Read more about the article MACo Calls for Continuity and Clarity for Forest Conservation Banking
Bill Hearing / County News / Environment / MACo Testimony
MACo Calls for Continuity and Clarity for Forest Conservation Banking

On February 24th, 2021 MACo Policy Associate Alex Butler testified before the House Environment and Transportation Committee to support HB 991 Natural Resources - Forest Mitigation Banks - Qualified Preservation with amendments. This bill ensures that practices related to forest conservation banking continue. Counties have voiced support for clarifying amendments on the intent of the bill and its application. From the MACo Testimony: An October opinion from the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) indicates…

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February 25, 2021
Read more about the article Counties Call for Increase in Child Care Grants
Bill Hearing / County News / Education / MACo Testimony
Counties Call for Increase in Child Care Grants

On February 24, MACo Policy Associate Drew Jabin today testified before the House Ways and Means Committee to support HB 944 - Growing Family Child Care Opportunities Pilot Program Established. This bill establishes a program that would provide grants to increase available child care grants across Maryland. From the MACo Testimony: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact families in Maryland, access to affordable, safe child care opportunities is critically important. HB 944 would provide a…

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February 25, 2021
Read more about the article Counties Support Small Business Relief, Request Local Input on Broad Tax Break
Bill Hearing / Business Affairs / Coronavirus / County News / Economic Development / MACo Testimony / Taxes and Revenues
Counties Support Small Business Relief, Request Local Input on Broad Tax Break

MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally yesterday submitted testimony to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee in support of SB 722 Small Business COVID-19 Relief Act of 2021 with amendments. Counties support SB 772's strong commitment to delivering meaningful relief to small businesses hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic but are concerned about the bill's carryover fiscal effects, which would undermine county revenues and support for schools, public health, public safety, and other essential community services –…

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February 25, 2021
Read more about the article MACo: Enhance Equity in Property Tax Assessments
Bill Hearing / County News / MACo Testimony / Taxes and Revenues
MACo: Enhance Equity in Property Tax Assessments

MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally yesterday testified in support of SB 782 - State Department of Assessments and Taxation - Real Property Assessments and Appeals, before the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. This bill generally aims to provide more transparent, accurate, and timely property tax assessments, which will enhance equity and fairness for all taxpayers MACo agrees with the bill's sponsor, Senator Antonio Hayes, that the fiscal note does not represent the intent of the…

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February 25, 2021
Read more about the article Counties Provide Perspectives as Bills Contemplate State COVID Strategy
Bill Hearing / Coronavirus / Health and Human Services
Counties Provide Perspectives as Bills Contemplate State COVID Strategy

On February 23rd, 2021 MACo submitted a letter of information to the House Health and Government Operations Committee regarding HB 836 COVID-19 Testing, Contact Tracing, and Vaccination Act of 2021. This bill requires the Maryland Department of Health, in partnership with local health departments, to adopt and implement a COVID-19 outbreak response plan. The Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) has not taken a position on HB 836 and its many provisions. We wish to express…

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February 24, 2021
Read more about the article Bill Sets Unreasonable Requirements on Local Finance Offices
Bill Hearing / County News / MACo Testimony / Taxes and Revenues
Bill Sets Unreasonable Requirements on Local Finance Offices

MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally yesterday testified in opposition to HB 1050 - Tax Sales - Notices before the House Ways and Means Committee. This bill requires county governments to identify and notify any person with a lien on or interest in a property prior to tax sale. Because counties do not possess the necessary tools to identify all parties with an interest in a property, they would need to hire an outside company to…

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February 24, 2021
Read more about the article State Psychiatric Facilities Best Equipped To Handle Mental Illness
Bill Hearing / MACo Testimony / Public Safety and Corrections
State Psychiatric Facilities Best Equipped To Handle Mental Illness

On Febraury 23rd, 2021 MACo Executive Director Michael Sanderson testified before the House Judiciary Committee in opposition to HB 851 - Corrections - Restrictive Housing - Serious Mental Illness. This bill seeks to ensure proper care for inmates kept in restrictive housing. Mr. Sanderson joined Major T.D Reece from the Calvert County Detention Center, expressing concern that the bill's application to county facilities was misplaced, despite the compelling argument for inmate welfare. From the MACo…

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February 23, 2021
Read more about the article MACo Supports Next Steps for Statewide 3-1-1 System
Bill Hearing / County News / Emergency Management / MACo Testimony
MACo Supports Next Steps for Statewide 3-1-1 System

MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally today submitted testimony in support of SB 631 - Public Safety - Statewide 3-1-1 Nonemergency Telephone System to the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee This bill creates a statewide 3-1-1 telephone system to connect Marylanders to the government for non-emergency needs. The bill's sponsor and Chair of the Commission to Advance Next Generation 9-1-1 Across Maryland, Senator Cheryl Kagan, submitted amendments to create a workgroup to determine how to best deploy 3-1-1…

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February 23, 2021
Read more about the article MACo Stands Against Squeeze on Local Revenues
Bill Hearing / County News / MACo Testimony / Taxes and Revenues
MACo Stands Against Squeeze on Local Revenues

MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally today testified in opposition of HB 1079 - Admissions and Amusement Tax -Exemptions - Activities That Promote Health and Physical Well-Being. This bill prohibits local governments from imposing the admissions amusement tax on the gross receipts of businesses offering activities that "promote health and physical well-being," including tennis centers, fitness centers, gymnasiums, and sports facilities. From the MACo Testimony: MACo is concerned with the carryover county fiscal effects of this…

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February 23, 2021
Read more about the article Counties Seek More Options for Public Campaign Financing
Bill Hearing / County News / Elections / MACo Testimony
Counties Seek More Options for Public Campaign Financing

MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally today testified in support of HB 1066 - Local Public Campaign Financing - Expansion to Additional Offices before the House Ways and Means Committee. This bill expands the offices for which a county may establish a system of public campaign financing. From the MACo Testimony: Currently, counties may authorize public campaign financing for elective offices in the executive and legislative branches of county government. This bill enables county governments to offer public…

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February 23, 2021
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