HB 676

Maryland Financial Empowerment Center Network Pilot Program - Establishment

Sponsor: Ryan Spiegel (District 17)Committee: Ways and MeansSubject: Social Services - GenerallyStatus: Hearing 2/19 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Establishing the Maryland Financial Empowerment Center Network Pilot Program within the Office of the Comptroller to establish a statewide network of financial empowerment centers in different regions of the State; requiring each center to provide one-on-one financial counseling and coaching services free of charge; and requiring the Governor to include in the annual budget bill for fiscal years 2028 and 2029 an appropriation to the Comptroller sufficient to cover the costs of the Pilot Program.

AI analysis is off. Set ANTHROPIC_API_KEY to enable summaries, pros and cons, and questions.

Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (24)

MGA witness list

FAV 23FavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Martinez, Anabell	CARECEN-Central American Resource Center	Written (PDF)
FAV	Muckle, Lonialobbyist	CASH Campaign of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Sewell, George	City of Frederick	Written (PDF)
FAV	Linn, Emily	City of Gaithersburg	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lierman, Brooke	Comptroller of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Guthrie, Cari	Cornerstone Montgomery	Written (PDF)
FAV	Sanchez, John	Housing Initiative Partnership Inc	Written (PDF)
FAV	Verdi, Luke	Howard County Government	Written (PDF)
FAV	Richards, Evanlobbyist	Maryland Bankers Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Zelaya, Michellelobbyist	Maryland Catholic Conference	Written (PDF)
FAV	McGee, Christalobbyist	Maryland Realtors	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ziegler, Del. Natalie	Rural Caucus of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Pannell, Sam	Tzedek DC	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mengebier, Scott	United Way of the National Capital Area	Written (PDF)
FAV	Postmus, Dean Judy	University of Maryland School of Social Work	Written (PDF)
FAV	Van De Weert, Sarah	WorkSource Montgomery	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bagwell, Ashlielobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Spiegel, Delegate Spiegellegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Hessler, Thereselobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Krone, Christinelobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Latino Caucus, Maryland Legislative	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Spiegel, Delegate Ryan	Individual	Written (PDF)
INFO	Desai, Kant	Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

CARECEN-Central American Resource CenterFAV 1

CASH Campaign of MarylandFAV 1

Cities for Financial Empowerment FundINFO 1

City of FrederickFAV 1

City of GaithersburgFAV 1

Comptroller of MarylandFAV 1

Cornerstone MontgomeryFAV 1

Housing Initiative Partnership IncFAV 1

Howard County GovernmentFAV 1

Maryland Bankers AssociationFAV 1

Maryland Catholic ConferenceFAV 1

Maryland RealtorsFAV 1

Rural Caucus of MarylandFAV 1

Tzedek DCFAV 1

United Way of the National Capital AreaFAV 1

University of Maryland School of Social WorkFAV 1

WorkSource MontgomeryFAV 1

YearFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVMuckle, LoniaCASH Campaign of MarylandRegistered for: CASH Campaign of Maryland

FAVRichards, EvanMaryland Bankers AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Bankers Association

FAVZelaya, MichelleMaryland Catholic ConferenceRegistered for: Maryland Catholic Conference

FAVMcGee, ChristaMaryland RealtorsRegistered for: Maryland REALTORS; Maryland Association of Realtors

FAVBagwell, AshlieRegistered for: AbbVie Inc.; Aligned Data Centers; American Academy of Anesthesiology Assistants, Inc.; Atmosphere Data Centers LLC; Baltimore Civic Fund, Inc.; Beltway Fine Wine…

FAVHessler, ThereseRegistered for: City of Gaithersburg; Elevate Recovery Centers; Evolve Kids Care; Evolve Life Centers; High Roller Technologies; Laila's Gift…

FAVKrone, ChristineRegistered for: American Coatings Association; Baltimore Gas and Electric Company; City of Rockville; Coordinating Center for Home and Community Care, The, LLC (dba The Coordinating Center); Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work, Inc.; LifeSpan Network…