Read more about the article Counties Wary of Student Members Voting on School Budgets
Education / MACo Testimony
Counties Wary of Student Members Voting on School Budgets

On February 7, 2024, Associate Policy Director Brianna January submitted written testimony to the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee in opposition to SB 386- County Boards of Education- Student Members- Voting Rights and Participation in Executive Sessions. This bill extends certain voting rights to student members of local boards of education. Extending voting authority over school system budgets and collective bargaining is particularly concerning to counties. From MACo Testimony: Counties have significant and well-founded…

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February 8, 2024
Read more about the article Counties Wary of Costly, Logistically Complicated School Infrastructure Mandate
Education / MACo Testimony / School Construction and Capital Budgets / Transportation and Public Works
Counties Wary of Costly, Logistically Complicated School Infrastructure Mandate

On February 7, 2024, Associate Policy Director Brianna January testified before the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee in opposition to SB 200- Counties- Construction of Sidewalks and Crosswalks- Safe Alternative Routes to Public Schools. This bill requires counties to compile an annual report identifying safe pathways students may use to travel to school. The county must review the report each year and fund the construction of new sidewalks or crosswalks on routes the…

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February 8, 2024
Read more about the article Counties Support Placing Vocational Careers on an Equal Playing Field with Postsecondary Education
Education / MACo Testimony
Counties Support Placing Vocational Careers on an Equal Playing Field with Postsecondary Education

On February 7, 2024, Associate Policy Director Brianna January testified before the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee in support of SB 33- More Opportunities for Career-Focused Students Act of 2024. This bill treats the pursuit of vocational careers and education as equivalent to a postsecondary education. SB 33 aligns with the Blueprint for Maryland's Future goals and with the work many counties are already doing to support college and career readiness for public…

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February 8, 2024
Read more about the article MACo Supports Annual Grants for all 16 Community Colleges
Education / Higher Education / MACo Testimony / School Construction and Capital Budgets
MACo Supports Annual Grants for all 16 Community Colleges

On January 31, 2024, Associate Policy Director Brianna January testified before the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee in support of SB 393- Higher Education- Community College Facilities Renewal Grant Program- Alterations. This bill requires the Maryland Higher Education Commission to annually distribute grants of equal amount under the Community College Facilities Renewal Grant Program to all 16 community colleges. Beginning in fiscal year 2025, this bill also requires the Governor to allocate an amount equal…

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February 1, 2024
Read more about the article Jan 31 Board of Public Works Meeting: Here’s What Counties Need to Know
Board of Public Works / Economic Development / Feature / Parks and Recreation / School Construction and Capital Budgets
Jan 31 Board of Public Works Meeting: Here’s What Counties Need to Know

The Board of Public Works (BPW) — a three-member panel including Governor Wes Moore, Comptroller Brooke Lierman, and State Treasurer Dereck Davis — reviews projects, contracts, and expenditure plans for state agencies, many of which affect county governments. The BPW considered and approved the following requests and recommendations at its meeting on January 31, 2024: Allegany County A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $17,880 from the Program Open Space funding allocated…

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January 31, 2024
Read more about the article Board of Public Works: Jan 31 Meeting Agenda
Board of Public Works / Economic Development / Intergovernmental Relations / Parks and Recreation / School Construction and Capital Budgets
Board of Public Works: Jan 31 Meeting Agenda

The Board of Public Works — a three-member panel including Governor Wes Moore, Comptroller Brooke Lierman, and State Treasurer Dereck Davis — reviews projects, contracts, and expenditure plans for state agencies, many of which affect county governments. The State Board of Public Works (BPW) typically convenes on alternating Wednesdays in the Governor’s Reception Room on the 2nd floor of the State House in Annapolis, and meetings are open to the public. They are also live-streamed on…

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January 29, 2024
Read more about the article Counties Back Extension of Educator Stipends to Include Community College Students
Education / Higher Education / Labor / MACo Testimony
Counties Back Extension of Educator Stipends to Include Community College Students

On January 23, 2024, Associate Policy Director Brianna January submitted written testimony to the House Appropriations Committee in support of HB 75 - Higher Education- Teacher Development and Retention Program- Definition. This bill extends eligibility for educator stipends within the Teacher Development and Retention Program to include individuals enrolled in community colleges. Counties support efforts to hire and retain talented educators, and the Teacher Development and Retention Program is one State effort to do so.…

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January 24, 2024
Read more about the article Legislative Session 2024: Who is Leading Your County Delegation?
County News / Feature / General Assembly News
Legislative Session 2024: Who is Leading Your County Delegation?

Several county delegations have new leaders for the 2024 legislative session. We break it down here. The 2024 legislative session started on January 10. Legislators will consider thousands of pieces of legislation this year, including many local bills impacting counties. In order to consider those local pieces of legislation, legislators are organized into their respective regional and county delegations in the House and Senate. Most of those local bills will be settled in these local…

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January 22, 2024
Read more about the article Jan 17 Board of Public Works Meeting: Here’s What Counties Need to Know
Board of Public Works / Economic Development / Parks and Recreation / School Construction and Capital Budgets
Jan 17 Board of Public Works Meeting: Here’s What Counties Need to Know

The Board of Public Works (BPW) — a three-member panel including Governor Wes Moore, Comptroller Brooke Lierman, and State Treasurer Dereck Davis — reviews projects, contracts, and expenditure plans for state agencies, many of which affect county governments. The BPW considered and approved the following requests and recommendations at its meeting on January 17, 2024: Allegany County A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $75,000 grant to the Board of Directors of…

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January 17, 2024
Read more about the article Legislature Is Briefed on Blueprint Implementation
County News / Education
Legislature Is Briefed on Blueprint Implementation

The Senate committee that oversees education policy was briefed on the state of implementing the Blueprint for Maryland's Future law. On Tuesday, January 16, 2024, the Senate Education, Environment, and Energy (EEE) Committee was briefed by state leaders and local school systems on the implementation status of the Blueprint for Marland's Future ("The Blueprint"). The Committee received presentations from the State Board of Education, the Blueprint Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB), and several local school…

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January 17, 2024
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