The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s advocacy in emergency services policy in the 2025 General Assembly session.
County governments lead the delivery of public safety services in Maryland and are responsible for county fire, police, and emergency services. MACo’s advocacy in emergency services includes urging for much-needed state support for local public services such as 9-1-1 call centers, frontline county services, and natural disaster response.
Maryland’s 447th 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 budgetary limitations, many 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 broad portfolio.
Follow these links for more coverage on our Conduit Street blog and Legislative Database.
MACo supported HB 865/SB 564 – Catastrophic Event Account – Transfer of Funds – State Disaster Recovery Fund. This bill bolsters Maryland’s disaster recovery framework by authorizing the transfer of funds from the Catastrophic Event Account to the State Disaster Recovery Fund under specified circumstances. In addition, the bill reduces, from 15 days to 10 days, the length of the Legislative Policy Committee’s (LPC) review and comment period before the governor may transfer funds from the Catastrophic Event Account by budget amendment.
Counties serve as frontline responders when disasters strike, yet funding mechanisms remain fragmented, leading to delays in aid distribution. By creating a direct funding pathway between the Catastrophic Event Account and the State Disaster Recovery Fund, this bill helps local governments provide immediate assistance without waiting for uncertain federal support. This bill passed the General Assembly.
Bill Information | MACo Coverage
MACo supported HB 445/SB 81 – Criminal Law – Interference with a Public Safety Answering Point – Penalties. This bill enhances the security and stability of the 9-1-1 system, ensuring continued public safety and reliable emergency services by bolstering protections against cyberattacks targeting 9-1-1 centers. This bill passed the Maryland General Assembly.
Bill Information | MACo Coverage
MACo supported HB 421/SB 36 – Public Safety – 9-1-1 Trust Fund – 9-8-8 Suicide Prevention Hotline. This bill improves coordination between 9-1-1 emergency services and the 9-8-8 crisis response system by allowing limited trust fund resources to support shared operational needs — such as software integration and joint training. As such, the bill enhances crisis response without diverting critical public safety funds. This bill passed the Maryland General Assembly.
Bill Information | MACo Coverage
MACo supported HB 958/SB 855 – Railroads – Safety Requirements (Maryland Railway Safety Act of 2025) with amendments. This bill generally addressed railroad safety in Maryland, including bolstering requirements governing railroads’ provision of hazardous materials information to state and federal emergency management officials. Counties requested amendments to ensure that rail hazmat information is available to the appropriate federal, state, and county emergency management officials. This bill did not pass in the 2025 legislative session.
Bill Information | MACo Coverage
MACo supported HB 1027/SB 775 – Workgroup to Study Implementation of an Expanded 3-1-1 Nonemergency System. This bill aims to improve access to government services, streamline public inquiries, and reduce unnecessary burdens on emergency response systems by establishing a workgroup to study the implementation of a statewide 3-1-1 nonemergency telephone system. This bill passed the Maryland General Assembly.
Bill Information | MACo Coverage
For more emergency services-related legislation tracked by MACo during the 2025 legislation.
