The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s work in the area of school construction in the 2022 General Assembly.
County Governments partner with the State of Maryland to fund school construction projects throughout Maryland. K-12 school renovation and construction projects make up a substantial portion of any county’s capital budget, and the needs of Maryland students are consistently a high priority.
The unique circumstances surrounding the 444th legislative session, including necessary health and safety measures, posed a challenge for lawmakers and advocates alike. Yet, despite the unusual circumstances, MACo’s advocacy still led to more positive outcomes for its members.
Follow these links for more coverage on our Conduit Street blog and Legislative Database.
School Construction and School Capital Improvement Projects
MACo supported legislation with amendments to require the Interagency Commission on School Construction to take certain actions relating to public school construction, including increasing the State share of certain public school construction project costs under certain circumstances and inspecting certain systems and equipment during inspections of school buildings; prohibiting the Interagency Commission from using facility assessment data and making funding decisions based on facility assessment results unless certain conditions are met; etc. HB 1290 Education – Public School Construction – Funding and Administration passed the General Assembly and awaits the Governor’s signature.
Bill Information I MACo Coverage
MACo supported legislation to require the Interagency Commission on School Construction to consider systemic renovation projects, regardless of cost, as eligible for funding from the Supplemental Public School Construction Financing Fund and the Supplemental Public School Construction Facilities Fund. HB 68 / SB 40 Interagency Commission on School Construction – Systemic Renovation Projects – Eligibility failed in the General Assembly and awaits the Governor’s signature.
Bill Information I MACo Coverage
MACo supported legislation with amendments to prohibit the Interagency Commission on School Construction (IAC) from considering a new or replacement fossil fuel-based energy system as a construction or capital improvement cost eligible for state funding. HB 365 Public School Construction – Fossil Fuel-Based Energy System Costs – Prohibition (Green School Construction Act of 2022) failed in the General Assembly and awaits the Governor’s signature.
Bill Information I MACo Coverage
Facilities Regulations
MACo opposed legislation that would require the Department of the Environment, by October 1, 2022, to adopt regulations requiring an owner or operator of a public building to establish and implement a water management program to prevent the growth and spread of Legionella pneumophila in a building water system to reduce the risk for Legionnaires’ disease. HB 248 / SB 302 Legionnaires’ Disease Prevention Act failed in the General Assembly and awaits the Governor’s signature.
Bill Information I MACo Coverage
MACo supported legislation with amendments to require the State Department of Education, in consultation with the Maryland Department of Health and the Department of General Services, to adopt regulations on or before June 1, 2023, establishing uniform standards for mold assessment and remediation in public schools, including requiring each county board of education to establish a process for reporting and assessing potential mold in a public school and remediating mold identified during a mold assessment; etc. HB 783 / SB 575 Public Schools – Mold Assessment and Remediation failed in the General Assembly and awaits the Governor’s signature.
Bill Information I MACo Coverage
Prevailing Wage
MACo opposed legislation that would apply the Prevailing Wage Law to a certain contract for the construction of a public work by expanding the definition of “construction” to include services provided under a mechanical systems service contract. HB 611 / SB 259 Procurement – Prevailing Wage – Applicability passed the General Assembly and awaits the Governor’s signature.
Bill Information I MACo Coverage