MACo Legislative Director Natasha Mehu testified in support of Senate Bill 1081, “Business Regulation – Limited Residential Lodging”, before the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee on April 4, 2018. The bill had been previously heard by the Senate Finance Committee, but was rereferred to Budget and Taxation.

Counties support the limited, tax-specific version of this bill, but maintain that the reporting requirements from limited lodgings, such as Airbnb, are critical to effectively calculating and determining appropriate local taxes.

From MACo Testimony:

Counties across the state have either enacted local laws or are in the process of deciding how to regulate short-term rentals. Local governments are best situated to address the specific needs of their diverse and distinct communities – particularly regarding public health, public safety, and zoning matters. Accordingly, the bill expressly protects the authority of local governments to enact local laws concerning the regulation of short-term rentals.

Counties believe SB 1081 balances the shared goals of a reasonable regulatory scheme for limited residential lodging that will both protect consumers and let the industry thrive.”

For more on this and other legislation, follow MACo’s advocacy efforts during the 2018 legislative session here.

MACo submitted written testimony in support of House Bill 645, “Business Regulation – Wireless Security Systems – Local Government Licenses and Permits”, to the Senate Finance Committee on March 28, 2018.

HB 645 defines a wireless security system and prohibits local governments from requiring any license or permit to install, maintain, inspect, replace, or service a wireless security system that does not require a fire protection plan review. As introduced, MACo had concerns with the vague language of the bill.. It did not account for longstanding, commonsense state and local public safety protections for security systems, which should apply regardless of whether the security system is wired or not. As amended, the bill accomplishes its objectives more clearly, and without upending important and appropriate local oversight.

From MACo Testimony:

As amended, the bill ensures that:

• Low voltage is explicitly defined as 50 volts or lower;
• Only electrical licenses or electrical permits are prohibited for wireless systems;
• Individuals who install wireless systems comply with state laws governing security system technicians;
• Wireless security system operators and users comply with any local alarm business registration and alarm system registration laws; and
• Wireless systems must meet the appropriate building codes wherever installed.

HB 645 provides clarity to vague provisions of current law and protects the safety of county residents, while setting a framework to appropriately regulate wireless security systems.”

For more updates, follow MACo’s advocacy efforts during the 2018 legislative session here.

MACo submitted written testimony in support of House Bill 961, “Department of Housing and Community Development – Rural Broadband Service – Inventory and Mapping of Assets”, to the Senate Finance Committeee on March 28, 2018.

The bill includes rural and underserved areas in a statewide inventory of assets. This map would begin the steps to ensuring that broadband is available in every part of the state, but would be particularly important in rural areas that have little to no service. MACo supports the language in this bill, as it includes these areas in a comprehensive view of service in the State.

From MACo Testimony:

As amended, HB 961 would authorize the Department of Housing and Community Development to complete an inventory of state and local government assets by June 1, 2020. The inventory would then be used to create a map that includes all assets. Initially, this inventory and assessment only included population density and business density for unserved and underserved areas in specified areas of the state. As amended, the bill appropriately expands the range of geographic areas to be inventoried and mapped to all unserved or underserved areas of Maryland instead of areas in specified regions of the state.”

The bill has already passed the House by a 136-0 vote. For more on this and other legislation, follow MACo’s advocacy efforts during the 2018 legislative session here.

MACo submitted written testimony in support of House Bill 243, “Task Force on Rural Internet, Broadband, Wireless, and Cellular Service – Study and Extension”,to the Senate Finance Committee on March 22, 2018.

This task force has studying access to service in specified unserved and underserved areas of the state, and this extension would allow it to ascertain issues in all rural areas of the state and allow recommendations to come to fruition. This access is critical to economic development in counties, and extending the time of the task force is allowing it to effectively put forward recommendations that consider all facets of rural broadband access.

From MACo Testimony:

Addressing gaps in access and availability to these services transcends the specified regions of the bill and impacts residents living in rural areas of urban counties as well. As amended, the bill ensures that the rural areas of all counties are afforded the same review and benefits of the extended study.”

For more on this and other legislation, follow MACo’s advocacy efforts during the 2018 legislative session here.