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Advocates Raise Concern About the Proposed DDA Budget Cuts: People with Disabilities Will Be Hurt

Two weeks ago, the Governor's draft budget for Fiscal Year 2026 was released with major impacts on funding for services Marylanders receive from the Developmental Disabilities Administration. The budget proposal calls for cuts of $194 million from the current fiscal year budget, and $457 million in proposed cuts for the next fiscal year, beginning July 1st. The cuts for FY25 would take effect immediately upon the budget's passage in just two months. This time frame does not allow for sufficient feedback and investigation into the impacts that would be created by these changes for people with IDD, their families, and Community Providers. Read about the cuts and impacts of the proposed budget through the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Coalition fact sheet below.

Making Waves in the News

Advocates across the state have been vocal about the impacts of proposed cuts on the community. Last week, members of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Coalition provided testimony for the Senate B&T Committee. They shared information about potential impacts that would be felt with the proposed cuts and also shared concerns about the lack of stakeholder engagement and input to the decision-making process. “.. we really...desire to be at the table with them to come up with some solutions, because I think we have some ideas of efficiency. We just need our offer to be accepted,” shared Ande Kolp, Executive Director of The Arc Maryland.

One proposed cut is to the Low Intensity Supports Services (LISS) program, which Kolp called a “lifeline” for some Marylanders and their families who do not receive Medicaid Services. This was just one of many concerns highlighted by the Daily Record in the article here. Other concerns include the elimination of the Geographic Differential (cuts to funding for providers and people who have services in 5 Maryland Counties with higher costs of living), reductions in access to dedicated hours (such as 1:1 support) through proposed policy changes, reductions to the funding rates in Self Directed Services, and other proposed changes.

Around 20,500 Marylanders receive supports through Community Providers or Self Directed Services, as shared in the Maryland Matters article here. “People are deeply distressed. They are scared,” shared MACS Executive Director Laura Howell. “Whether it’s a community provider, who’s worried how they’re going to continue to support some of the people they support, or people who self-direct or families who are very scared about these changes. There is a tremendous amount of distress and fear about what this will mean if the legislature can’t turn around these cuts.”

How You Can Share Your Thoughts

We need YOU to let us know how these proposed changes will impact you. Please complete the form below to provide feedback and contact information for advocacy.

Sold Out - DD Day at the Legislature

Feb 13th in Annapolis

One of the biggest advocacy days of the year is coming up soon - Registration is full for DD Day at the Legislature, but you can still tune in online! On February 13th, check out the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Facebook page to watch a livestream of DD Day. The Coalition is still investigating possible overflow space in Annapolis so if you want to join our waitlist for a chance to attend if we secure additional spots, please add your name to the list via the button here to be contacted with updates.

Medicaid: A Lifeline for Marylanders with Disabilities - How to Help Protect It

This year, Congress and the new Administration will debate the size and scope of the federal government, including a review of the Medicaid program. The stakes for people with disabilities could not be higher.

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides health insurance and access to long-term care to more than 1.6 Million Marylanders, including 1 in 3 Marylanders with disabilities.



What Medicaid means for Marylanders:

• Health: Medicaid coverage unlocks access to health care and improves health.
• Financial Security: Medicaid protects families from high healthcare costs.
• Dignity and Community: Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) enable over 100,000 Marylanders with disabilities to live, work, and participate in their communities.
• Federal Investment: The federal government spent $10.6 billion on Medicaid in Maryland in 2023.
• Jobs: Medicaid creates thousands of valuable local jobs in the healthcare sector and increases employment for people with disabilities.
• Stronger Rural Hospitals: Medicaid funding enables rural hospitals and other critical healthcare infrastructure to stay open and provide care to rural residents.

Impact to Maryland’s Economy

• Cuts to federal Medicaid funding would shift costs onto Marylanders, squeezing already tight state, local, and family budgets.
• The state would be forced to make up for the loss in federal funds by raising taxes, reducing eligibility for Medicaid, reducing benefits, increasing costs for individuals and families, paying providers less, or cutting state funding from other areas like K-12 education.
• The risk of cuts to HCBS is especially great because the state spends more on HCBS than any other optional benefit. Maryland already limits HCBS due to constraints on available funding. Over 35,000 Marylanders are currently on a waitlist to receive Medicaid-funded HCBS.
• Without adequate funding for HCBS, thousands of Marylanders with disabilities would lose their independence and be forced into nursing homes or state-run institutions to survive.

How You Can Help

1. Contact Congress to let them know: Medicaid is a lifeline for people with disabilities!
2. Share Your Medicaid Story with The Arc US on why it is important to you or a loved one.
3. Sign a Petition To Protect Medicaid for millions of children and adults with disabilities who rely on it to live in their communities.

