Read more about the article Deep Dive: High Court Reins in County Claims in Public Harm Cases
Feature / Government Liability and Courts / Policy Deep Dive
Deep Dive: High Court Reins in County Claims in Public Harm Cases

The Maryland courts have ruled that there is no broad "public nuisance" avenue available in Maryland law to target potential causes of public harm. While Maryland Supreme Court justices differed over local government's right to recover damages from opioid distributors under a common-law claim of public nuisance, the majority opinion effectively barred a county's claim of this type, with other justices expressing concern that the majority went too far and applied inconsistent logic in the…

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May 20, 2026
Read more about the article Mail-In Ballot Questions: What Is the County Government’s Role?
Elections / Feature
Mail-In Ballot Questions: What Is the County Government’s Role?

Thousands of Maryland voters who requested mail-in ballots for the June 23 gubernatorial primary will receive replacement ballots after the Maryland State Board of Elections identified a vendor printing error that led some voters to receive the wrong party ballot. Because election officials could not determine with certainty which voters received correct ballots and which did not, the State Board decided to issue replacement ballots to everyone who received mailed ballots during the affected period.…

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May 19, 2026
Read more about the article The Briefing Room Ep 2: How PJM Shapes Maryland’s Energy Future
County News / Energy / Environment / Feature / Housing and Community Development / Intergovernmental Relations
The Briefing Room Ep 2: How PJM Shapes Maryland’s Energy Future

In Episode 2 of The Briefing Room’s energy series, Dom Butchko sits down with Jason Stanek, Executive Director of Governmental Services at PJM Interconnection, to unpack the role of energy regions in Maryland’s power future.   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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May 19, 2026
Read more about the article Conduit Street Podcast: Service, Strategy, and Next Steps – A Conversation With Senator Sara Love
Feature
Conduit Street Podcast: Service, Strategy, and Next Steps – A Conversation With Senator Sara Love

In this episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, host Dom Butchko sits down with Senator Sara Love for a wide-ranging conversation on public service, legislative strategy, and the issues shaping Maryland policy.     Follow us on Socials! MACo on Twitter MACo on Facebook 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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May 14, 2026
Read more about the article New FEMA Blueprint Shifts More Disaster Recovery Costs, Responsibility to States and Counties
County News / Emergency Management / Feature / NACo Achievement Awards
New FEMA Blueprint Shifts More Disaster Recovery Costs, Responsibility to States and Counties

A new federal report released this week calls for a dramatic restructuring of the nation’s disaster response system by significantly shifting more responsibility and untenable fiscal risk onto states and local governments. The 75-page report from the President’s FEMA Review Council argues that disaster response should become “locally executed, state or tribally managed, and federally supported.” That philosophy drives nearly every recommendation in the report, including raising federal disaster thresholds, limiting federal recovery assistance, restructuring…

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May 8, 2026
Read more about the article It’s Time To Register for Summer #MACoCon
Feature / Summer Conference
It’s Time To Register for Summer #MACoCon

MACo’s 2026 Summer Conference, “Build What’s Next,” will be held on August 12-15 in Ocean City, MD. Attendee registration is now open! MACo’s Summer Conference brings together approximately 3,000 leaders from all levels of government and the private sector. With four days of educational sessions, along with 2 exhibit shows (over 350 vendors!), and numerous briefings, meetings, and opportunities to connect with counties, this conference is a can’t-miss event for anyone involved in Maryland’s local…

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April 23, 2026
Read more about the article Major Issues & More – 90 Day Report Reviews the 2026 Legislative Session
County News / Feature / General Assembly News
Major Issues & More – 90 Day Report Reviews the 2026 Legislative Session

The Maryland Department of Legislative Services’ annual synopsis of the General Assembly’s time in Annapolis provides an update on taxes, education, energy, transportation, public safety, environmental, and health issues addressed in bills that passed – and didn’t pass – in the 2026 Session. As the Maryland Department of Legislative Services describes, the 90 Day Report is divided into 12 parts, each discussing a significant policy area. Each part contains a discussion of the majority of bills…

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April 22, 2026
Read more about the article 2026 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups
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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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April 17, 2026
Read more about the article Federal Election Actions Draw Attention, But Maryland Law Remains Clear
County News / Elections / Feature / NACo and Federal Issues
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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April 8, 2026
Read more about the article House Appropriations Committee Rejects AOT Cost Shift, Budget Moves to House Floor
County Budgets / Feature / General Assembly News / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
House Appropriations Committee Rejects AOT Cost Shift, Budget Moves to House Floor

The House Appropriations Committee rejected a proposed assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) cost shift and advanced the Budget Bill (SB 282) and Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (SB 284) to the House floor. The Senate retained the AOT provision, which would have required counties to reimburse the Maryland Department of Health for escalating shares of program costs, starting at 25% and rising to 100%. The House removed that provision, avoiding a significant new State-mandated, locally funded…

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March 25, 2026
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