Brian Feldman: The Senate's Quiet Giant - The Maryland Wire

Brian Feldman Steps Up as Senate’s Economic Development Chief in Maryland Annapolis Shake-Up

Senate President Bill Ferguson announced that Senator Brian Feldman will serve as the chamber’s new Economic Development Chief, signaling a strategic realignment for Maryland’s upcoming 2027 legislative session. The appointment designates Senator Brian Feldman as the Senate’s new Economic Development Chief as Senate leadership intends to project strength.

Tax Attorney and CPA Background Shapes Legislative Approach

Unlike many lawmakers who operate as generalists or citizen-politicians, Feldman brings a dense technical background in corporate tax law and fiscal policy to his expanded leadership role. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Penn State, a J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and a Master’s in Government from Johns Hopkins University.

Before his time in the Statehouse, Feldman worked as an attorney and CPA at Price Waterhouse in Washington, D.C., and spent over a decade as a Trial Attorney in the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, where he received the DOJ’s Outstanding Attorney Award three times. His professional resume also includes serving as Of Counsel at Kozusko Harris Duncan, focusing on high-stakes private client representation and complex tax structures.

Quiet Giant Reputation Built on Energy and Privacy Infrastructure

Feldman earned his reputation as the Senate’s quiet giant by managing intricate, multi-layered policy packages without public grandstanding. As Chair of the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee, he directed major clean energy and ratepayer affordability efforts, including the Brighter Tomorrow Act and the Utility RELIEF Act.

Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson taps Brian Feldman to lead economic development efforts as the state faces a $3 billion budget shortfall. https://t.co/2diXfiuo3d

— https://x.com/baltimoresun/status/2115195335542743474

Beyond energy reform, Feldman co-sponsored the Maryland Online Data Privacy Act to establish digital commerce compliance frameworks and consumer data protections. On regional transit finance, he co-authored dedicated-funding legislation for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, balancing state budget limits with regional economic demands.