Kevin Kinnally, Author at Conduit Street

Counties Support New Tool to Incentivize Local Redevelopment

On January 20, MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally submitted written testimony before the Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 161 – Property Tax Credit – Retail Service Station Conversions. The bill authorizes local governments to grant a property tax credit against the county or municipal property tax when a property converts from a retail service station to another retail use, a residential use, or a mixed retail and residential use, as specified. The…

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January 20, 2026

2026 Session Primer: When Do State Tax Changes Spill Over Into County Budgets?

As the 2026 Maryland General Assembly gets underway, tax policy once again sits at the center of the legislative agenda. With lawmakers weighing new credits, deductions, exemptions, and structural tax changes, a familiar and critical question: Which State tax changes affect county budgets — and which do not? The distinction matters. Counties must balance budgets every year, and even small State-level tax decisions can ripple through local revenues. Here’s a practical primer for navigating where…

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January 20, 2026

Elections / News You Can Use

Governor Moore Appoints Eric Bryant to State Board of Elections

Governor Wes Moore announced the appointment of Eric Bryant to the Maryland State Board of Elections. According to the governor’s office, Bryant brings experience in election law, campaign activity, and election administration policy, including work related to voter re-enfranchisement and updates to State election regulations addressing digital political advertising. “Eric Bryant’s career has been defined by a deep understanding of the law and an unwavering commitment to the democratic process,” said Governor Moore. The Maryland…

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January 13, 2026

General Assembly News

Governor Moore Fills Three House Vacancies Ahead of 2026 Session

Governor Wes Moore announced three appointments to the Maryland House of Delegates, filling vacancies in Howard, Prince George’s, and Charles counties as the General Assembly prepares for the 2026 session. The governor appointed Gabriel Moreno to District 13, Derrick Coley to District 24, and Darrell Odom, Sr., to District 27A. Under Maryland law, when a vacancy occurs in the General Assembly, the relevant local central committee submits nominees to the governor, who appoints a replacement…

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January 12, 2026

Broadband / Business Affairs / Information Technology / NACo and Federal Issues / Planning and Zoning

US House Committee Advances Sweeping Broadband Bill, Gutting Local Land-Use Authority

Last month, the US House Energy and Commerce Committee approved and reported H.R. 2289, the American Broadband Deployment Act of 2025. This sweeping federal permitting bill would significantly reshape how state and local governments regulate broadband and telecommunications infrastructure. What began as a narrow, one-page proposal to exempt specified broadband projects from federal environmental and historic review requirements has expanded dramatically. Through committee amendments, H.R. 2289 expanded into a roughly 100-page omnibus bill, incorporating more than…

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January 8, 2026

County Budgets / News You Can Use / Taxes and Revenues

Frederick Council Expands Daycare Property Tax Credit

The Frederick County Council unanimously passed legislation to expand its property tax credit for daycare providers, increasing local support for an essential sector facing rising costs and persistent provider shortages. Under Bill 25-13, introduced by Council Member Renee Knapp and Council President Brad Young, the maximum allowable property tax credit for qualified daycare providers will increase from $3,000 to $10,000 per property. The change also extends eligibility to include family childcare homes and group day…

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January 7, 2026

County Budgets / County News / Taxes and Revenues

Here’s How Counties Balanced Property Tax Differentials and Rebates in Fiscal 2025

At the local level, counties and municipalities share responsibility for delivering public services. Residents in municipalities pay property taxes to both the county and municipal governments, even when municipal governments provide services that counties deliver elsewhere. Maryland law recognizes that overlap. Property tax set-offs allow counties to account for services municipalities provide, rather than county services, while maintaining local flexibility. The Department of Legislative Services’ annual report on property tax set-offs for fiscal 2025 highlights…

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January 6, 2026

2026 MACo Issue Previews / School Construction and Capital Budgets

2026 Issue Preview: School Construction Needs vs Capital Capacity

With the 2026 Legislative Session approaching, MACo continues to highlight significant issues likely to dominate budget and policy discussions in Annapolis. Among them, school construction stands out as a growing pressure point, with rising capital needs outstripping available funding. The Department of Legislative Services flags this tension clearly in the 2026 Issue Papers. Debt affordability limits, slowing revenue growth, and competing capital priorities constrain the State’s ability to keep pace with school construction demand. At…

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January 1, 2026

County News / News You Can Use / Taxes and Revenues

2026 Reassessment: Cooling Values, Still No Windfall for Counties

The Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) released its 2026 reassessment results for “Group 2” residential and commercial properties, showing continued growth in property values but at a slower pace than recent cycles. This reassessment does not translate into immediate or proportional increases in county revenues. Maryland’s property tax structure deliberately limits how quickly tax bills can rise, even when assessed values increase. For the 2026 reassessment, SDAT reports a 12.7 percent overall statewide…

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December 31, 2025

2026 MACo Issue Previews / Elections

2026 Issue Preview: Elections

With the 2026 Legislative Session approaching, MACo is profiling significant issues likely to shape debate in Annapolis. Among them, election administration stands out as a growing operational and fiscal challenge for counties, driven by federal action, court uncertainty, and rising security demands placed squarely on local boards of elections. The 2026 session opens with heightened attention on elections. The Department of Legislative Services outlines the landscape in its annual Issue Papers, noting new federal actions,…

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December 30, 2025