Read more about the article MACo Supports Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit Changes With Local Guardrails
MACo Testimony / Taxes and Revenues
MACo Supports Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit Changes With Local Guardrails

On March 3, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 1308 - Homeowners' Property Tax Credit - Eligibility and Calculation - Alterations with amendments.  This bill increases the assessed-value cap, income brackets, and net-worth and gross-income limits under the State Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit. Counties support expanding property tax relief for Maryland homeowners facing rising costs, but changes to the State Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit must not…

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March 6, 2026
Read more about the article MACo Supports Expanding Property Tax Credit Eligibility With Local Flexibility
MACo Testimony / Taxes and Revenues
MACo Supports Expanding Property Tax Credit Eligibility With Local Flexibility

On March 3, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 1302 - Property Tax Credit - Disabled Public Safety and Judicial Officers, Surviving Spouses, and Cohabitants - Eligibility with amendments.  This bill alters eligibility for a local-option property tax credit for disabled public safety officers and judicial officers, and surviving spouses or cohabitants of fallen officers, by repealing the current Maryland domicile requirement. While the bill broadens…

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March 6, 2026
Read more about the article MACo Backs Coordinated Approach To Protect Critical Infrastructure
Emergency Management / MACo Testimony
MACo Backs Coordinated Approach To Protect Critical Infrastructure

On March 3, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally submitted written testimony to the Government, Labor, and Elections Committee in support of HB 1239 - Public Safety - Critical Infrastructure Protection. This bill establishes a Critical Infrastructure Protection Branch within the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center to strengthen threat identification, coordination, and response related to critical infrastructure. As cyber and physical threats grow more sophisticated, so too must Maryland's approach to identifying risks, sharing information, and coordinating…

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March 6, 2026
Read more about the article MACo Supports Targeted Charter Flexibility To Address Vacant and Nuisance Properties
MACo Testimony / Taxes and Revenues
MACo Supports Targeted Charter Flexibility To Address Vacant and Nuisance Properties

On March 3, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 1224 - Property Taxes - Special Rate for Vacant and Abandoned Property - Charter County Tax Limitation PG 408-26.  This bill provides charter counties with limited, targeted authority to address vacant and abandoned properties that undermine neighborhoods, reduce property values, and strain local services. Vacant buildings often lead to repeated code enforcement activity, public safety concerns, and…

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March 6, 2026
Read more about the article MACo: State Budget Plan Pressures Counties Toward Higher Taxes or Service Cuts
Feature / MACo Testimony / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
MACo: State Budget Plan Pressures Counties Toward Higher Taxes or Service Cuts

On March 4, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the Budget and Taxation Committee in support of HB 392 - Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2026 with amendments. The BRFA shifts tens of millions of dollars in new, ongoing obligations onto county governments while limiting formula-driven State support. Taken together, these provisions place growing pressure on county budgets amid economic uncertainty, federal funding instability, and limited local revenue flexibility. Speaking on behalf of county…

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March 6, 2026
Read more about the article MACo Supports Local Flexibility To Expand Public Campaign Financing
Elections / MACo Testimony
MACo Supports Local Flexibility To Expand Public Campaign Financing

On February 24, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally submitted written testimony to the Government, Labor, and Elections Committee in support of HB 962 - Local Public Campaign Financing - County Boards of Education. This bill expands the offices for which a county may establish public campaign financing. As these officials often exercise significant policy and budget authority, providing a local option to include them under public financing programs promotes consistency and accountability. Notably, the bill preserves…

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March 4, 2026
Read more about the article MACo Raises Questions on Enforcement Authority at Polling Places
Elections / MACo Testimony
MACo Raises Questions on Enforcement Authority at Polling Places

On February 24, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally submitted a letter of information to the Government, Labor, and Elections Committee on HB 1001 - Election Law - Local Board of Elections Employees - Authority at Polling Places. HB 1001 expands the authority of local board of elections employees serving at polling places. The bill requires a police officer stationed at a polling place to follow the orders of a local board employee, in addition to election…

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March 4, 2026
Read more about the article Counties Back Effort To Stabilize Emergency Management Funding
Emergency Management / MACo Testimony
Counties Back Effort To Stabilize Emergency Management Funding

On February 24, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the Finance Committee in support of SB 739 - Climate Change, Homeowner's Insurance, and Emergency Management - Study. This bill advances a top priority identified by county emergency managers by directing the University System of Maryland to evaluate Maryland’s emergency management funding structure and develop recommendations for sustainable, long-term funding. County governments serve on the front lines of emergency management, maintaining readiness across prevention, protection, response,…

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March 4, 2026
Read more about the article MACo: Smarter Emergency Planning Requires Local Expertise
Emergency Management / MACo Testimony
MACo: Smarter Emergency Planning Requires Local Expertise

On February 24, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally submitted written testimony to the Environment and Transportation Committee in support of HB 937 - Workgroup to Study Youth Camp and RV Park Emergency Preparedness - Established with amendments.  This bill establishes a Workgroup to Study Youth Camp and RV Park Emergency Preparedness. The workgroup must review emergency preparedness policies, inventory youth camps and RV parks by county, examine legislation in other states, and develop recommendations regarding potential…

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March 4, 2026
Read more about the article MACo Urges Local Option Structure for Proposed Income Tax Relief
MACo Testimony / Taxes and Revenues
MACo Urges Local Option Structure for Proposed Income Tax Relief

On February 26, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally submitted written testimony to the Ways and Means Committee in opposition to HB 1035 -Income Tax - Subtraction Modification - Overtime Compensation.  This bill allows Maryland residents to subtract certain overtime pay from their state income tax, effectively lowering the amount of tax they owe on those extra earnings. MACo steadfastly resists state-mandated reductions in local revenue that undermine fiscal autonomy. In today's fiscal climate of economic uncertainty…

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March 4, 2026
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