2026 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups

Catch up on all of the latest outcomes of the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session with wrap-ups on important county-related bills in each policy area. Maryland’s 448th legislative session unfolded under significant fiscal pressure. Lawmakers closed the fiscal 2027 gap, preserved reserves, and fully funded principal commitments, such as the Blueprint, but did not resolve the larger structural deficits projected for the years ahead. That budget pressure shaped debates across nearly every policy area, from…

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Conduit Street Podcast: 90 Days Later — Sine Die Recap

This Week on the Conduit Street Podcast, we bring you an episode fresh from Sine Die to break down the 2026 legislative session from start to finish.   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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2026 End of Session Wrap-Up: Elections

The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s work on election policy in the 2026 General Assembly.  Administering elections is a core responsibility of county governments requiring careful coordination of polling locations, election workers, and secure systems to ensure every Marylander can participate in a fair and accessible process. Counties serve on the front lines of election administration, translating state policy into real-world operations every two years. Through its elections advocacy, MACo supports policies…

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Conduit Street Podcast: Elections, Federal Executive Orders, and What’s Real

This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally sits down with Maryland State Administrator of Elections, Jared DeMarinis, to cut through the noise surrounding recent federal election activity and what it actually means for Maryland. 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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MACo: SB 255 Creates Misaligned Incentives and County Risks

On April 1, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally submitted written testimony to the Government, Labor, and Elections Committee in opposition to SB 255 – Voting Rights Act of 2026 - Counties and Municipal Corporations. This bill creates a new State-law cause of action to challenge local election systems, exposing counties to significant litigation risk, costs, and court-ordered changes, without clear guardrails or a defined role for local governments in resolving concerns before litigation. While counties remain…

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Federal Election Actions Draw Attention, But Maryland Law Remains Clear

Maryland election officials are drawing a clear line as federal proposals and directives test the boundaries of election authority. Recent federal developments tied to voter verification and mail ballots have raised new questions about election administration and what those changes could mean for Maryland. Proposals tied to the SAVE Act, a pending Supreme Court case on mail ballot deadlines, and a recent executive order have all drawn attention. For Maryland, however, the framework for administering…

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Maryland Considers New Voting System for 2028; Public Demonstrations Scheduled

The Maryland State Board of Elections (SBE) is considering the purchase of a new voting system to be used beginning with the 2028 Presidential Election cycle, and is inviting the public to see the technology firsthand. As part of the state’s procurement and certification process, SBE will host three days of in-person public demonstrations of a proposed voting system developed by Election Systems & Software (ES&S). The demonstrations will showcase both the ballot marking device…

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MACo Supports Local Flexibility To Expand Public Campaign Financing

On February 24, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally submitted written testimony to the Government, Labor, and Elections Committee in support of HB 962 - Local Public Campaign Financing - County Boards of Education. This bill expands the offices for which a county may establish public campaign financing. As these officials often exercise significant policy and budget authority, providing a local option to include them under public financing programs promotes consistency and accountability. Notably, the bill preserves…

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MACo Raises Questions on Enforcement Authority at Polling Places

On February 24, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally submitted a letter of information to the Government, Labor, and Elections Committee on HB 1001 - Election Law - Local Board of Elections Employees - Authority at Polling Places. HB 1001 expands the authority of local board of elections employees serving at polling places. The bill requires a police officer stationed at a polling place to follow the orders of a local board employee, in addition to election…

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MACo: Remove Roadblock to Student Election Judge Service

On February 18, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally submitted written testimony to the Government, Labor, and Elections Committee in support of HB 662 - Election Law - Election Judges - Compensation for Public School Students.  This bill aims to support the recruitment of election judges by removing an unnecessary barrier for public school students. Currently, public school students who serve as election judges must choose between receiving election judge pay and earning the required service-learning credit.…

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