Kevin Kinnally, Author at Conduit Street

MACo: SB 255 Creates Misaligned Incentives and County Risks

On April 1, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally submitted written testimony to the Government, Labor, and Elections Committee in opposition to SB 255 – Voting Rights Act of 2026 - Counties and Municipal Corporations. This bill creates a new State-law cause of action to challenge local election systems, exposing counties to significant litigation risk, costs, and court-ordered changes, without clear guardrails or a defined role for local governments in resolving concerns before litigation. While counties remain…

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April 9, 2026

Federal Election Actions Draw Attention, But Maryland Law Remains Clear

Maryland election officials are drawing a clear line as federal proposals and directives test the boundaries of election authority. Recent federal developments tied to voter verification and mail ballots have raised new questions about election administration and what those changes could mean for Maryland. Proposals tied to the SAVE Act, a pending Supreme Court case on mail ballot deadlines, and a recent executive order have all drawn attention. For Maryland, however, the framework for administering…

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April 8, 2026

Finance and Procurement / General Assembly News / MACo Testimony

MACo: Stop Making Counties Pay for State Decisions

On March 20, MACo testified before the House Judiciary Committee in support of HB 1605 – Compensation for Individuals Erroneously Convicted - County Cost-Sharing - Repeal. This bill corrects a flawed policy enacted as a small component of the 2025 Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act that requires counties to fund wrongful-incarceration compensation decisions made entirely through State processes. Under current law, the State determines eligibility, calculates awards, and sets all terms through administrative and judicial…

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March 26, 2026

County Budgets / Feature / General Assembly News / State Budget and Fiscal Issues

House Appropriations Committee Rejects AOT Cost Shift, Budget Moves to House Floor

The House Appropriations Committee rejected a proposed assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) cost shift and advanced the Budget Bill (SB 282) and Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (SB 284) to the House floor. The Senate retained the AOT provision, which would have required counties to reimburse the Maryland Department of Health for escalating shares of program costs, starting at 25% and rising to 100%. The House removed that provision, avoiding a significant new State-mandated, locally funded…

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March 25, 2026

County Budgets / General Assembly News / MACo Testimony / Taxes and Revenues

Veterans’ Tax Credit Bills Advance With MACo Amendments, Mandate Stalls

Two veterans’ property tax credit bills are moving forward with MACo amendments, while a broader mandatory expansion appears dead after crossover. HB 842, as introduced, repealed the current two-year eligibility requirement for a property tax exemption for specified surviving spouses, expanding a mandatory exemption and directly reducing a primary local revenue source counties rely on to fund core services. MACo supports providing meaningful relief to eligible residents, and many counties already offer locally adopted property…

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March 24, 2026

Business Affairs / County News / General Assembly News / Housing and Community Development / Taxes and Revenues

General Assembly Advances Flexible Local Tools for Housing, Small Business, Families

Several bills advancing this session expand flexible, local tools for housing, small business activity, redevelopment, and family support, backed by MACo. HB 805 has passed the House and is now before the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. The bill authorizes local governments to grant a property tax credit for specified affordable dwellings supported by nonprofit mortgage financing and long-term affordability requirements, allowing counties to align the tool with local housing markets and fiscal capacity. HB…

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March 24, 2026

County Budgets / County News / General Assembly News / Taxes and Revenues

5-Year Assessment Cycle Proposal Appears Dead After Missing Crossover Deadline

A proposal to shift Maryland’s property assessment cycle from three years to five years appears unlikely to advance this session after failing to meet the crossover deadline. MACo opposed HB 1518, citing concerns that the change would increase the lag between real estate market changes and the resources counties rely on to fund essential services. Counties rely on timely, accurate property assessments to maintain stable, predictable revenue streams. Extending the assessment cycle reduces the frequency…

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March 24, 2026

County News / Emergency Management / General Assembly News / MACo Testimony / News You Can Use

General Assembly Advances County Emergency Management Priorities

Two priority bills for county emergency managers are advancing in the General Assembly, both focused on stabilizing funding and bolstering long-term preparedness amid federal uncertainty. HB 953 has passed the House and now moves to the Senate. This bill authorizes transfers from the Revenue Stabilization Account to the State Disaster Recovery Fund, providing flexibility when disasters create immediate costs that counties must cover before federal aid arrives. The fund helps bridge that gap when costs…

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March 23, 2026

Emergency Management / MACo Testimony

MACo Supports Flexibility To Bolster State Disaster Recovery Fund

On March 10, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the Appropriations Committee in support of HB 953 – Revenue Stabilization Account - Transfer of Funds - State Disaster Recovery Fund. This bill authorizes the governor, with the Board of Public Works's approval, to transfer funds from the Revenue Stabilization Account to the State Disaster Recovery Fund (SDRF), strengthening Maryland’s ability to respond when disasters impose immediate costs on communities. By providing greater flexibility to reinforce…

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March 19, 2026

MACo Testimony / Taxes and Revenues

MACo Supports Meaningful, Local-Option Update To Tax Credit for Disabled Veterans, Surviving Spouses

On March 18, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally submitted written testimony to the Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 1611 – Property Tax - Credit for Dwelling House of Disabled Veterans and Surviving Spouses - Income Eligibility. This bill authorizes local governments to set income eligibility for an existing local-option property tax credit for specified disabled veterans and surviving spouses. Currently, counties have the option to offer a property tax credit to certain disabled…

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March 19, 2026