed budget, so now its up to the legislature to begin making changes where necessary. Unlike the federal government, Maryland is constitutionally required to pass a balanced budget every year. That requirement means we must confront fiscal challenges head on and make responsible decisions about spending and priorities.

This year’s budget is shaped heavily by federal actions that have hit Maryland particularly hard. No state has more federal exposure than Maryland. We are home to nearly 20 federal agencies, and since early 2025 our state has lost 25,000 jobs, including 10,000 federal jobs in a single month, the largest one-month drop since 1990. These losses ripple through our economy, reducing consumer spending, increasing unemployment claims, and placing additional strain on local governments.

At the same time, federal cuts to core programs are creating new pressures. More than 684,000 Marylanders rely on SNAP to feed their families, and proposed federal changes would reduce benefits while shifting hundreds of millions of dollars in costs onto the state. Medicaid covers more than 1.5 million people in Maryland, and tens of thousands are at risk of losing coverage under new federal requirements.

As a result, Maryland is again facing a budget deficit. This year is about tightening our belts, not raising taxes, and being clear about what that requires. Over the coming weeks, the General Assembly will review the Governor’s proposal, identify savings, strengthen accountability, and make adjustments to protect essential services while keeping our state affordable and sustainable.

Even in a tight year, we are continuing to invest in our communities. The Capital Improvement Program provides $105.359 million for Montgomery County. Allocations for communities and organizations within District 16 include:

• Carderock Springs Water Main Replacement – $8,125,000

• Glen Echo Park Spanish Ballroom Renovation – $1,000,000

• Suburban Hospital Emergency Department Expansion – $1,000,000

• Bethesda Arts and Entertainment District Inc. Public Art Improvements and Projects – $100,000

  
  

Thank you, as always, for staying engaged and for trusting me to represent you in Annapolis.

Warmly,

Delegate Teresa Woorman, District 16

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 Meet the Team!

Karen Gottlieb(Chief of Staff):

Karen is back for her second Legislative Session serving as Chief of Staff for Delegate Teresa Woorman, where she plays a vital role in driving strategic initiatives, enhancing organizational efficiency, and ensuring seamless coordination across the team. Prior to joining Delegate Woorman’s staff, Karen was an office fellow in the Montgomery County Executive’s Office. There, she worked directly with the Director of Economic and Business Development to attract businesses to Montgomery County. Karen holds a Master’s degree in Marketing Analytics and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Public Policy from the University of Maryland, College Park. A Montgomery County native, Karen attended Quince Orchard High School, where she was a cheerleader and an active community member. Outside of work, Karen continues her involvement in the community as a cheerleading coach at a Montgomery County gym. She enjoys watching movies, reading, and spending time with her family, especially her two cats.

David Chisom (Deputy Chief of Staff) (not pictured):

David joins Delegate Woorman’s team from his most recent role as the Legislative Writer in the Veteran’s Health Administration within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). He also brings a wealth of practical knowledge from serving as a Project Manager whose team advocated for the inclusion of underserved small businesses within federal contracting. Prior to working in the public sector, David’s community involvement through financial institutions, saved at-risk businesses from loan default in the Washington DC area. Away from the office, David enjoys trivia nights, gardening, and time spent with family.

Natalie Prieto (Legislative intern):

This legislative session is Natalie’s second term serving as a legislative intern in Delegate Woorman’s office. Natalie is from Long Island, New York, and is currently a Public Health Science intern at the University of Maryland. After graduating from the University of Maryland, she plans to attend law school in the fall of 2026. This session, Natalie will continue supporting the office through legislative research, constituent services, and daily operations.

Jenna Linthicum (Legislative intern):

Jenna is a senior at the University of Maryland completing a dual degree in public policy and communications on the public relations track. She has developed an interest in achieving affordable solutions, with a growing focus on healthcare accessibility and quality of care. Outside of the classroom, Jenna enjoys reading, staying active, thrifting, and exploring new places. In this session, she hopes to learn more about the legislative process in action and how small scale changes can directly help our communities.

Health Committee Update

AHEAD Model Briefing

The Health Committee held a briefing on January 21st, 2026 to discuss the Achieving Healthcare Efficiency through Accountable Design (AHEAD) Model which was developed by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to reduce healthcare costs and improve outcomes. This model aims to maintain hospital budgets to better coordinate care, expand access and delivery, and increase choice and competition to establish clear health improvement goals. 

By January 2027, Maryland will be required to select their choice and competition policies, which will determine the focus area for the state. AHEAD is currently in the implementation period, aiming to reach their all-payer growth and primary care investment targets before 2027. The committee plans to proportionately meet the needs of each county, depending on their unique needs and populations. This is a major transformation where it is difficult to determine how cost shifting will work. AHEAD provides the opportunity to develop more primary care centers, measure disease and mental health conditions more closely, and monitor the number of healthy days Marylanders have. However, hospitals will be confronted with a total reduction of $870 million from public payers, signaling uncertainty in how the rest of the revenue will be raised.

The Consumer Health Information Hub Briefing

The Health Committee also held a briefing on the Consumer Health Information Hub (HB1082, 2022) which was presented by the Maryland Consumer Health Information Hub from the University of Maryland School of Public Health. During the briefing, members outlined goals to advance health literacy, promote the use of plain language, and expand language access in Maryland so that public health communications are easily understood by all residents. Improving the clarity and accessibility of health information will allow for more effective communication and stronger public engagement around important public health issues. Health literacy will allow for individuals to be able to find information, understand and use it and then eventually make informed decisions for themselves and others.