Blog – Page 3 of 2525 – Conduit Street

Deep Dive: Navigating Maryland’s FAMLI Private Plan Option

As Maryland moves toward implementation of the Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program, counties considering participation in a private plan through the MACo, MABE, MML Time to Care Act (TCA) Collaborative should be aware of several important updates to the private-plan process and upcoming deadlines. As previously covered by MACo, in 2023, MACo joined with the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE) and the Maryland Municipal League (MML) to develop a collaborative joint…

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September 2, 2026

County Budgets / County News / News You Can Use / Planning and Zoning

Frederick Secures $110M Community Benefits Agreement for Data Center Campus

Frederick County has negotiated more than $110 million in developer-funded community investments tied to the Frederick Digital Campus, along with changes aimed at reducing the impact of the already-approved data center development on surrounding communities. County Executive Jessica Fitzwater announced the agreement September 1 with Catellus, the campus’s master developer. Catellus will reduce planned data center development by nearly 20%, cut potable water use by 80% once its reclaimed water system comes online, and preserve…

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September 2, 2026

County Budgets / County News / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Transportation and Public Works

MDOT Unveils $22B Transportation Plan as Local Road Funding Cliff Looms

Maryland’s draft six-year transportation plan approaches $22 billion, with significant investments across the transportation network. But for counties and municipalities, the plan also confirms a looming funding cliff, with Highway User Revenues dropping by nearly $100 million in fiscal 2028. The Maryland Department of Transportation's draft fiscal 2027-2032 Consolidated Transportation Program lays out $21.93 billion in capital spending over six years. The CTP serves as Maryland's capital budget for transportation projects and local transportation funding.…

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September 2, 2026

Health and Human Services / Public Safety and Corrections

New Medicaid Reentry Program for Locally Incarcerated Young Adults

A new Medicaid program adopted by the Maryland Department of Health could help local detentions centers get the cost of care covered for some returning citizens in local custody. Maryland is giving local detention centers a new opportunity to recover some of the costs associated with helping incarcerated individuals transition back into the community through the state’s Medicaid Reentry Program for Children and Young Adults. The program allows eligible local jails to bill Medicaid for…

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September 1, 2026

County News / Economic Development / Housing and Community Development

The Briefing Room: The Hemlock Grove Playbook

For the final episode of The Briefing Room's housing finance series, the conversation heads west to Garrett County, where local leaders are putting many of the tools explored throughout the series into practice. Dom Butchko and Baltimore County Housing and Community Development Director Terry Hickey are joined by Garrett County Commissioner Paul Edwards and Liz Georg of the Garrett County Housing Commission to explore Hemlock Grove, an innovative housing development designed to address a challenge…

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September 1, 2026

County Budgets / County News / Feature / General Assembly News / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues

Revenue Task Force Weighs Options for Modernizing Local Revenues

The Local Revenue Task Force met Monday to review potential options for modernizing local revenue structures. Members examined existing taxing authority, previous legislative proposals, and several approaches that could give counties and municipalities more flexibility. The Task Force to Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Structures met Monday to work through the mechanics behind Maryland’s local revenue system. The Department of Legislative Services (DLS) reviewed State aid, the State budget, existing local taxing authority, recent legislation,…

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August 31, 2026

Courts / Health and Human Services

Meta Settlement Could Bring New Resources to Local Youth Mental Health Efforts

The Maryland Office of the Attorney General finalized an agreement with Meta, sending $327M in settlement funds to Maryland for deliberately designing products to be addictive to children and teenagers, while misleading parents and the public about the risks. Maryland is set to receive up to $327 million from a multi-state settlement with Meta over allegations that Instagram and Facebook were designed with addictive features that harmed children and exposed young users to serious mental…

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August 31, 2026

Energy / Environment / Housing and Community Development / Transportation and Public Works

More States and Localities Adopt Rental Cooling Requirements

As extreme heat intensifies, states and counties are adopting new requirements to ensure rental housing has adequate cooling. As extreme heat becomes more frequent and dangerous, state and local governments are increasingly reconsidering whether access to working air conditioning should be treated as a basic housing requirement. Houston recently adopted rules requiring landlords to provide and maintain cooling in rental units, joining jurisdictions such as Phoenix, New York City, Dallas, and Austin that have established…

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August 31, 2026

Environment / Information Technology / Transportation and Public Works

Feds Set to Unveil Cyber Program for Water Utilities

Federal officials are preparing a new cybersecurity program to help water and wastewater utilities strengthen defenses against growing cyber threats. The federal government is preparing to launch a new cybersecurity assistance program aimed at helping water and wastewater systems strengthen their defenses against cyberattacks. Led by the Office of the National Cyber Director, the initiative is expected to connect states and utilities with private-sector cybersecurity firms. The effort is particularly focused on systems with limited…

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August 31, 2026

Courts / Elections

MD Supreme Court To Decide Fate of Redistricting Ballot Question

The Supreme Court of Maryland will decide whether a proposed congressional redistricting amendment can appear on the November ballot after two circuit court judges separately ruled against the measure. The first appeal is set for Thursday, September 3, as the State Board of Elections prepares to begin printing ballots. Last week, Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Judge Robert J. Thompson ruled that the General Assembly failed to comply with State election law when it passed…

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August 31, 2026