On Wednesday, Michael Sanderson and Natasha Mehu testified in front of the Budget and Taxation Committee in support of SB 645 Local Health Services Funding – Modifications.  One of MACO's key priorities during the 2019 legislative session has been to advocate to re-prioritize public health by reviving local health department funding, which is currently 23% lower than 2008 funding levels. This bill not only restores critical funding that is necessary for public health services in…

On February 20th, MACo Legislative Director Natasha Mehu submitted testimony in support of SB 506 Maryland Department of Health - Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services - Needs Assessment Study. This bill would work to advance important and necessary assessments in behavioral health that are needed across the state of Maryland. From the MACo Testimony: SB 506 requires MDH to perform a comprehensive statewide study to determine the existing capacity and estimated unmet needs for…

On Wednesday, Kevin Kinnally submitted written testimony in opposition of SB 88 Student Debt Relief Act of 2019. From the MACo Testimony: Counties are eager and committed partners in promoting economic growth and creating opportunity – we prefer local autonomy in determining the best way locally. The Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) opposes state-mandated reductions in local revenue sources, but welcomes tools to grant county options and flexibility to pursue their own parallel tax incentives,…

On February 20th, Michael Sanderson submitted written testimony to the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee in support of SB 515 Community Colleges - Workforce Readiness Grant Program - Established. According to the testimony, this bill would enhance the State’s commitment to workforce development offerings at each community college campus and create an incentive for outside private funding to extend the program’s effect. From the MACo Testimony: The two iterations of funding under the bill ensure…

On Wednesday, Kevin Kinnally submitted written testimony to the Ways & Means Committee in opposition of HB 537 Income Tax - Subtraction Modification for Veterans and to the Budget & Taxation Committee in opposition to SB 409 Income Tax - Subtraction Modification - Employee-Owned Businesses. From the MACo Testimony: Counties are eager and committed partners in promoting economic growth and creating opportunity – we prefer local autonomy in determining the best way locally. The Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)…

On Wednesday, Les Knapp testified in front of the Environment and Transportation in opposition of HB 472 Constitutional Amendment - Environmental Rights. HB 472 would create a new constitutional right that is vaguely defined within the bill as well as an expansive new class of litigants with broad standing rights to litigate or intervene. From the MACo Testimony: This language is both vague and overbroad. It could be argued that many basic services provided by a local…