Karrington Anderson, Author at Conduit Street

FAMLI Employer Guidance and Resources

The Maryland Department of Labor and its Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) division has released additional resources to help employers prepare for upcoming paid leave program requirements, including guidance on employee localization, self-insured plan requirements, and employer registration. The Department has published guidance to help employers determine whether an employee is localized in Maryland and, therefore, subject to the state’s FAMLI program. Access policy guidance on localization. Employers considering a self-insured FAMLI plan can…

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October 29, 2026

County News / Human Resources / Information Technology

California Enacts New AI Laws Addressing Workplace Practices

California lawmakers are taking a closer look at how artificial intelligence should be regulated in the workplace. In a recent article from Littler, California lawmakers passed several new laws in 2026 addressing how employers use artificial intelligence in the workplace. The measures cover employee monitoring, AI-assisted employment decisions, and layoffs tied to automation. AB 1883 prohibits employers from using AI-powered surveillance tools to infer employees’ emotional states or collect neural data. Reflecting growing concerns about…

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October 29, 2026

Cannabis / County News / Health and Human Services / Policy Deep Dive

Deep Dive: Cannabis and the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund, Part Two

In July, 2026, the Department of Social and Economic Mobility (DoSEM), through its Office of Social Equity, released emergency regulations for the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund (CRRF). The regulations establish additional requirements for counties administering and distributing CRRF funding. In part one of MACo's Cannabis and the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund (CRRF) deep dive, the article explained what the Fund is and its history. Part one walked through the passage of the Cannabis…

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October 23, 2026

Cyber / Information Technology / MACo Events

County IT Leaders Gather for MACo’s Second Annual IT Conference

County IT professionals met at Turf Valley Resort in Howard County on October 22 for MACo's second annual IT Conference. The conference brought together county and state technology leaders, national experts, and industry representatives to discuss the challenges and opportunities local governments face. The day opened with Scott Winslow, Principal Research Director at Info-Tech, who discussed how IT departments can prepare for incoming county leaders. As new elected officials bring their own priorities and questions,…

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October 23, 2026

County Budgets / Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / Labor

A County FAQ for Maryland’s Upcoming FAMLI Paid Leave Deadlines

With key deadlines approaching under Maryland’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program, counties face important decisions about how to manage the new paid leave requirements. Beginning January 1, 2027, employers participating in the State Plan must begin payroll withholding and contributions at the state-set rate of 0.9% of payroll. Counties seeking to pursue a private plan instead must submit a Declaration of Intent (DOI) to the Maryland Department of Labor by November 15, 2026.…

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October 15, 2026

Cyber / Economic Development / Labor

Federal Grant To Expand Rural Maryland Workforce Training

A $2.38 million federal grant will help nine Maryland colleges and universities strengthen workforce training and connect rural students with internships and employment opportunities in high-demand fields. As covered in a Baltimore Sun article, the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) announced the Maryland Rural Pathways to Prosperity Network, which aims to serve 1,000 students through career advising and job training. The program will focus on in-demand careers such as aerospace, cybersecurity, education, health care, high-tech…

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October 15, 2026

Agriculture / Business Affairs / Economic Development

Frederick County Grants Help First-Generation Farmers Grow

Frederick County is using grant funding to help local farmers invest in new equipment, expand their operations, and find new ways to bring agricultural products to market. As covered in a NACo article, Frederick County’s Agriculture Innovation Grant Program is helping local farmers expand operations, develop new products, and strengthen the county’s agricultural economy. Since launching in 2021, the program has awarded more than $1.86 million to 82 agricultural projects. The program provides $250,000 annually…

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October 15, 2026

County News / Health and Human Services

MD Awards $16.4 M To Strengthen Rural Health Care Workforce

Maryland is investing $16.4 million in workforce development initiatives to address health care staffing shortages across the state’s 18 designated rural regions. Announced in a press release from the Office of Governor Wes Moore and the Maryland Department of Labor, the grants are part of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) and will support projects designed to expand training, recruitment, and retention of health care professionals. From the press release: This initiative will help Maryland’s…

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October 15, 2026

County Budgets / County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Health and Human Services / Human Resources

Prescription Drug Affordability Board Moves Forward With New Savings

Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) is moving forward with efforts to reduce prescription drug costs, with new savings expected for state and local governments. As a Maryland Matters op-ed by Vinny DeMarco, President of the Maryland Health Care for All Coalition, explains, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board was created in 2019 as the first board of its kind and is tasked with identifying and addressing high prescription drug costs. This year, the Board established…

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October 8, 2026

Cannabis / Health and Human Services

Talbot County Announces First Round of CRRF Investments

Talbot County has awarded $200,000 to 10 projects through its inaugural Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund (CRRF) grant cycle. As previously covered by MACo, the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund was established as part of Maryland’s Cannabis Reform Act of 2023, following voter approval of adult-use cannabis legalization in 2022. The Fund is intended to address the long-term effects of disproportionate enforcement of cannabis prohibition. State law directs CRRF resources toward community-based organizations and initiatives…

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October 8, 2026