This is the fourth year of my first term as a Maryland State Delegate. I have the honor and privilege of representing District 9A in the Maryland General Assembly. After serving three years on the Ways and Means Committee, I am now serving on the newly formed Government, Labor, and Elections Committee.
Senator Katie Fry Hester and I established the Maryland Legislative STEM and Emerging Technology Caucus (https://marylandstemtech.org/). Our caucus includes two senators and eleven delegates, and we are working to strengthen Maryland’s STEM education pipeline while supporting responsible innovation in emerging technologies.
Affordability, accountability, and opportunity were the main themes of the 449th Maryland Legislative Session. Below are some of the key initiatives I sponsored and supported during the 2026 session.
Primary Sponsored Bill Highlights
During the 2026 legislative session, our office filed 13 bills—two passed both chambers, one passed the House, and one was incorporated into another bill that ultimately passed both chambers. This year’s work included legislation to strengthen school cybersecurity, support student learning, expand STEM and robotics education, lower utility costs, promote economic growth, and improve government transparency. Highlights of the bills that passed include:
HB0957 – Cybersecurity – Standards and Compliance – Alterations
This bill strengthens protections for Maryland students and faculty against cyberattacks by requiring local school systems to certify compliance with the State Minimum Cybersecurity Standards every two years, along with annual reviews by the Department of Information Technology. I am grateful to our Senate cross-filing partner, Senator Hester, for her support and mentorship.
HB0163 – County Boards of Education – Student Technology Use Policy – Requirements
This bill requires each county school board to develop and implement a policy limiting student use of cell phones and other devices during instructional time, while preserving exceptions for documented health needs, language translation tools, and other appropriate uses. After passing both chambers in different forms last year, it was merged into HB525 this year and passed both chambers.
HB1176 – Howard County – Board of Education Budget – Percentage of County General Fund Revenue
This bill requires the Howard County Executive and Howard County Council to report the percentage of general funds allocated to the operating budget of the Howard County Public School System. The goal is greater transparency and accountability in school funding. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB0531 – State Department of Education – Public Schools STEM and Robotics Program – Study
This bill seeks to expand STEM education and establish robotics competitions as varsity programs in public schools across Maryland. The amended bill passed the House but did not receive a Senate vote. I plan to bring it back in 2027.
This bill requires the Governor to annually proclaim January 13 as Korean American Day and encourages educational and cultural organizations to observe it with appropriate programs and activities. After four years of advocacy, this bill passed both chambers this session.
HB753 — Protects medically vulnerable residents from home tax sales.
HB156 — Allows individuals to change party affiliation during early voting in the primary.
HB852 — Expands a scholarship program to include correctional officers, supporting access to higher education.
HB637 — Maintains access to vaccines, screenings, and preventive services amid changes in federal law.
Affordability: Reducing Utility Cost
Lowering the cost of living, especially reducing energy cost, was a major focus this session. The bipartisan Utility RELIEF Act of 2026(HB1532 / SB841) reduces utility costs while strengthening Maryland’s energy system.
Returns at least $150 a year to Maryland households.
Prohibits utilities from charging ratepayers for excessive executive compensation.
Requires data centers to pay their fair share for impacts on the electric grid.
Prevents households from bearing the cost of extending power lines to remote areas.
Pauses speculative forecasting practices that can drive up family utility bills.
We still need to do more to address rising utility costs, and I plan to introduce additional legislative ideas for the 2027 session.
Opportunity: Supporting Economic Growth
I co-sponsored the DECADE Act (HB898), which creates a comprehensive 10-year plan to grow Maryland’s economy and position our state as a leader in future-focused industries.
Expands and modernizes the Build Our Future Grant Program with matching grants of up to $2 million for innovative infrastructure projects in high-growth sectors.
Revitalizes the RISE Zone Program to better connect higher education and federal assets with job creation.
Provides long-term tax credit for businesses engaged in research, development, and security-related work.
I also want to recognize my District 9A partner, Delegate Ziegler, for her bipartisan economic opportunity bill, HB0461. It helps rural jurisdictions compete for state and federal funding by providing technical assistance and capacity-building support to small towns and local nonprofits.
Additional measures this session expanded support for small businesses and entrepreneurs by increasing access to capital and technical assistance, raising revenue limits for cottage food businesses, simplifying franchise expansion, lowering operating costs through flexible business addresses, and encouraging transit-oriented development to create more housing opportunities.
Accountability: Government of the People
I believe in the government of the people, by the people, and for the people. That means making sure state government agencies operate efficiently, effectively, and transparently.
HB1369 establishes an Audit and Finance Compliance Unit and strengthens agency performance monitoring and audit follow-up.
HB1422 improves financial leadership standards and oversight of contract-related damages.
HB1557 increases scrutiny of high-cost real estate transactions to protect taxpayers from unnecessary spending.
HB0193 improves the state procurement system by making it more transparent, efficient, and predictable.
Other Legislative Highlights
HB661 — Muslim and Jewish Heritage Month Recognition
Requires the Governor to proclaim January as Muslim American Heritage Month and May as Jewish American Heritage Month.
Improves care quality and patient outcomes in Maryland nursing homes by requiring appropriate certification for physicians applying to serve as medical directors.
HB634 — Autism and Dementia Training for First Responders
Improves police training and coordination among first responders when interacting with autism and dementia communities during time-sensitive emergencies.
HB50 — Special Elections for General Assembly Vacancies
Requires special elections to fill certain early-term General Assembly vacancies. The bill did not pass because of various amendments, but I will continue supporting it next year.
Allows eligible military-connected students to enroll in Maryland public schools remotely, without fees or in-person requirements, helping prevent enrollment delays for students with disabilities.
Looking Ahead
The 2026 legislative session brought meaningful progress, but our work is far from done. As we look ahead, I remain committed to advancing practical, bipartisan solutions that strengthen our schools, support working families, grow our economy, and ensure government remains accountable to the people it serves.
Please feel free to contact me at chao.wu with any questions, concerns, or suggestions. I look forward to connecting with many of you at schools, restaurants, shops, community events and monthly Meet and Greet events across District 9A this summer.
Sincerely yours,
Delegate Chao Wu, PhD
Maryland House of Delegates
Legislative District 9A, Howard and Montgomery Counties
Government, Labor and Elections Committee
Co-chair, Maryland Legislative STEM and Emerging Technology Committee
