Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott has endorsed a ballot measure that would establish a municipal fund to provide direct cash payments, subsidies, or supplies to families with newborns. The initiative, known as the Baltimore Baby Fund (BBF), has secured a place on the November ballot after organizers submitted over 10,000 signatures.
If voters approve the measure, it would amend the city charter to create a permanent line item in the municipal budget. The fund would be financed by allocating 3 cents per $100 of assessed property value. The City Council would retain authority to establish specific disbursement rules and eligibility criteria through future legislation.
The BBF campaign stated that Mayor Scott has consistently supported the policy ideas behind the initiative and is eager to move it forward after necessary adjustments were made for the 2026 version. Scott and the BBF campaign have jointly announced their collaboration to garner public support for the measure.
The proposed fund is designed to mirror the Rx Kids program in Flint, Michigan. Rx Kids, co-founded by pediatrician Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha and University of Michigan professor Luke Shaefer, provides cash assistance to expectant mothers and new parents. Eligible participants in Rx Kids receive $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 per month for six to 12 months after birth, depending on the location.
Mayor Scott, who also serves as National Co-Chair of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, previously oversaw a direct-cash pilot program in Baltimore. The Baltimore Young Families Success Fund operated from August 2022 to July 2024, providing unconditional payments to low-income parents and guardians aged 18 to 24. According to the BBF statement, participants in that pilot program experienced reduced work absences, decreased food insecurity, and lower stress levels. They utilized the funds for continuing education, paying down debt, emergency savings, and investing in their children.
The Baltimore Baby Fund initiative aligns with the broader goals of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, a coalition of over 150 U.S. mayors advocating for direct cash distributions to address rising living costs. The coalition has supported more than 100 pilot programs nationwide since 2018, including one in Cook County, Illinois, which subsequently made its guaranteed income initiative permanent through local funding.