Latest News from Senator Rosapepe's Office March 2026

Major issues on 2026 legislative session

Holding down utility rates 

Electric and gas rates are too high and rising too fast. Last year, the legislature provided rebates on residential bills and directed the state Public Service Commission to crack down on PEPCO and Washington Gas rates and accelerate the expansion of cost-effective clean energy. But it’s not enough. That’s why this year Delegates Joseline Pena-Melnyk, Ben Barnes, Mary Lehman, and I are working to make sure energy-guzzling data centers pay their own way. 

Protecting Beltsville from ICE abuse 

We’ve all seen what has happened in places like Minneapolis, where fatal and non-fatal shootings involving federal immigration agents have sparked outrage and fear in communities across the country. In Minneapolis, a U.S. citizen was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in January, an incident that drew national attention and protests, and another person was shot and injured in a separate ICE operation.

Law-abiding, hard-working immigrants should not be snatched from their homes or workplaces, and all residents deserve to feel safe in their neighborhoods. The Delegates have already passed bills to bar masking by agents and limit inappropriate local law enforcement engagement with ICE. We’re also working to block ICE from buying or building large detention centers in Maryland.

Making housing more affordable and protecting our communities 

The costs of buying or renting a home have gone up dramatically in recent years. There are a variety of causes, including too little construction, particularly for renters and first-time home buyers. The governor has proposed legislation to boost housing production in a variety of ways. Some proposals make sense and some do not. Building in areas with adequate infrastructure — such as at transit stops like the Muirkirk MARC station — makes sense. Undermining local zoning in established single-family home neighborhoods does not. I’m working with my colleagues to strike the right balance.

Contact Me

Please let me know if there are other issues you have questions or thoughts about. And, of course, don’t hesitate to reach out if I can be of help. You can email me at Jcrosapepe@yahoo.com  or call 410-841-3141.