Read more about the article Appellate Court of Maryland Rules on Scope of Local Government Tort Claims Act Damage Caps
Courts / Government Liability and Courts
Appellate Court of Maryland Rules on Scope of Local Government Tort Claims Act Damage Caps

Chief Justice of the Appellate Court of Maryland, Judge E. Gregory Wells, issued an opinion removing certain claims from the damage caps provision of the Local Government Tort Claims Act. An opinion was released yesterday by the Appellate Court of Maryland that seeks to clarify the scope of damage caps in the Local Government Tort Claims Act (LGTCA). The case giving rise to the issue is Joseph Watts v. Prince George’s County, Maryland and was…

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October 30, 2025
Read more about the article Pre-Kindergarten Workgroup Convened Meetings to Address Expansion Challenges
Education
Pre-Kindergarten Workgroup Convened Meetings to Address Expansion Challenges

Beginning in September the Pre-Kindergarten Systems Analysis Workgroup (PKW) began what will be a series of meetings over the next two years to conduct a study of the state’s current publicly funded, mixed-delivery pre-kindergarten program. The PKW was established by legislation during the 2025 session that was spearheaded by Delegate Feldmark in HB 1475. During the bill hearing, stakeholders cited challenges to the process of recruiting private providers that were originally intended to cover 50…

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October 30, 2025
Read more about the article Drug Recognition Experts With County Police Help Avoid False-Positives for Marijuana Impairment
Public Safety and Corrections
Drug Recognition Experts With County Police Help Avoid False-Positives for Marijuana Impairment

County law enforcement officials take steps to keep the roadways safe following legalization of adult use marijuana, with 18 out of 24 jurisdictions now having at least one drug recognition expert (DRE) on staff. With better training and clear standards agencies are ensuring safety while avoiding over-enforcement. While it was widely anticipated, traffic fatalities and impaired driving citations have not significantly changed in Maryland due to increased cannabis use following recreational legalization. According to a…

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October 30, 2025
Read more about the article New Wrongful Conviction Settlement Process Continues to Unfold in Wicomico
County Budgets / Courts / Government Liability and Courts / Winter Conference
New Wrongful Conviction Settlement Process Continues to Unfold in Wicomico

Legislative changes during the FY26 budget deliberations shifted a portion of the cost burden for wrongful convictions on to counties. With the new law in affect, counties are now picking up the settlement costs for a process they have no control over.  A recent Maryland Matters article highlighted some of the next steps in a novel move by the State to shift some of the costs of wrongful conviction settlements onto county governments. As previously covered on Conduit Street this…

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October 28, 2025
Read more about the article The Reentry Bridge: Where Access Meets Opportunity at #MACoCon
Public Safety and Corrections / Winter Conference
The Reentry Bridge: Where Access Meets Opportunity at #MACoCon

A 2025 MACo Winter Conference panel highlights how local detention centers are providing the necessary tools returning citizens need to succeed.  Educational and professional development opportunities are a vital component to local detention centers. These programs work hand in hand with the role of reentry coordinators in local facilities that are striving to set returning citizens up for success. These are the are the kinds of strategies that make the difference for someone getting and…

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October 28, 2025
Read more about the article New Guidance on Intersection of State-Federal Civil Rights Protections in Maryland
Government Liability and Courts / Health and Human Services / Public Safety and Corrections
New Guidance on Intersection of State-Federal Civil Rights Protections in Maryland

As new federal policies are implemented, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown and the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights have published guidance to help local government agencies understand the types of protections required by Maryland law and federal law.  Local governments are service providers and employers for Maryland residents and need to be acutely aware of how Maryland law intersects with federal civil rights protections, in light of recent initiatives by the federal government. As Maryland…

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October 23, 2025
Read more about the article Board of Public Works Approved $25.8M for Counties This Week
Board of Public Works
Board of Public Works Approved $25.8M for Counties This Week

During a meeting yesterday the Board of Public Works approved $25.8M in funds for county government projects from Program Open Space (POS), state agency loans, capital budget allocations, and the Rural Legacy Fund.  Of the $25.8M, the vast majority was allocated to Howard from the Maryland Department of the Environment, to continue renovations as part of the county's flood mitigation plan. That total allocation is $18.1M. About $3.4M of the funds were appropriated from the…

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October 23, 2025
Read more about the article State Continues Debt Commitment for Schools, Housing, and More
School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
State Continues Debt Commitment for Schools, Housing, and More

Last Thursday the Capital Debt Affordability Committee (CDAC) convened to finalize recommendations for the state’s fiscal year 2027 capital budget. Members voted to maintain the borrowing of $1.75B but align the issuance closer with actual spending that has slowed in recent years. Chaired by the State Treasurer, the committee’s primary task during the meeting last week was to vote on the maximum level of new general obligation (GO) debt the state may prudently authorize, as…

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October 22, 2025
Read more about the article AG Brown Publishes Guidance for Local-Federal Law Enforcement Collaborations
Government Liability and Courts / Public Safety and Corrections
AG Brown Publishes Guidance for Local-Federal Law Enforcement Collaborations

The Maryland Office of the Attorney General released guidance to help local law enforcement agencies comply with state laws during a period of increased federal law enforcement activity. State and local law enforcement officers often interact with their federal counterparts. Historically federal agents and Maryland officers sometimes rely on each other for backup, serve together on federal task forces, enter into mutual aid agreements, and collaborate through less formal arrangements. With recent shifts in regulations…

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October 16, 2025
Read more about the article Technology Is Complicating Public Information Laws…And It’s Getting Worse
Cyber / Information Technology / Policy Deep Dive / Public Information and Ethics
Technology Is Complicating Public Information Laws…And It’s Getting Worse

Technology advancements continue to threaten to blow the wheels off the public information access process in Maryland and beyond. State and local officials are sounding the alarm but oversight committee stops short of meaningful recommendations to tackle the issues.  Maryland’s Public Information Act (PIA) is a cornerstone of open government, designed to ensure transparency and accountability at every level of public service. For county governments in particular, the PIA can present a complex balancing act…

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October 15, 2025
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