There’s an unwritten rule in Annapolis: If you’re going to push a tax hike, at least pretend it’s for the greater good.
But occasionally, a Maryland lawmaker goes bold — perhaps too bold — and introduces legislation so shamelessly money-grabbing that it barely bothers with a moral justification.
Enter House Bill 1469, introduced by Maryland State Delegate Emily Shetty (D-Montgomery County), Maryland’s in-house Mrs. Trunchbull.
Shetty’s Sugar Tax is so aggressively out of touch that you have to wonder: Has she stepped inside a grocery store in the last two years?
Because HB 1469 — aka the Wilford Brimley Sugary Beverage Distributor Tax — isn’t just another sin tax wrapped in a public health veneer.
Delegate Shetty’s proposed legislation – The ‘Beetus Bill – is a full-fledged, unapologetic shakedown of working-class Marylanders disguised as a public health crusade.
It’s taxation by the ounce.
It’s a war on Coke Zero, Red Bull, and Celsius (my favorite morning pick-me-up beyond Dunkin and Vyvanse).
The Shetty Sugar Bill is a far-left, out-of-touch progressive state lawmaker’s latest flawed attempt to “help” balance Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s bloated budget on the backs of middle-class families.
Let’s break it down.
HB 1469, Decoded: How Emily Shetty Plans to Charge Marylanders for the Crime of Drinking a Coke
Under HB 1469, Maryland would impose a 2-cent-per-ounce tax on:
- Sugary Beverages (Coke, Pepsi, Gatorade, Arizona Iced Tea, sweet tea, lemonade—you name it.)
- Syrups (The stuff they pump into your Starbucks drink? Taxed.)
- Powders (Kool-Aid, instant sweet tea, and any powdered drink mix? Yep, taxed too.)
Breaking it down even further:
- A 12-ounce can of soda? That’s an extra 24 cents.
- A 2-liter bottle (~67 ounces)? That’s a $1.34 tax.
- A McDonald’s large sweet tea (~32 ounces)? That’s an extra 64 cents — before you even get to the 6% sales tax.
- A 12-pack of soda? Enjoy your nearly $3 tax hit.
Let us not forget syrups and powders: the HB 1469 tax isn’t based on what you mix but on the largest possible volume you could produce.
In other words, you get taxed on hypothetical beverages.
That’s right: Maryland State Delegate Emily Shetty, a far-left progressive Democrat, wants to tax Marylanders for imaginary drinks.
This bill is government greed in its purest form.
Who Gets Hit the Hardest? (Hint: Not the Lawmakers Who Wrote The Sugar Foot Bill.)
Supporters of HB 1469 will tell you this is about fighting obesity and promoting public health.
Sure, that sounds nice.
But if Annapolis politicians cared about public health, they’d invest in healthier school lunches, expand access to fresh produce, pay for Marylanders’ gym memberships, or tackle the state’s healthcare disparities.
Instead, they’re taxing Diet Coke and The Dew.
The legislation’s real impact? Working families.
Who suffers most?
- A single mom in Hagerstown picking up Capri Suns for her kids: Extra tax.
- The Dundalk landscaper grabbing a Gatorade on his lunch break: Extra tax.
- The Walkersville older adult living on a fixed income who wants a Diet Coke with their McDonald’s: Extra tax.
HB 1469 is a regressive tax.
It disproportionately affects lower-income families, rural communities, and blue-collar workers who aren’t sipping $7 kombucha en route to a Kensington hot yoga class.
Meanwhile, Delegate Emily Shetty — who represents District 18 in Montgomery County, the state’s wealthiest jurisdiction — doesn’t seem to grasp how grocery prices affect middle-class Marylanders.
Perhaps it’s easy for Emily Shetty’s wealthy donor class to pay her proposed sugar ransom – but for middle-class Marylanders and working parents, it’s a far different story.
Where’s the Money Going? (Spoiler: Not to Public Health.)
If HB 1469 were authentically about public health, its revenue would logically be earmarked for diabetes prevention programs, nutritional education, or subsidies for fresh produce for low-income families.
Is it?
No.
Instead, Emily Shetty would have state tax revenue siphoned off to a random grab bag of state programs:
- $189 million would go to a new “Healthy School Meals for All Fund.”
- $50 million would go to the Child Care Scholarship Program (which has nothing to do with soda).
- The rest of the money? It goes straight into the state’s General Fund, which can be spent on virtually anything.
Translation:
HB 1469 isn’t a health tax; it’s a revenue tax, and Emily Shetty hopes Marylanders will ignore it.
You can hear Emily Shetty pulling a Johnny Sack line: “Again with the money?!“
To which Maryland taxpayers collectively respond as Carmine Lupertazzi: “YEAH! Again with the money!“
Perhaps Marylanders need a sit-down with their state lawmakers.
(Don’t give them any ideas; Maryland far-left progressives will introduce an excessive tax on your streaming services.)
But Wait — Some Drinks Get a Free Pass!
In the glorious tradition of Maryland tax carve-outs, HB 1469 conveniently exempts certain beverages:
- Milk – Because apparently, sugar in dairy products is acceptable.
- Natural fruit juice – Even though most fruit juices contain as much or more sugar than soda.
- Infant formula – (Well, that’s a relief.)
- Beverages for medical use – So Pedialyte is safe, but Gatorade gets taxed?
Let’s get this straight:
If your drink comes from a fruit, naturally contains sugar, and has more sugar than a Coke, it’s exempt.
It’s the healthy sugar; it’s Dr. Now approved!
But your drinks are taxed if they are artificially sweetened and have zero sugar (like Coke Zero).
The hypocrisy is astonishing.
The Political Reality: Annapolis Just Handed Larry Hogan His 2026 Campaign Ad
If former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R-Sane) is even half considering a gubernatorial run in 2026, HB 1469 wrote his first campaign ad.
The message writes itself:
- “Annapolis politicians raised your grocery bill.”
- “They taxed your drinks while inflation is crushing working families.”
- “They think Coke Zero is the problem — not their reckless spending.”
Marylanders already feel like everything is too expensive.
The last thing we need is Annapolis trying to nickel-and-dime us for drinking Diet Pepsi occasionally.
And even Wes Moore knows this is bad politics.
So far, he’s stayed quiet on HB 1469. But if he signs it into law, he might as well hand Mr. Hogan the keys to Government House.
Bottom Line: Stop This Tax Before It Hits Your Wallet
If you drink Coke, Pepsi, Gatorade, or any other so-called “sugary beverage,” HB 1469 is coming for your wallet.
This bill isn’t about public health.
It’s not about obesity.
It’s about one thing: money.
Your money.
What Marylanders need to do to stop this bill:
- Call your state delegate.
- Tell them to vote NO on HB 1469.
- Remind them that Marylanders don’t need higher grocery bills — they need legislators who live in the real world.
Because if this tax passes, today it’s soda — tomorrow, it’s your coffee, snacks, and maybe even your crab feast.
And if Annapolis dares to overtax Old Bay next, we’re dumping the tea in the Annapolis Harbor.