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Commerce seeks full funding for attraction tools; DLS flags possible reductions and oversight items
Summary
The Department of Legislative Services recommended a range of FY26 reductions to Department of Commerce programs and questioned several proposed or newly capitalized initiatives; Acting Commerce Secretary Harry Coker defended investments in tourism, biotech, manufacturing and a $25 million
Department of Legislative Services analyst Elizabeth Bridal presented the fiscal 2026 budget analysis for the Maryland Department of Commerce and recommended several potential reductions and follow‑up items while Acting Secretary Harry Coker and commerce officials urged the subcommittee to retain strategic investments to support job growth and industry attraction.
DLS summary and proposed adjustments. Bridal told the committee that the Department of Commerce fiscal 2026 allowance increased roughly $33.6 million to about $310 million and highlighted programs and recommendations including: reducing tourism development board funding to the statutory minimum, using fund balances instead of new FY26 appropriations for some micro‑loan funds, lowering proposed allocations for certain pilot and grant programs (for example, DLS recommended reducing the Build Our Future grant pilot from $10 million to…
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