Bill Hearing Archives

Conduit Street Podcast: Puzzle Pieces of the Balanced Budget

This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson break down where Maryland’s budget and “Big BRFA” stand as the General Assembly enters its final weeks. Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street Blog and stay in the know!

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March 27, 2026

County News / Economic Development / MACo Testimony

Rural Readiness Program Advancing through General Assembly

The Rural Readiness Program bill is advancing this session. The bill, supported by MACo, aims to strengthen rural economic development capacity and improve access to competitive funding opportunities. SB 300 and its cross-file HB 461 have both passed their respective chamber and appear to be advancing this session. This bill establishes the Rural Readiness Program and the Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund, both administered by the Rural Maryland Council. The bill is designed to help…

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March 26, 2026

Finance and Procurement / General Assembly News / MACo Testimony

MACo: Stop Making Counties Pay for State Decisions

On March 20, MACo testified before the House Judiciary Committee in support of HB 1605 – Compensation for Individuals Erroneously Convicted - County Cost-Sharing - Repeal. This bill corrects a flawed policy enacted as a small component of the 2025 Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act that requires counties to fund wrongful-incarceration compensation decisions made entirely through State processes. Under current law, the State determines eligibility, calculates awards, and sets all terms through administrative and judicial…

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March 26, 2026

County Budgets / Feature / General Assembly News / State Budget and Fiscal Issues

House Appropriations Committee Rejects AOT Cost Shift, Budget Moves to House Floor

The House Appropriations Committee rejected a proposed assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) cost shift and advanced the Budget Bill (SB 282) and Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (SB 284) to the House floor. The Senate retained the AOT provision, which would have required counties to reimburse the Maryland Department of Health for escalating shares of program costs, starting at 25% and rising to 100%. The House removed that provision, avoiding a significant new State-mandated, locally funded…

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March 25, 2026

County News / Economic Development / MACo Testimony

Economic Development NDA Ban Appears Dead After Missing Crossover Deadline

Following the General Assembly’s “crossover” deadline, SB 853, which restricts the use of nondisclosure agreements in economic development negotiations, faces increasingly long odds of advancing without committee approval. With the “crossover” deadline now passed, legislation not approved by its originating committee is increasingly unlikely to advance this session. MACo opposed SB 853 which would broadly prohibit an individual, governing body, legislator, or employee from entering into a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) with a person involved in…

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March 25, 2026

County Budgets / General Assembly News / MACo Testimony / Taxes and Revenues

Veterans’ Tax Credit Bills Advance With MACo Amendments, Mandate Stalls

Two veterans’ property tax credit bills are moving forward with MACo amendments, while a broader mandatory expansion appears dead after crossover. HB 842, as introduced, repealed the current two-year eligibility requirement for a property tax exemption for specified surviving spouses, expanding a mandatory exemption and directly reducing a primary local revenue source counties rely on to fund core services. MACo supports providing meaningful relief to eligible residents, and many counties already offer locally adopted property…

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March 24, 2026

Business Affairs / County News / General Assembly News / Housing and Community Development / Taxes and Revenues

General Assembly Advances Flexible Local Tools for Housing, Small Business, Families

Several bills advancing this session expand flexible, local tools for housing, small business activity, redevelopment, and family support, backed by MACo. HB 805 has passed the House and is now before the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. The bill authorizes local governments to grant a property tax credit for specified affordable dwellings supported by nonprofit mortgage financing and long-term affordability requirements, allowing counties to align the tool with local housing markets and fiscal capacity. HB…

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March 24, 2026

County Budgets / County News / General Assembly News / Taxes and Revenues

5-Year Assessment Cycle Proposal Appears Dead After Missing Crossover Deadline

A proposal to shift Maryland’s property assessment cycle from three years to five years appears unlikely to advance this session after failing to meet the crossover deadline. MACo opposed HB 1518, citing concerns that the change would increase the lag between real estate market changes and the resources counties rely on to fund essential services. Counties rely on timely, accurate property assessments to maintain stable, predictable revenue streams. Extending the assessment cycle reduces the frequency…

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March 24, 2026

County News / Emergency Management / General Assembly News / MACo Testimony / News You Can Use

General Assembly Advances County Emergency Management Priorities

Two priority bills for county emergency managers are advancing in the General Assembly, both focused on stabilizing funding and bolstering long-term preparedness amid federal uncertainty. HB 953 has passed the House and now moves to the Senate. This bill authorizes transfers from the Revenue Stabilization Account to the State Disaster Recovery Fund, providing flexibility when disasters create immediate costs that counties must cover before federal aid arrives. The fund helps bridge that gap when costs…

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March 23, 2026

Bill Hearing / County News / General Assembly News / Health and Human Services / Public Safety and Corrections

A Day in the Life at MACo: Legislative Session Edition

In this episode of the Conduit Street podcast, Michael Sanderson is joined by Karrington Anderson and Charlotte Fleckenstein (making her podcast debut), as they walk through what advocacy looks like in real time. From testifying on complex labor policy to weighing in on unexpected issues like statewide “dogs at large” laws, there's never a dull moment. Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit…

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March 20, 2026