Read more about the article Maryland Rents Show Signs of Relief, But Housing Costs Remain High
Housing and Community Development / Planning and Zoning
Maryland Rents Show Signs of Relief, But Housing Costs Remain High

New rental data shows Maryland rents are easing, but high median costs and tight vacancy rates keep housing affordability front and center. For three straight legislative sessions, Maryland lawmakers have made affordable housing a top priority. New data from Apartment List suggests those efforts are unfolding against a slightly improving rental market, with rents in Maryland and its major metros beginning to ease on a year-over-year basis. Still, the broader picture remains mixed: rents are…

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May 27, 2026
Read more about the article The Briefing Room Ep 3: Where Our Power Comes From
County News / Economic Development / Energy / Environment / Feature / Planning and Zoning / Risk Management / Transportation and Public Works
The Briefing Room Ep 3: Where Our Power Comes From

In Episode 3 of The Briefing Room, Maryland’s energy picture comes into sharper focus. Host Dom Butchko is joined by Public Service Commission Chair Kumar Barve to unpack one of the biggest questions facing the state: where does our power actually come from?   Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street Blog and stay in the know!

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May 26, 2026
Read more about the article Data Centers Will Continue to Drive High Energy Demand
Energy / Environment / Transportation and Public Works
Data Centers Will Continue to Drive High Energy Demand

A new federal report projects data centers are likely to drive high energy demand well into the 2050s.  A new federal energy outlook underscores that data centers are becoming a major force in electricity planning. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), server-related energy use could account for as much as one-third of all commercial building electricity consumption by 2050 under a high-demand scenario. That grow is being driven in large part by artificial…

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May 26, 2026
Read more about the article EPA Puts Forward New Federal PFAS Mitigation Strategy
Environment / Transportation and Public Works
EPA Puts Forward New Federal PFAS Mitigation Strategy

The EPA has recently put forward a new federal PFAS mitigation strategy, which focuses on tackling PFAS across its full lifecycle.  Last week, leadership from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a new federal strategy to address PFAS contamination nationwide. The effort focuses on the full PFAS lifecycle and is backed by nearly $1 billion in new funding for states to address PFAS in…

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May 26, 2026
Read more about the article New Report Confirms What Counties Already Know: The Next Infrastructure Problem Is Already Here
County Budgets / News You Can Use / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Transportation and Public Works
New Report Confirms What Counties Already Know: The Next Infrastructure Problem Is Already Here

A new national report suggests local governments may face another long-term fiscal challenge that rarely appears in budget headlines: the growing cost of replacing aging public assets already in service. A recent analysis from Merritt Research Services estimates that US cities carry more than $1 trillion in infrastructure and capital asset obligations tied to aging roads, buildings, equipment, and other public assets. The report attempts to measure the replacement cost of assets that continue operating…

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May 26, 2026
Read more about the article State Retains AAA Rating as S&P Lowers Outlook to Negative
Finance and Procurement / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
State Retains AAA Rating as S&P Lowers Outlook to Negative

Maryland’s latest credit reviews preserved the State’s top-tier rating but also raised new concerns about long-term fiscal pressures and future budget sustainability. Maryland retained its top-tier credit standing this week as Fitch Ratings affirmed the State’s AAA issuer and general obligation bond ratings and assigned a AAA rating to $800 million in new GO bonds. At the same time, S&P Global Ratings also assigned a AAA rating to Maryland’s new 2026 GO bonds and affirmed…

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May 26, 2026
Read more about the article Frederick Pollinator Initiative Connects Sustainability Goals With Local Land Stewardship
Agriculture / County News / Environment / Intergovernmental Relations / News You Can Use
Frederick Pollinator Initiative Connects Sustainability Goals With Local Land Stewardship

Frederick County and the City of Frederick have officially earned the Bee City USA designation, joining a national network of communities that use local policies and land management practices to support pollinator health and ecological sustainability. While the designation focuses on pollinator protection, local officials say the effort also connects to broader conversations around land stewardship, habitat management, sustainability planning, and environmental resilience. Bee City USA affiliates commit to supporting pollinator-friendly practices through local government…

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May 22, 2026
Read more about the article Webinar Recap: What Counties Need to Know About Opportunity Zones 2.0
County News / Economic Development / Housing and Community Development
Webinar Recap: What Counties Need to Know About Opportunity Zones 2.0

Local governments joined the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) on May 20 for the state’s Opportunity Zones 2.0 Local Stakeholders Kickoff Webinar. The webinar outlined Maryland’s approach to the next round of federal Opportunity Zone designations. The webinar focused on recent federal changes to the Opportunity Zone (OZ) program under HR 1 and the important role counties will play in helping identify eligible census tracts for designation. Opportunity Zones are federally designated…

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May 22, 2026
Read more about the article Conduit Street Podcast: Maryland Mail-In Ballot Questions, Answered
County Government and Structure / County News / Elections
Conduit Street Podcast: Maryland Mail-In Ballot Questions, Answered

This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson break down the recent vendor issue involving Maryland's mail-in ballots for the June 23 gubernatorial primary and walk through what county officials and voters need to know moving forward.   Mail-In Ballot Questions: What Is the County Government's Role? – Conduit Street Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street Blog and stay in the…

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May 22, 2026
Read more about the article MD Sets Payment Limits on Ozempic Amid Rising Prescription Costs
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Health and Human Services
MD Sets Payment Limits on Ozempic Amid Rising Prescription Costs

Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board has taken another step to rein in prescription costs. The Board voted to cap payments for Ozempic in state and local government health plans, a move projected to save public employers millions each year. Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) determined Ozempic is unaffordable for people living in the state. The Board voted to place upper payment limits on the diabetes and weight-loss drug for state and local government health…

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May 21, 2026
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