Bryan Sears

Bryan P. Sears

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Bryan Sears covers the governor and General Assembly, state politics and transportation for Maryland Matters. He has covered the Maryland State House for the last two decades at the Baltimore Sun Media Group, Patch.com and most recently, The Daily Record. Sears has won multiple state and national awards for police and crime reporting, local and state government coverage and investigative reporting that resulted in a guilty plea by a government official for stealing from his own campaign account. He’s a frequent radio and television contributor.

Judge rejects request to move redistricting lawsuit from Dorchester County
Maryland

Judge rejects request to move redistricting lawsuit from Dorchester County

Aug 21, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
A Dorchester County judge rejected a request to move a lawsuit challenging the state’s proposed new redistricting regulations to Anne Arundel County, meaning two challenges to the planned constitutional amendment will move forward on two tracks on an extremely tight...
Tax system down temporarily as billions of records move to cloud-based system
Maryland

Tax system down temporarily as billions of records move to cloud-based system

Aug 20, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
Maryland’s tax administration system is getting update. Comptroller Brooke Lierman Wednesday announced the current system — which dates back to when she was a student at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda — will move from a mainframe to the...
Second lawsuit challenging redistricting amendment filed in Dorchester County
Maryland

Second lawsuit challenging redistricting amendment filed in Dorchester County

Aug 18, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
A national law firm that advised Louisiana lawmakers on a redistricting effort that later resulted in the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision upending the landmark Voting Rights Act is representing a group of Maryland Republicans seeking to block a proposed...
Digital Ad sales tax struck down
Maryland

Digital ad sales tax struck down by court

Aug 14, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
A first-of-its-kind state tax on some digital ads has been struck down as a violation of the federal Internet Tax Freedom Act by the Maryland Tax Court. The decision issued Friday morning was in response to three legal challenges filed...
County leaders look for options as budgets get tighter
Maryland

County leaders look for options as budgets get tighter

Aug 14, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
County leaders said they need more options to help weather mounting budget pressures driven by reductions in state aid coupled with costs shifted to local governments and mandated education spending. Those same leaders are understandably edgy as they wait for...
Poll: Moore enjoys comfortable early lead against Cox in governor’s rematch
Maryland

Poll: Moore enjoys comfortable early lead against Cox in governor’s rematch

Aug 12, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
Gov. Wes Moore leads Republican challenger Dan Cox by 27 points in the early going of their gubernatorial rematch, according to a poll released Wednesday. The survey is the first public poll since the primary election to pit the incumbent...
Poll: Utility costs, the economy and taxes top of mind for voters
Maryland

Poll: Utility costs, the economy and taxes top of mind for voters

Aug 11, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
A majority of Marylanders in a new survey said they favor raising taxes on wealthy households over other options including legalizing internet gaming or making changes to the state sales tax. The poll commissioned by Blended Public Affairs and Perry...
State employee union decries pay, staffing in new report
Maryland

State employee union decries pay, staffing in new report

Aug 11, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
Nearly eight in 10 state employees have considered leaving their jobs, while nearly 60% said they are working more than one job just to make ends meet. The data comes from a survey of state workers released Monday by the...
Jalisi seeks new election citing ballot issue
Maryland

Jalisi seeks new election citing ballot issue

Aug 07, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
A former state delegate is claiming a ballot error in one precinct cost him a shot at returning to the State House. Hasan M. “Jay” Jalisi served in the House from 2015-2023. In a three-page lawsuit filed July 28, more...
Moore: New deal allows state to direct the future of Preakness
Maryland

Moore: New deal allows state to direct the future of Preakness

Aug 06, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
Changes lie ahead for Maryland’s signature thoroughbred horse race, including a new, later race day and a new, expanded network television contract. Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced the changes Wednesday to the Preakness Stakes, historically the second event in racing’s...
Maryland Republicans predict legal challenge to constitutional amendment on redistricting
Maryland

Maryland Republicans predict legal challenge to constitutional amendment on redistricting

Aug 05, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
Legislation setting redistricting standards in Maryland could land in court before it lands on a ballot for voters this fall. The Senate Tuesday gave final approval to House Bill 2100, the constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters, would override...
House set give final approval to redistricting constitutional amendment
Maryland

House set to give final approval to redistricting constitutional amendment

Aug 04, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
A House of Delegates debate over congressional redistricting — marked by a high level of civility — went on for roughly four hours Monday night, but ended exactly as planned by Democrats. The House, in a voice vote, gave preliminary...