Read more about the article Bill Providing Tenants with Additional Protections Advances in the Senate
County News / Housing and Community Development
Bill Providing Tenants with Additional Protections Advances in the Senate

A bill designed to defend tenants from antagonistic landlords has passed the Judicial Proceedings Committee and is on its way to the Senate floor. SB 100 Real Property – Actions to Repossess – Proof of Rental Licensure requires landlords to submit evidence of compliance with local rental property licensure requirements before repossessing certain licensed residential property. Counties welcome the clarity and security this legislation provides, especially considering the landscape of the current housing market. At…

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March 15, 2023
Read more about the article Bill to Strengthen Maryland’s Fire Service on Track to Pass Senate
County News / Intergovernmental Relations
Bill to Strengthen Maryland’s Fire Service on Track to Pass Senate

One of MACo's priority legislative initiatives for the 2023 session, SB 414 - Commission to Advance and Strengthen Fire Fighting Within Maryland, has passed the Education, Energy, and the Evironment Committee and is now on its way to the Senate floor. Maryland's struggle to recruit and retain fire fighters is intensifying—retirements vastly outstrip the rate at which localities can hire individuals willing and able to serve in fire fighting roles. SB 414 creates a Commission to…

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March 13, 2023
Read more about the article ADUs Study Bill Advances with County-Proposed Amendments
Housing and Community Development
ADUs Study Bill Advances with County-Proposed Amendments

Legislation that would bring together stakeholders to study current ADU policy and best practices has passed the Senate and will now go to the House Environment and Transportation Committee. If enacted SB 382 - Accessory Dwelling Unit Policy Task Force would facilitate the study of current efforts at the state and local level to promote the creation of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) on land previously designated for single-family residential use. MACo's amendments, which the committee…

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March 13, 2023
Read more about the article MACo Backed Bill to Better Business Facades Passes House
County News / Economic Development / Housing and Community Development
MACo Backed Bill to Better Business Facades Passes House

A bill aiming to boost economic development across Maryland at relatively low cost has crossed chambers. On March 9, the House gave near-unanimous approval of HB 706 – Economic Development – Sustainable Communities – Business Facade Improvement Program, forwarding the bill to the Senate. Counties support HB 706. If signed into law, this legislation would enable qualifying businesses to apply for grants under the novel Business Facade Improvement Program to improve the outside appearance of…

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March 13, 2023
Read more about the article Bill to Enhance RISE Zone Flexibility Passes House, Moves to Senate
County News / Economic Development / Housing and Community Development
Bill to Enhance RISE Zone Flexibility Passes House, Moves to Senate

Legislation that would encourage growth in industries ranging from engineering and robotics to biotechnology and agriculture has passed the House and looks to be on course to advance from the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. HB 471 - Economic Development - Regional Institution Strategic Enterprise Zone Program - Alterations and Financing alters the period of time that the Department of Commerce may designate an area as a Regional Institution Strategic Enterprise (RISE) Zone. The designation…

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March 13, 2023
Read more about the article Synthetic Turf Chain of Custody Bill Moves to House Floor with MACo Amendments
Environment / Parks and Recreation
Synthetic Turf Chain of Custody Bill Moves to House Floor with MACo Amendments

A bill requiring a state-wide, uniform system to track the chain of custody of synthetic turf has passed the Environment and Transportation Committee and is now on its way to the House floor. MACo supports HB 299 – Environment – Synthetic Turf – Chain of Custody, and worked diligently with bill sponsor Del. Mary Lehman on amendments to ensure further clarity in the recordation process, from clearing up ambiguity on certain definitions, to recognizing certain…

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March 13, 2023
Read more about the article March 24th – Parks Service Hosts Bay Stewardship Funding Seminar
Environment / Intergovernmental Relations / Parks and Recreation
March 24th – Parks Service Hosts Bay Stewardship Funding Seminar

The National Parks Service announces Chesapeake Bay stewardship funding opportunities for counties.  The National Parks Service (NPS) recently announced the next NPS Chesapeake Gateways Network Chat, “National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund Grant Opportunities.”    The chat will be held via Zoom on Friday, March 24 at 11:00 a.m. ET.  We hope you'll join us!  You can register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIvf-6qqjIqH9MT5qTCxV3-ieY-wwWffpMY    What will this chat cover?       The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's (NFWF) Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund is dedicated to protecting…

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March 13, 2023
Read more about the article Counties Support Streamlining Discrepancies in Local Oversight of Solar Facilities
Energy / Environment / Intergovernmental Relations / MACo Testimony / Planning and Zoning
Counties Support Streamlining Discrepancies in Local Oversight of Solar Facilities

On March 9, 2023, Associate Policy Director Dominic Butchko testified before the House Economic Matters Committee in support of HB 1188 - Public Utilities - Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity - Solar Photovoltaic Systems. The Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee will consider the bill's cross-file, SB 931, on March 15. HB 1188 alters the definition of a "generating station" as it pertains to the existing requirement that individuals constructing solar energy facilities…

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March 10, 2023
Read more about the article Counties Request Greater Flexibility in Implementing Model Floodplain Ordinance
Intergovernmental Relations / MACo Testimony / Transportation and Public Works
Counties Request Greater Flexibility in Implementing Model Floodplain Ordinance

On March 8, 2023, Associate Policy Director Dominic Butchko testified before the House Environment and Transportation Committee in support of HB 1209 - Environment - Flood Control - Flood Risk Assessment and Model Ordinance (Climate Ready Floodplain Act of 2023) with amendments. This bill requires the Department of the Environment to publish a statewide flood risk assessment map projected to the year 2050, and requires the Department to establish a model floodplain ordinance to standardize Maryland's approach…

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March 9, 2023
Read more about the article Counties Applaud More Resources to Solve the Housing Crisis
Housing and Community Development / MACo Testimony
Counties Applaud More Resources to Solve the Housing Crisis

On March 8, 2023, Associate Policy Director Dominic Butchko submitted written testimony to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee in support of SB 643 - Housing - Community Development Program Act - Funding. The House Appropriations Committee is due to consider the bill's cross-file, HB 838, on March 14. At a time when ready access to affordable housing is particularly scarce, counties are eager to use every means at their disposal to help displaced residents.…

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March 9, 2023
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