The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s work on intergovernmental relations policy in the 2024 General Assembly session.
Counties serve as the boots-on-the-ground public service providers to nearly all Maryland residents. From fire and EMS response to energy safety to basic structures of government, MACo routinely advocates on issues that keep communities thriving.
Maryland’s 446th legislative session convened amidst a substantial concern over the State’s fiscal situation, with weakened revenues and cost increases for many services at every level of government. Despite the fiscal limitations, a wide range of policy issues received a full debate, with many resolutions arising from the 90-day annual process. MACo’s legislative committee guided the association’s positions on hundreds of bills, yielding many productive compromises and gains spanning counties’ uniquely wide portfolio.
Follow these links for more coverage on our Conduit Street blog and Legislative Database.
Changes to Local Laws
MACo opposed HB 81- Constitutional Amendment – Form of County Government -Requirement to Adopt Charter Home Rule. This bill would have repealed Maryland’s historic reliance on self-determination by county residents, and instead mandated that every county conforms to a single governance structure – a full two-branch charter government. This bill did not pass the 2024 session.
Bill Information | MACo Coverage
MACo opposed HB 1436- Municipal Incorporation – County Commissioners or County Council – Required Approval of Referendum Request. This bill would have upended the longstanding, carefully crafted framework that governs municipal incorporation by stripping county governments of proper and necessary input and oversight. This bill did not pass the 2024 session.
Bill Information | MACo Coverage
Battery Storage and Safety
MACo supported HB 468/SB 532- Commission to Advance Lithium-Ion Battery Safety in Maryland. This bill represents the work product of a broad coalition of stakeholders in firefighting and renewable energy. HB 468 establishes the Commission to Advance Lithium Battery Safety in Maryland, and charges the body with making legislative, regulatory, programmatic, or other recommendations related to LI battery safety. This bill passed the 2024 session.
Bill Information | MACo Coverage
MACo supported HB 1221/SB 788- Battery Storage and Solar Arrays Safety Training Grant Program and Fund with amendments. The bill would have provided resources to counties to both educate the public on the potential public safety consequences of utility scale batteries installed on solar installations and to better equip and train local firefighters. MACo’s suggested amendments sought to expand the requirement to all utility scale batteries– while many such facilities are attached to solar installations, the proper policy concern is the battery, not the solar. This bill did not pass the 2024 session.
Bill Information | MACo Coverage
Medical Services & Transportation
MACo supported HB 1038- Motor Vehicles – Emergency Medical Services – Registration Surcharge with amendments. This bill would have increased the motor vehicle surcharge, which funds the Maryland Emergency Medical System Operations Fund (MEMSOF). This fund is the central source for State assistance to fire companies and helps to keep Maryland residents safe. This bill did not pass the 2024 session.
Bill Information | MACo Coverage
MACo supported HB 1439- Public Health – Funding for Trauma Centers and Services with amendments. This bill increases the motor vehicle surcharge, which funds the Maryland Emergency Medical System Operations Fund (MEMSOF). This fund is the central source for State assistance to fire companies and helps to keep Maryland residents safe. This bill passed the 2024 session.
Bill Information | MACo Coverage
MACo supported SB 331- Task Force to Study Paratransit in Maryland. This bill would have established the Task Force to Study Paratransit in Maryland to examine areas such as funding, spending gaps, and a possible role for public-private partnerships. The Task Force would have helped to align common goals and promote stronger, more uniform services and provider duties. This bill was withdrawn by its sponsor and did not pass the 2024 session.
MACo supported SB 1092- Emergency Services – Funding with amendments. This bill, among other actions, increases the motor vehicle surcharge, which funds the Maryland Emergency Medical System Operations Fund (MEMSOF). This fund is the central source for State assistance to fire companies and helps to keep Maryland residents safe. This bill passed the 2024 session.
Bill Information | MACo Coverage
Fire Fighting
MACo supported HB 899/SB 691- Higher Education – Firefighters and EMS Recruitment and Retention – Scholarship. This bill is one of MACo’s top legislative priorities and seeks to implement several of the recommendations from the 2023 Commission to Advance and Strengthen Firefighting and EMS Within Maryland. This bill passed the 2024 session.
Bill Information | MACo Coverage
MACo supported HB 1472/SB 578- Professional and Volunteer Firefighter Innovative Cancer Screening Technologies Program – Funding. This bill allocates additional resources to the Professional and Volunteer Firefighter Innovative Cancer Screening Technologies Program. By raising the threshold of minimum funding for the Program, the General Assembly would be taking real action to support our first responders. This bill passed the 2024 session.
Bill Information | MACo Coverage
