Sarah Sample, Author at Conduit Street

MACo Testimony / Public Information and Ethics

Counties Back Stronger Privacy Protections for State and Local Elected Officials

On March 31, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample testified before the Government, Labor, and Elections Committee in support of SB 632 – State Government - State Elected Officials - Protection of Personal Information with amendments. This bill strengthens privacy protections for state officials while maintaining transparency for ethics and other mandatory disclosures for individuals in these roles. These changes, to extend new safety measures for state elected officials, have the potential to deter harmful actions…

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April 2, 2026

Public Safety and Corrections

New Traffic Safety Enforcement Tools Get Stuck in Committee Ahead of Crossover

Multiple traffic safety enforcement bills were introduced during the 2026 legislative session with a handful of them getting stuck in committee ahead of the deadline to cross over to the opposite chamber. Two of these bills were attempting to improve traffic safety by extending new enforcement tools. With the “crossover” deadline for the Maryland General Assembly having come and gone, as of Monday, a handful of traffic safety bills failed to make the cut in…

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March 25, 2026

Public Safety and Corrections

Detention Center Bills Miss Crossover, Some Components Added to Other Bills Still on the Move

Two bills introduced and heard in the Maryland Senate, dealing with local detention center housing requirements, have not met the cross over deadline for the 2026 session. Both bills aimed to change housing mandates for certain populations during incarceration. The "crossover" date for the General Assembly was Monday, therefore, legislation that has not received approval from its original committee is likely not viable this session. While this is the fate for most of the bills…

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March 25, 2026

County Budgets / Education / School Construction and Capital Budgets

State Takes Increased Share of School Construction Costs via Regulation Change

In a meeting last Thursday, the Interagency Commission on School Construction (IAC) adopted new regulations, effectively increasing the state share of costs for qualifying school construction projects in nine of the most resource scarce counties. During a regularly scheduled meeting of the IAC, Executive Director Alex Donahue proposed a change in the existing regulations that set forth the state-local cost share for qualifying school construction projects in smaller jurisdictions with limited tax capacity. The proposed…

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March 16, 2026

Government Liability and Courts / MACo Testimony

State-Local Interactions With Federal Agencies Need Clearly Defined Statutes

On March 11, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample submitted written testimony to the Judiciary Committee in opposition to HB 1536 – Maryland Enforcement Limits and Transparency (MELT) Act. This bill alters how county employees, private contractors, and various members of the public interact with federal agents and agencies while attempting to knowingly comply with immigration and customs enforcement. Additionally, the bill establishes new private and public rights of action that can be brought in the…

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March 16, 2026

MACo Testimony / School Construction and Capital Budgets

Clarifying Public Charter School Funding Independence

On March 11, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample testified before the Appropriations Committee in support of HB 1430 – Maryland Public Charter School Program - School Facilities - Funding with amendments. This bill, starting in fiscal year 2028, requires the Governor to include funds in the annual budget for the maintenance and operations of public charter schools. Additionally, it mandates those funds to be distributed directly to the charter school rather than through the local…

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March 16, 2026

MACo Testimony / School Construction and Capital Budgets

Strengthening Balance of State-Local Partnership on Funding for School Construction

On March 11, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample testified before the Appropriations Committee in support of HB 1329 – Education - Public School Construction - Funding. This bill seeks to adjust the State’s funding requirement for public school construction beginning in fiscal year 2027. It increases the annual minimum contribution for the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) by almost $100M. While this would still be about $75M less than what the Interagency Commission on School Construction…

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March 16, 2026

County Budgets / Education

Due Soon: Non-Recurring School Cost Entries Are Due March 31

A method in state law for identifying one-time school costs ensures that long-term funding mandates remain unaffected by short-term budget bumps, but approval for non-recurring costs requires application to the State Department of Education, by March 31, 2026. Maryland’s “maintenance of effort” (MOE) school funding law, enacted by the General Assembly, requires that counties maintain the same amount of funding for education per pupil each year. The maintenance of effort name derives from the concept…

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March 12, 2026

MACo Testimony / Public Safety and Corrections

MACo to MGA: Deliver on Long-Sought Medication-Assisted Treatment Arrangement

On March 10, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample testified before the Health Committee in support of HB 1162 – Correctional Services - Medication-Assisted Treatment Funding. This bill clarifies State procedures and viable funding sources for medication-assisted treatment in local detention centers. It reflects a careful balance to resolve a prolonged and vexing issue and will help the State reach compliance with at least one of several missed obligations within local detention centers. Local detention centers…

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March 11, 2026

MACo Testimony / Public Safety and Corrections

Investing in Professional Development for Maryland’s Correctional Workforce

On March 10, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample submitted written testimony to the Appropriations Committee in support of HB 852 - Higher Education - Scholarships for Correctional Officers. This bill expands eligibility for the Maryland Police Officers and Probation Agents Scholarship Program to include correctional officers. County detention centers play a vital role in Maryland’s public safety and justice systems, yet the professionals who work in corrections often have fewer access points to higher education…

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March 11, 2026