Maryland’s innovation economy relies on the availability of abundant energy to power laboratories, manufacturing facilities, and data centers. The Maryland Tech Council supports policies that enable greater grid capacity and more new generation in the state. MTC believes that the goal of providing the electrons needed to support advanced industries can be achieved alongside reaching our state’s ambitious climate targets. Promoting an “all of the above” approach will ensure that the state can secure the resources necessary to support growth and keep energy affordable for all Marylanders. To achieve this, Maryland should also prioritize reforms that improve access to interconnection and align state permitting timelines with the realities of private investment. A predictable and transparent energy policy framework will signal that Maryland is open for business to companies that require energy-intensive operations.

Maryland needs to set itself apart from its regional competitors as a world-class environment to establish and run a business. The state’s budget challenges are in no small part the result of flatlining private sector growth, especially in the technology and life science industries. Maryland’s newly enacted “tech tax” on vital services has dramatically increased the cost of research, production, and basic operations for firms across the state, contributing to the current stagnation. The Maryland Tech Council supports repealing the “tech tax” to put Maryland on competitive footing in the race to attract cutting-edge industries along with the jobs and revenue they provide for the state. MTC will also strongly oppose any new proposals that seek to expand the existing tax or regulatory burden on the life sciences and technology sectors, as we cannot afford to further harm Maryland’s standing as a viable home for innovation.

The Maryland Tech Council opposes the implementation of Upper Payment Limits (UPLs), as they cap insurance reimbursements without guaranteeing lower out-of-pocket costs for patients. Price controls threaten the private investment needed to develop new cures while failing to address the root causes of high drug prices. MTC urges policymakers to reject UPLs and instead focus on regulating Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to ensure that negotiated rebates are passed directly to patients. Overall, Maryland should seek solutions that increase transparency across the drug supply chain, promote value-based care, and preserve the incentives that have made our state a national leader in life sciences. MTC stands ready to work with policymakers and patient advocates on approaches that reduce costs at the pharmacy counter without undermining access to current or future treatment.

The Maryland Tech Council favors policies that support the immense positive potential of artificial intelligence while ensuring that there are appropriate guardrails to protect the public. AI has already begun leveling the playing field for small businesses and startups, enabling them to access computing resources that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago. Maryland cannot afford to hamstring its own progress with red tape and overregulation. Furthermore, Maryland should seek ways to responsibly incorporate AI into our state’s government operations, enabling our state’s civil service to stretch their resources further. MTC supports a risk-based regulatory approach that focuses on high-risk use cases and aligns with emerging national and international standards. By pairing clear, narrowly tailored guardrails with incentives for research, testing, and deployment, Maryland can position itself as a hub for trustworthy AI development and adoption.

In the face of difficult budget realities, Maryland should continue its support of the institutions and programs that are essential to Maryland’s life science and technology ecosystem. Critical lifelines, such as the Build Our Future grant, the Talent Innovation Fund, and other grant programs aimed at improving Maryland’s workforce and start-up climate should remain intact. Maryland should also continue to support fundamental research in life sciences and technology at our state’s universities as well as specialized workforce development programs across our education system. These investments are the underpinnings for the intellectual property and human capital that Maryland’s advanced industries rely on.