Second Post-Session Bill Signing Ceremony

---

Remarks as delivered
​Delivered on Tuesday, April 28, 202​​6​

Good morning, everybody.

We know that here in Maryland and all across the country, people have one very simple question for all of their elected officials.

And that question is simply: Are you going to do what you say you're going to do?

Back in January, we stood together and we said what we were going to do.

We said that we would make life just a little bit more affordable for the people of Maryland.

We said that we would strengthen Maryland's economic competitiveness.

And we said that we were going to protect our people — no matter who or where that threat was coming from.

And then two weeks ago, when the legislative session ended, we're thankful that collectively — together — we were able to keep our promises and deliver for our people.

We're thankful that it continues a streak and a trend of saying that we will work with anybody, regardless of background or political party to make sure that we're doing the work for the people of this state.

And we're thankful that, under our administration, 97% of the bills that we have introduced and passed have been passed with bipartisan support — both Democrats and Republicans.

But none of this happens without true partners inside the work.

None of this happens without people like Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller.

None of this happens without people like Senate President Bill Ferguson.

None of this happens without House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk.

None of this happens without members of the House and members of the Senate.

None of this happens without every single member of our cabinet and our administration.

None of this happens without the advocates, and the leaders, and the ones who showed up when it was cold, when it was raining, and who said that we are going to make sure that our people are remembered and fought for.

This is what progress looks like.

And this is what progress requires: this room.

Marylanders who show up and who fight for what's right — who know that as long as you never forget who you're fighting for, you know you'll never stop fighting.

We're grateful to be here with some very important family members: the Ward and the Otto families. We're thankful to have you here.

Also with the Cover family. We're deeply grateful to have you here.

And we want to let you know that your loved ones are not forgotten.

And we're better because of them.

Because of all of you, Maryland will be safer and stronger for all the people who call this place home.

Many of the bills that I will sign today are about protecting our people.

At a time when our people are being squeezed by the cost of everything, especially groceries — and we see it and we hear it all the time as we walk into a grocery store…

And at a time when technology can predict what we need, when we need it, what we'll pay for it, and also when we'll pay more for it…

And at a time when we are watching how big companies are then using those analytics against us to make record profits, Maryland is not just pushing back…

Maryland is pushing forward because we are going to protect our people.

So today, I will sign HB 895, the Protection from Predatory Pricing Act, into law.

Today, Maryland becomes the first state in the country to ban price manipulation in supermarkets and grocery stores all across the state of Maryland.

Because people deserve to know the shelf is actually the price they're going to pay when they get to the checkout counter.

People deserve to know that the price they pay is not different from the customer who walked in just before them, or different from the customer who walks in right after them.

People deserve to know that their data will not be used against them to charge them more.

And today, Maryland is putting an end to any forms of price manipulation.

Today, I'll also sign SB 255, the Voting Rights Act of 2026.

It was sponsored by Senator Sydnor and Delegate Wims.

Thank you for the leadership.

And this bill happened because there are folks here who made this bill a priority.

This bill is happening because the Legislative Black Caucus made this bill a priority.

This bill is happening because our friends at the Legal Defense Fund made this bill a priority.

What this bill does is prohibit election methods that dilute the votes of protected classes at the county and at the municipal level.

It removes barriers to the ballot box.

It ensures that every voice will be heard and every voice will be counted.

And it ensures that if you honestly believe in democracy, it means more people should participate — and not fewer.

This bill will make sure that we are not just strengthening our democratic values, but our democratic systems.

Today, I will also sign bills that protect the children of our state.

One is HB 1559, the Children in Unlicensed Settings and Pediatric Hospital Overstays Patient Placements.

This bill gives the state the tools and oversight to make sure that all children are in the most appropriate setting.

And I want to thank the Speaker for her work on this.

This was work that the Speaker had been leading on well before she held the gavel.

And she made sure that when she got that gavel, it was going to get across that finish line.

The second is HB 980, or Kanaiyah’s Law.

This was sponsored by Delegate Griffith.

And I want to thank him for his steadfast leadership and push to make this happen.

This law establishes a guardianship assistance program, providing financial assistance to the families who step up to raise children in their care.

It creates a State Foster Youth Ombudsman — an independent advocate within the Office of the Attorney General to investigate complaints.

This bill bears the name of Kanaiyah Ward — someone who should be here today.

What happened to Kanaiyah was a tragedy.

What happened to Kanaiyah was unacceptable.

And as I've said before, and I'll continue to say it: every child in this state deserves to be supported.

Every child in this state deserves to be safe.

And every child in our care deserves the same standard of care that any one of us would expect and hope for for our own children.

Today, Kanaiyah’s grandfather, Michael Ward, and mother, Brooke Ward, are here with us.

In February, Brooke testified before the House Judiciary Committee.

She said that she hoped Maryland would do more for young people who need help.

She said that she hoped that the systems that they rely on would work.

And she told us to put politics aside and to focus on something that we all have in common: a love of our children.

Brooke, because of your courage, because of your conviction, because of your strength, and because of your ability to turn pain into progress, we are here today.

Your hopes of making sure that all of our children can be safe and have an advocate is happening because you used your voice.

And for you, and for Michael, I would ask that you all would join me up here — because I want to offer you the first pens of this signing in recognition of your work and in recognition of a beautiful life that is now making countless lives better.

[Governor Moore presents pens to and embraces Brooke Ward and Michael Ward.]

God bless you and thank you. God bless you, guys.

And with that, it is my honor to turn the podium over to one of my wonderful partners in the work, Senate President Bill Ferguson.

###