On January 29, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the Budget and Taxation Committee in support of SB 190, Land Use—Transit-Oriented Development—Alterations with amendments.
This bill preempts counties from imposing minimum off-street parking requirements within 0.5 miles of a rail transit station and makes specified changes to special taxing districts around transit-oriented developments (TODs).
Counties are concerned that the current parking provisions could create unintended consequences. Several counties have rail transit stations with limited service and inadequate public transit infrastructure to support eliminating parking requirements. MACo urges amendments that reflect local needs and priorities.
As drafted, counties have significant concerns around how SB 190 would be implemented. Clarifying amendments referenced above would better align the bill language with the intentions of MDOT and better reflect on-the-ground realities related to sufficient infrastructure. Accordingly, MACo urges the Committee to issue a FAVORABLE WITH AMENDMENTS report for SB 190.
SB 190’s cross-file, HB 80, was heard on January 30 in the House Environment and Transportation Committee. Director of Intergovernmental Relations Dominic Butchko testified in support of this bill with amendments.
HB 80 was heard in the opposite chamber, the Budget and Taxation Committee, on March 27. As revised, MACo submitted written testimony in opposition to this bill.
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