As the Maryland General Assembly concluded its 2026 legislative session on April 10, lawmakers approved a state budget that reduced, but did not eliminate, significant cuts to services for Marylanders with developmental disabilities, leaving advocates concerned about long-term sustainability.
The final fiscal year 2027 budget, part of a roughly $70 billion spending plan, includes a net reduction of about $90 million to the Developmental Disabilities Administration, the agency that coordinates services for approximately 19,000 Maryland residents with developmental disabilities.
Gov. Wes Moore had initially proposed more than $150 million in cuts to the agency as part of efforts to close a $1.5 billion budget shortfall. Lawmakers reduced those cuts to about $126 million during budget negotiations, and a supplemental budget restored roughly $36 million, softening, but not reversing, the reductions.
Even with those adjustments, tens of millions in funding cuts remain.
Unlike standalone legislation, most of the changes to disability services this session were driven through the state’s annual budget bill and supplemental appropriations process, rather than a single policy law.
The reductions stem largely from “cost containment” measures proposed by the Moore administration, including changes to reimbursement structures and oversight of self-directed care programs, which allow individuals with disabilities to hire their own caregivers.
Lawmakers rejected some of the most controversial proposals, including a cap on individual care budgets, but still approved substantial reductions to overall funding levels.
In addition to the budget itself, several bills related to developmental disability services moved through the General Assembly:
- Senate Bill 742
A measure aimed at reducing administrative barriers in Medicaid waiver programs for individuals with developmental disabilities. The bill passed with broad support and was seen as a limited but meaningful improvement amid broader funding cuts.
- House Bill 1015
Addresses eligibility for services for individuals who recently relocated to Maryland, reflecting ongoing legislative attention to access within the DDA system.
Broader legislative discussions, including proposals such as “Ralph’s Act,” focused on protections for people with disabilities, though the central financial impact this year came through the budget process rather than standalone policy changes.
Disability advocates have warned the reductions could destabilize services. Ande Kolp, executive director of The Arc Maryland, said similar funding changes “amount to kind of kicking the legs out from under these providers,” according to Capital News Service.
Because DDA services are partially funded through Medicaid, state-level reductions can trigger larger overall losses when federal matching funds are considered, amplifying the impact on services.
Families and providers testified that reductions could lead to workforce shortages, reduced access to care, and increased reliance on institutional settings, outcomes many advocates say the state has worked for years to avoid.
A second year of cuts
The 2026 session marks the second consecutive year of significant reductions to developmental disability services, a pattern that has raised alarm among providers and advocacy groups.
Sen. Guy Guzzone (Democrat, District 13, Howard County), chair of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, described the budget as “the best of the worst choices,” according to WYPR.
While lawmakers mitigated some of the proposed reductions, advocates say the final budget leaves unresolved concerns about the long-term stability of Maryland’s disability services system.
With the legislative session now concluded, attention is expected to shift toward implementation of the budget and continued advocacy ahead of the next fiscal cycle.
