Read more about the article SCOTUS Takes Up Maryland Storybook Case, Arguments Today
Courts / Education
SCOTUS Takes Up Maryland Storybook Case, Arguments Today

The case of Mahmoud v. Taylor, arising from Montgomery County Public Schools, presents issues on first amendment rights for both content presented in public schools, and a family's ability to opt out of specific materials. The Supreme Court will hear argument today on the major case, with potentially broad consequences. Mahmoud v. Taylor includes a series of plaintiffs from Montgomery County Maryland, seeking to restore their ability to have their children in the public schools…

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April 22, 2025
Read more about the article Federal Funding Freeze – NACo Webinar Tomorrow (Jan 29)
Agriculture / Courts / Economic Development / Education / Elections / Emergency Management / Environment / Health and Human Services / Housing and Community Development / Intergovernmental Relations / NACo and Federal Issues / Public Safety and Corrections / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Transportation and Public Works
Federal Funding Freeze – NACo Webinar Tomorrow (Jan 29)

President Trump has announced a "freeze" on a very wide range of federal grant and loan funding. This has potentially major effects on the operation of county-level facilities and services nationwide. Specifics are not yet clear. However, the National Association of Counties (NACo) will take up this topic and other federal-relations matters on tomorrow's "First 100 Days" Zoom Webinar. The President's order, nominally effective at close-of-business today (January 28), has cast a stunning pause on…

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January 28, 2025
Read more about the article 2025 Issue Preview: Public Safety
2025 MACo Issue Previews / Courts / Public Safety and Corrections
2025 Issue Preview: Public Safety

Public safety issues, particularly around firearms, juvenile justice, police accountability, and court procedures, will continue to be a priority for stakeholders during the 2025 legislative session. Gun Laws With a little over two years having passed since the landmark Bruen ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022, the Maryland legislature has slightly more to go on in terms of the types of gun laws that will be able to stand up to the new…

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December 27, 2024
Read more about the article Public Guardianship Experts Highlight Realities Around Petition Process at #MACoCon
Courts / Health and Human Services / Winter Conference
Public Guardianship Experts Highlight Realities Around Petition Process at #MACoCon

State and local public guardianship professionals share perspectives on the process. Panelists highlighted several alternatives to filing a court petition and reiterated that guardianship is the most restrictive and last option that should be considered under most circumstances. At the recent 2024 MACo Winter Conference a group of experts in the field of adult public guardianship spoke to attendees about how the process works and some of the challenges and opportunities within that process. The…

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December 17, 2024
Read more about the article School Superintendents to Governor: Collaborate on Education Policy Updates
Courts
School Superintendents to Governor: Collaborate on Education Policy Updates

In a letter to Governor Moore, dated November 27th, the Public School Superintendents Association of Maryland (PSSAM) requested the opportunity to collaborate with state leadership on potential adjustments to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future in light of its impact on the state fiscal crisis. Local school leadership shared that after three years of implementation, the state education reform policy (Blueprint) has led to some early success; however, it is clear that adjustments are needed. The…

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December 5, 2024
Read more about the article Empowering Autonomy: Navigating the Complexities of Adult Guardianship at #MACoCon
Courts / Health and Human Services / Winter Conference
Empowering Autonomy: Navigating the Complexities of Adult Guardianship at #MACoCon

Adult guardianship in Maryland is a process that has sparked conversations in recent years around procedures in place to ensure vulnerable adults have access to the support and care they need when they are not able to manage on their own. While discussions about the challenges in the adult guardianship process have begun to take shape - most recently addressed in the Maryland Department of Legislative Services 2025 Legislative Session Issue Preview report - there…

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November 26, 2024
Read more about the article Prince George’s and Attorney General Charge Property Owners for Dangerous Rentals
Courts / Government Liability and Courts / Housing and Community Development / Public Safety and Corrections
Prince George’s and Attorney General Charge Property Owners for Dangerous Rentals

Attorney General Brown, along with Prince George's officials, announced charges against a property owner and managers for alleged unfair, deceptive, and abusive trade practices and improper licensure. According to a press release yesterday, Prince George's County officials and Attorney General Brown announced the filing of charges against a property owner and managers for their alleged insufficient operation of a multi-family rental housing community known as Heather Hill in Temple Hills, MD. According to county Chief…

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November 14, 2024
Read more about the article Social Media Companies Continue Fighting Laws Aiming to Protect Kids Online
Courts / Government Liability and Courts / Health and Human Services / Public Safety and Corrections
Social Media Companies Continue Fighting Laws Aiming to Protect Kids Online

The most recent exchange of lawsuits between tech companies and the local and state governments trying to regulate them takes aim at a Florida law attempting to limit access for 14 and 15 year olds by requiring parental permission to join the platform. The ongoing battle between governments and social media companies is still raging. The most recent court filings on the matter include a case filed by the companies, including Meta and Google, against…

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November 13, 2024
Read more about the article Governor’s Recent Court Appointees Have County Government Experience
Courts / Health and Human Services / Winter Conference
Governor’s Recent Court Appointees Have County Government Experience

Governor Moore recently appointed three new members to court systems in Baltimore County, Montgomery, and Prince George's and each of them has meaningful county government experience.  In a recent announcement, Governor Moore appointed three individuals to the Circuit Courts of Baltimore County and Montgomery, and the District Court in Prince George's. All three appointees have had unique touchpoints with local governments throughout their careers. A court membership that understands the legal dynamics around counties is…

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November 13, 2024
Read more about the article Lack of Common Ground on Energy Project Troubles Stakeholders
Courts / Energy / Winter Conference
Lack of Common Ground on Energy Project Troubles Stakeholders

A federal lawsuit was filed by Ocean City, MD concerning the proposed near-shore wind farm project intended to be located around 10 miles off the shore of the municipality coast in Worcester County.  According to the Baltimore Banner, government officials in Ocean City, MD have filed a lawsuit in federal court concerning the approval process for a wind farm. The plaintiff, Ocean City, argues that the assessment violated a number of federal laws designed to…

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October 28, 2024
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