Tuesday, January 28th at 1 p.m. in Senate JPR

• SB0078 - Juvenile Child Sex Offenders- Juvenile Sex Offender Registry and Prohibition on In-Person School Attendance

Tuesday, January 28th at 1 p.m. in House JUD

• HB0053 - Task Force on Education Funding and Student Population Growth

Tuesday, January 28th at 1 p.m. in House JUD

• HB0195 - Criminal Procedure- Incompetency to Stand Trial Dismissal

Tuesday, January 28th at 1 p.m. in House W&M

• HB0067 - Election Law - Absentee Ballots - Signature Requirements and Verification
• HB0091 - Elections- In-Person Voting- Proof of Identity
• HB0115 - Election Law- Polling Places- Establishing Voter Identity (Voter Privacy Act of 2025)

Tuesday, January 28th at 2 p.m. in House HGO

• HB0033 - Department of Service and Civic Innovation – Maryland Corps Program Service Year Option Pathways – Revisions

Wednesday, January 29th at 10:30 a.m. in Senate B&T

• SB0359 - Therapeutic Child Care Grant Program - Funding - Alterations

Wednesday, January 29th at 1 p.m. in House HGO

• HB0141 - Task Force on Loneliness and Isolation
• HB0384 - Maryland Disability Service Animal Program- Established

Wednesday, January 29th at 1 p.m. in House W&M

• HB0057 - County Boards of Education- Student Cellular Phone Use Policy- Establishment
• HB0150 - Child Care Centers – Certificated Staff Ratio Requirement – Repeal
• HB0161 - Primary and Secondary Education – Comprehensive Health Education Framework – Established
• HB0185 - Therapeutic Child Care Grant Program - Funding - Alterations
• HB0197 - Public Schools- Restorative Practices Schools- Comprehensive Plan

Wednesday, January 29th at 1 p.m. in Senate FIN

• SB0058 - Labor and Employment – Parental School Engagement Leave Act
• SB0208 - Human Services - Maryland Assistive Technology Program - Establishment

Wednesday, January 29th at 2:30 p.m. in Senate EEE

• SB0029 - Education - Phone Free Schools Pilot Program- Establishment
• SB0068 - Public Schools- Restorative Practices Schools - Comprehensive Plan
• SB0130 - County Boards of Education- Student Cellular Phone Use Policy- Establishment
• SB0368 - County Boards of Education - Student Cellular Phone Use Policy - Establishment (Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act)

Thursday, January 30th at 1 p.m. in Senate FIN

• SB0129 - Public Health - Maryland Commission on Health Equity - Advisory Committee and Hospital Reporting

Thursday, January 30th at 1 p.m. in Senate JPR

• SB0298 - Criminal Procedure - Out of Court Statements - Vulnerable Adult Victims and Witnesses

Thursday, January 30th at 1 p.m. in House W&M

• HB0377 - Prince George’s County – Income Tax – Credit for Employers Providing Parental Engagement Leave, PG 409-25

Tuesday, February 4th at 1 p.m. in Senate FIN

• SB0367 - Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Supportive Housing and Health Services

Tuesday, February 4th at 1 p.m. in House JUD

• HB0312 - Criminal Procedure - Incompetency to Stand Trial

Tuesday, February 4th at 1 p.m. in House W&M

• HB0317 - Election Law - Curbside Voting - Pilot Program

Tuesday, February 4th at 2 p.m. in House HGO

• HB0221 - Department of Information Technology - Maryland Digital Service - Establishment
• HB0300 - State Government - Grants and Contracts - Reimbursement of Indirect Costs

Wednesday, February 5th at 1 p.m. in Senate EEE

• SB0066 - Election Law- Polling Place Procedures- Voting by Elderly Voters and Voters with Disabilities (Accessible and Expedited Voting Act of Maryland)

Wednesday, February 5th at 2 p.m. in Senate FIN

• SB0355 - Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program - Delay of Implementation
• SB0372 - Preserve Telehealth Access Act of 2025

Wednesday, February 5th at 2 p.m. in House W&M

• HB0464 - Special Education - Individualized Education Program Meetings - Secondary Transition Planning Materials
• HB0477 - Family Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers - Adult to Child Ratios - Alterations

Thursday, February 6th at 1 p.m. in Senate EEE

• SB0297 - Sign Language Interpreters – Licensing Requirement

Thursday, February 6th at 1 p.m. in Senate FIN

• SB0382 - Consumer Protection- Right to Repair- Powered Wheelchairs

House of Delegates:

APP - Appropriations

EMC - Economic Matters

E&T - Environment and Transportation

HGO - Health and Government Operations

HRU - Rules and Executive Nominations

JUD - Judiciary

W&M - Ways and Means