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Lobbyists brief Bowie council on 2025 state budget, $6.2 million racetrack allocation and new taxes and programs
Summary
Cornerstone Government Affairs representatives told the council the state budget preserves a $6.2 million allocation for the Bowie racetrack and summarized major state tax and fee changes, the Protect Our Federal Workers Act, and other legislation affecting municipal interests.
Representatives from Cornerstone Government Affairs briefed council on key outcomes of the 2025 Maryland legislative session and budget that could affect Bowie.
Cornerstone said the state budget preserved $6.2 million in funding that will be allocated to Prince George’s County for two projects tied to the Bowie racetrack and an associated racing program; those funds will be available for the county to draw down after the county’s FY2026 budget process and once state fiscal year 2026 begins on July 1. The presenters said the allocation survived a contentious state budget season.
Cornerstone also outlined several statewide tax and fee changes in the budget reconciliation act: new higher personal income tax brackets (for 2025 taxable year) for high earners, a targeted 2 percent capital‑gains tax for higher incomes, limits on itemized deductions at higher income levels, a small increase in the county income tax cap (from 3.2% to 3.3%), multiple sales‑tax changes (including a sales tax on information‑technology and data services, and a higher tax on recreational cannabis and sports betting), and an increase in vehicle excise tax and rental‑vehicle taxes. Presenters noted most changes are effective July 1, 2025; income tax bracket changes cover calendar year 2025.
On policy measures, Cornerstone highlighted the Protect Our Federal Workers Act: it provides $5 million from Maryland’s Rainy Day Fund for noninterest loans to displaced federal workers, authorizes the attorney general’s office to assist affected federal employees in civil or criminal matters tied to agency actions, and establishes an expedited hiring pathway so state and local governments can consider eligible federal employees for vacant positions more quickly.
The briefing also flagged legislation on youth service bureaus to improve coordination with the Department of Juvenile Services, an annexation reporting change requiring counties to provide the Maryland Department of Planning a copy of annexation resolutions, and two bills altering Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) membership and system‑development charge exemptions for Prince George’s County. The presenters offered to advise Bowie on how the county might administer the racetrack funds and provided to‑do follow‑up items for staff on county liaison and county‑level advocacy.
Council members asked for a brief written summary and follow up on the annexation/transparency bill and on how the $6.2 million racetrack allocation will be handled at the county level; Cornerstone said the money sits with the county and that Cornerstone can advise the city on coordination with county officials.
