Maryland county attorneys gathered in Easton, MD for MACo’s 2026 Attorneys Affiliate Conference to discuss emerging legal trends, cybersecurity, taxation, public safety partnerships, and the impacts of the 2026 legislative session.
County attorneys from across Maryland gathered in Easton last week for the 2026 MACo Attorneys Affiliate Conference, a day-long program focused on the evolving legal, operational, and intergovernmental challenges facing local governments. Held at the Tidewater Inn, the conference brought together county attorneys and legal experts for substantive discussions on legislative developments, emerging legal trends, cybersecurity preparedness, tax administration, and public safety partnerships.
The conference opened with a legislative update highlighting key outcomes from the 2026 General Assembly session and previewing issues likely to reemerge in future sessions.Throughout the day, attendees heard from a range of state and legal leaders on issues directly affecting county governments. Chief Judge E. Gregory Wells of the Appellate Court of Maryland discussed recent court rulings and legal trends shaping local government operations and liability considerations. Additional sessions examined Maryland’s complex property tax framework and the division of responsibilities between the State Department of Assessments and Taxation and local governments, while cybersecurity experts provided practical guidance for counties navigating data breaches, incident response obligations, and compliance with state laws governing public information and personal data protection. The final session explored the complex relationship between counties and sheriffs’ offices, including operational responsibilities, liability considerations, and how those dynamics vary across Maryland jurisdictions.
In addition to the formal presentations, the conference provided county attorneys with valuable time together to exchange information, discuss shared challenges, and compare approaches to legal and operational issues facing local governments. Attendees engaged in productive and substantive conversations throughout the program, with opportunities to seek advice from peers, share best practices, and strengthen professional relationships across jurisdictions. Those informal exchanges remain one of the most valuable aspects of the Attorneys Affiliate Conference, helping county legal teams stay connected and better equipped to support effective local governance statewide.
