On Tuesday, Leslie Knapp testified in front of the Environment & Transportation Committee in opposition to HB 1045 Land Use – Comprehensive Plans – Housing Element. HB 1045 would require counties to address affordable housing issues in a new comprehensive plan element that is expensive, too specific, and too subject to short-term change to include in a plan. MACo believes that counties should be able to target these issues in a manner that is the…

On March 1st, Michael Sanderson submitted written testimony in opposition to HB 1144 County Boards of Election - Equal Access to Public Services for Individuals With Limited Proficiency. From the MACo Testimony: This bill creates a broad and unclear mandate on Boards of Education to provide a potentially wide range of materials in multiple languages. Maryland schools already deliver a wide range of services for English language learners, including materials to assist with classroom accessibility…

On Friday, Leslie Knapp testified in front of the Environment and Transportation Committee in opposition to HB 1142 Environment - Hazardous Materials - Disposal of Synthetic Turf and Turf Infill. HB 1142 would require synthetic turf and turf infill to be disposed in a controlled hazardous substance facility or a closed loop recycling facility. This would impose inconsistent, costly, and unnecessary requirements on the disposal and recycling of these materials. From the MACo Testimony: The…

On March 1st, Natasha Mehu submitted written testimony to the Ways & Means Committee in support of HB 970 Senior Citizen Activities Centers - Bingo Games - Authorization with amendments. This bill would authorize individuals to conduct bingo games at senior citizen activities centers. From the MACo Testimony: While this is a well-intentioned means of expanding recreational activities, it places additional unintentional burdens on local governments. County governments operate and oversee senior citizen activities centers.…

On Friday, Michael Sanderson submitted written testimony in opposition to HB 766 Education - Community Colleges - Collective Bargaining. This bill would establish a uniform statewide collective bargaining process for community college employees, but would not provide local flexibility in the decision for this at county community colleges. From the MACo Testimony: Counties oppose the one-size-fits-all approach of HB 766, which limits local decision-making. The move to collective bargaining outlined in this bill could create…

On Thursday, Robin Clark Eilenberg submitted written testimony in opposition to SB 503/HB 1133 Military Service Credit - Eligibility. This bill would allow members of the State’s Law Enforcement Officers’ Pension System to claim up to five years of service credit in the State’s Pension System even if they are already receiving a military retirement for their service. From the MACo Testimony: Six county governments participate in the Law Enforcement Officers’ Pension System to provide…

On Thursday, Les Knapp testified alongside a representative from Maryland Municipal League in opposition to HB 776 Vehicle Laws – Speed Monitoring Systems – Operation in School Zones. This bill would significantly undermine local school zone speed camera programs by imposing unreasonable, costly, and unnecessary requirements. From the MACo Testimony: HB 776 provides that for each school zone speed camera activated, placed, repaired, or altered on or after June 1, 2019, there must be a…

On February 27th, Les Knapp testified in support of SB 877 Waterway Improvement Fund – Public Boating Construction Projects – Financing Limits. This bill would increase the maximum cost of public boating construction projects that can be wholly financed through the Waterway Improvement Fund from $100,000 to $250,000. From the MACo Testimony: The repeal of the 50% contribution cap allows counties with fewer resources to more easily access the Fund for worthy public boating projects.…

On Wednesday, Michael Sanderson and Natasha Mehu testified in front of the Budget and Taxation Committee in support of SB 164 Maryland Department of Health – Capital and Grant Programs – State Grants. This bill would boost a grant program that helps counties fund capital projects for behavioral health and developmental disability facilities. From the MACo Testimony: Counties have a duty to protect and promote the health and well-being of their communities. To advance those…

On February 27th, Les Knapp testified in front of the Environment and Transportation Committee in support of HB 921 Environment – Conowingo Dam – Water Quality Certification. This bill is an emergency bill that would codify reasonable trash and debris cleaning requirements proposed by MDE for the Conowingo Dam. These provisions, which would become part of MDE's Water Quality Certification, are an important component of ongoing Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts. The certification is necessary for…