Read more about the article Now Available: Spring 2023 IAC Newsletter
Bill Hearing / County News / Education / MACo Testimony / School Construction and Capital Budgets
Now Available: Spring 2023 IAC Newsletter

The 2023 Spring Newsletter from the Interagency Commission on School Construction includes information on Net Zero Energy add-on funding and budget and legislative updates. The Interagency Commission on School Construction (IAC) has published its Spring 2023 Newsletter. In this edition of the quarterly publication, readers will find details on the agency's Net Zero Energy add-on incentive funding and legislative updates from the 2023 legislative session. The 2023 Spring Newsletter also includes updates on a series…

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May 18, 2023
Read more about the article What’s Next: Maryland 529 Plans After the 2023 Legislative Session
Bill Hearing / Education / Higher Education / News You Can Use / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
What’s Next: Maryland 529 Plans After the 2023 Legislative Session

The 2023 legislative session prioritized investigating and addressing ongoing issues with Maryland's premier higher education savings plan. Here's where things are at. Maryland's Prepaid College Trust has been in turmoil for over a year. The Prepaid College Trust is offered by Maryland 529 and managed by Intuition College Savings Solutions, LLC. It was designed to help individuals and families save for college in a tax-advantaged way. However, over the last year, hundreds of Maryland families…

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May 11, 2023
Read more about the article After the 2023 Legislative Session, What’s Next for School Funding?
Bill Hearing / County Budgets / Education / MACo Testimony / Policy Deep Dive
After the 2023 Legislative Session, What’s Next for School Funding?

This article is part of MACo’s Policy Deep Dive series, where expert policy analysts explore and explain the top county policy issues of the day. A new article is added each week – read all of MACo’s Policy Deep Dives. How Maryland funds its public schools is one of the more nuanced and complicated policy responsibilities of the State, counties, and policymakers. The 2023 legislative session challenged some of the long-established educational funding protocols, to the…

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April 26, 2023
Read more about the article Maryland’s Community Colleges: Here’s Where They Landed in the 2023 Legislative Session
Bill Hearing / Education / Higher Education / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Maryland’s Community Colleges: Here’s Where They Landed in the 2023 Legislative Session

Maryland's community colleges are critical infrastructure to meet the state's educational and workforce goals. Counties and MACo are proud to support community colleges in and out of the legislative session. Every legislative session, several bills are considered targeting the unique needs and experiences of Maryland's community colleges and the students that attend them. Top priorities for community colleges and their respective advocacy association, the Maryland Association of Community Colleges (MACC), often include operational and capital funding,…

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April 20, 2023
Read more about the article 2023 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups
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2023 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups

Catch up on all of the latest outcomes of the 2023 Maryland General Assembly session with wrap-ups on important county-related bills in each policy area. In addition to the swearing-in of a new governor, comptroller, attorney general, and legislators alike, the 445th legislative session kicked off with more relaxed health and safety measures compared to the turbulence of the last few years. With the 2023 session in the books, it's time to take stock. As…

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April 14, 2023
Read more about the article 2023 End of Session Wrap-Up: Parks and Recreation
Bill Hearing / County News / MACo Testimony / Parks and Recreation
2023 End of Session Wrap-Up: Parks and Recreation

The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s work in the area of parks and recreation 2023 General Assembly.  County government parks and recreation departments provide a range of public recreation programs for all segments of the population and maintain a large network of open spaces throughout Maryland. MACo’s advocacy seeks to support the efforts of county parks and recreations by urging state and federal funding support and defending local determination of priorities in…

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April 13, 2023
Read more about the article 2023 Session Wrap-Up: Intergovernmental Relations
Bill Hearing / Emergency Management / Intergovernmental Relations / MACo Testimony
2023 Session Wrap-Up: Intergovernmental Relations

The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s work in the area of intergovernmental relations in the 2023 General Assembly.  In addition to the swearing-in of a new governor, the 445th legislative session kicked off with more relaxed health and safety measures compared to the turbulence of the last few years. This enabled MACo's policy team to dynamically engage with private-sector stakeholders, legislators, and representatives from all divisions of government. Under these more conventional…

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April 13, 2023
Read more about the article 2023 End of Session Wrap-Up: Education
Bill Hearing / County News / Education / Higher Education / MACo Testimony
2023 End of Session Wrap-Up: Education

The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s work in the area of education policy in the 2023 General Assembly.  Counties support education as the largest component of their budgets, with operating and capital support for schools typically representing a larger share of a county budget than all other functions combined. Statutory formulas drive most state-level funding, which requires constant attention to the state-county balance in funding responsibilities. The burden of costly mandates can…

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April 13, 2023
Read more about the article 2023 End of Session Wrap-Up: School Construction and Capital Budget
Bill Hearing / County News / MACo Testimony / School Construction and Capital Budgets
2023 End of Session Wrap-Up: School Construction and Capital Budget

The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s work in the area of school construction in the 2023 General Assembly.  County Governments partner with the State of Maryland to fund school construction projects throughout Maryland. K-12 school renovation and construction projects make up a substantial portion of any county’s capital budget, and the needs of Maryland students are consistently a high priority. In addition to the swearing-in of a new governor, the 445th legislative…

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April 12, 2023
Read more about the article 2023 End of Session Wrap-Up: Employee Benefits and Relations
Bill Hearing / County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Labor / MACo Testimony
2023 End of Session Wrap-Up: Employee Benefits and Relations

The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s work in the area of employee benefits and relations in the 2023 General Assembly.  MACo advocates for fair state laws governing employment practices, labor representation, and employer-employee relationships. MACo becomes particularly engaged when a proposal has a disproportionate or unique effect on public sector employees – frequently those affecting public safety employees or other public workers who engage in sensitive and essential functions. In addition to…

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April 12, 2023
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