Bill Hearing Archives

Counties Push to Improve Residential Traffic Safety With Enhanced Speed Enforcement Measures

On January 20, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample testified before the Judicial Proceedings Committee in support of SB 45 – Vehicle Laws – Speed Monitoring Systems – Residential Districts. This bill authorizes statewide use of speed monitoring devices in residential districts under certain circumstances and only when enabled by a local ordinance. These changes could help promote safety and deter aggressive, reckless, and negligent driving, particularly in areas with families and children. More frequently than…

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January 22, 2026

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

Governor Moore’s Fiscal 2027 Budget: Navigating County Effects

This week, Governor Wes Moore introduced a $70.8 billion fiscal 2027 spending plan that, according to the administration, expands funding for housing, education, and public safety while closing a projected $1.5 billion shortfall without increasing taxes or fees. The governor's budget increases aid flowing through county governments, but it does not resolve the underlying pressures counties face or meaningfully realign State funding with county responsibilities. Education funding continues to grow, and transportation aid remains temporarily…

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January 22, 2026

County Budgets / County News / General Assembly News / Housing and Community Development

MACo’s Michael Sanderson Joins the “I Hate Politics Podcast” To Talk Housing

As the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session begins, housing policy is once again front and center in Annapolis. In this episode of the I Hate Politics Podcast, host Sunil Dasgupta speaks with MACo Executive Director Michael Sanderson about where counties stand following last year’s housing debates, how local governments balance housing growth with infrastructure and fiscal realities, and whether a path toward compromise is emerging this session. The conversation explores the evolving state–local dynamic on…

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January 22, 2026

MACo Testimony / Taxes and Revenues

MACo Backs Local Tax Flexibility To Meet Infrastructure, Education Demands

On January 21, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the Budget and Taxation Committee in support of SB 224 – Property Taxes – Authority of Counties to Establish a Subclass and Set a Special Rate for Commercial and Industrial Property. This bill authorizes county governments, subject to General Assembly approval, to establish specific subclasses of commercial and industrial real property and apply a special property tax rate to support local transportation priorities and public schools.…

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January 21, 2026

MACo Testimony / Taxes and Revenues

Counties Support New Tool to Incentivize Local Redevelopment

On January 20, MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally submitted written testimony before the Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 161 – Property Tax Credit – Retail Service Station Conversions. The bill authorizes local governments to grant a property tax credit against the county or municipal property tax when a property converts from a retail service station to another retail use, a residential use, or a mixed retail and residential use, as specified. The…

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January 20, 2026

County Budgets / General Assembly News / Taxes and Revenues

2026 Session Primer: When Do State Tax Changes Spill Over Into County Budgets?

As the 2026 Maryland General Assembly gets underway, tax policy once again sits at the center of the legislative agenda. With lawmakers weighing new credits, deductions, exemptions, and structural tax changes, a familiar and critical question: Which State tax changes affect county budgets — and which do not? The distinction matters. Counties must balance budgets every year, and even small State-level tax decisions can ripple through local revenues. Here’s a practical primer for navigating where…

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January 20, 2026

County Budgets / County News / Elections / Energy / General Assembly News

Setting the Stage for 2026: Affordability, County Priorities, and an Election Year Shift

As Maryland heads into the 2026 General Assembly session, county governments are confronting a familiar challenge, but with sharper edges. In this episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, MACo’s Kevin Kinnally, Michael Sanderson, and Dominic Butchko break down why affordability is the defining theme of the upcoming session. 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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January 14, 2026

General Assembly News

Governor Moore Fills Three House Vacancies Ahead of 2026 Session

Governor Wes Moore announced three appointments to the Maryland House of Delegates, filling vacancies in Howard, Prince George’s, and Charles counties as the General Assembly prepares for the 2026 session. The governor appointed Gabriel Moreno to District 13, Derrick Coley to District 24, and Darrell Odom, Sr., to District 27A. Under Maryland law, when a vacancy occurs in the General Assembly, the relevant local central committee submits nominees to the governor, who appoints a replacement…

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January 12, 2026

County News / General Assembly News / MACo Testimony

Your Go-To Guide for Submitting Testimony to the 2026 General Assembly

The House and the Senate are using a hybrid system this session, accepting virtual and in-person oral testimony. Still, both houses have stressed that witnesses are strongly encouraged to be in person as not all virtual witnesses will be called for testimony. This post is an easy index for everything you need to submit testimony in 2026. Of Note: The sign-up window for both the House and Senate is two (2) business days before hearings.…

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January 8, 2026

County News / General Assembly News

Key Dates and Deadlines for the 2026 Legislative Session

The General Assembly session begins at noon on Wednesday, January 14, and spans 90 days, concluding at midnight on Monday, April 13. Here’s a look at some key milestone dates to watch for. The full calendar is available online here. Major dates of interest: January 23 (10th Day) — SENATE AND HOUSE BILL REQUEST GUARANTEE DATE Legislators seeking to introduce bills are asked to place requests with bill drafters by this time to guarantee delivery…

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December 31, 2025