Read more about the article NACo Urges Changes to Proposed Federal Grant Rules Ahead of Today’s Deadline
County Budgets / County News / Feature / Intergovernmental Relations / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use
NACo Urges Changes to Proposed Federal Grant Rules Ahead of Today’s Deadline

The National Association of Counties (NACo) has submitted formal comments urging substantive changes to a proposed overhaul of federal grant rules, arguing that several provisions would create considerable new challenges for county governments administering federal funds. Earlier this summer, Conduit Street highlighted a sweeping proposal from the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to significantly rewrite federal grant regulations governing roughly $1.1 trillion in annual federal financial assistance. As counties across Maryland finalize comments…

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July 13, 2026
Read more about the article Deep Dive: What’s Crowding Out Maryland’s Budget?
County Budgets / Feature / Policy Deep Dive / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Deep Dive: What’s Crowding Out Maryland’s Budget?

Maryland’s budget continues to grow, but lawmakers have less flexibility than they once did. A growing share of State spending now goes toward a relatively small number of long-term commitments, leaving fewer dollars available for transportation, housing, public safety, environmental programs, and other priorities. If it feels like every legislative session begins with another difficult budget debate, that’s because more of Maryland's budget now goes toward costs lawmakers have little ability to change. At the…

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July 2, 2026
Read more about the article MACo Seeks 2027 Legislative Initiative Proposals by July 10
County News / Feature / General Assembly News / News You Can Use
MACo Seeks 2027 Legislative Initiative Proposals by July 10

MACo welcomes proposals for legislative priorities for the 2027 legislative session. Each year, MACo selects up to four priorities to advance through the General Assembly. These initiatives reflect county needs and promote practical, statewide solutions. In recent years, MACo initiatives have focused on infrastructure investment, modernizing local revenue structures, housing tools for counties, and emergency response capacity (view MACo’s 2026 Initiatives for examples). MACo will soon send a formal request for submissions to counties. In…

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June 25, 2026
Read more about the article Counties Face July 13 Deadline to Weigh In on Sweeping Federal Grant Rule Changes
County Budgets / County News / Feature / Intergovernmental Relations / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use
Counties Face July 13 Deadline to Weigh In on Sweeping Federal Grant Rule Changes

Maryland counties have until July 13 to comment on a sweeping federal proposal that would rewrite the rules governing billions of dollars in federal grant funding. The US Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed the most significant changes to the Uniform Guidance since its adoption in 2013. The Uniform Guidance, codified in 2 CFR Part 200, establishes federal requirements for grants and cooperative agreements that support county programs, including public safety and emergency…

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June 25, 2026
Read more about the article The Briefing Room Ep 5: The Annapolis Energy Agenda
County News / Economic Development / Energy / Environment / Feature / Intergovernmental Relations
The Briefing Room Ep 5: The Annapolis Energy Agenda

In the final episode of The Briefing Room energy series, host Dom Butchko turns the conversation to Annapolis and the broader policy choices shaping Maryland’s energy 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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June 9, 2026
Read more about the article Deep Dive: Why Maryland’s Gas Tax Changes Every Year
County News / Feature / Policy Deep Dive / Taxes and Revenues / Transportation and Public Works
Deep Dive: Why Maryland’s Gas Tax Changes Every Year

Maryland drivers will pay slightly more in State gas taxes beginning July 1, but the annual adjustment reflects a much more considerable challenge facing Maryland’s transportation system. The Office of the Maryland Comptroller announced this week that the State gasoline tax will increase from 46.0 cents per gallon to 46.6 cents per gallon. The change amounts to six-tenths of one cent per gallon, or about six cents on a 10-gallon fill-up. While the increase itself…

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June 3, 2026
Read more about the article The Briefing Room Ep 4: The Data Center Dilemma
County News / Economic Development / Energy / Environment / Feature / General Assembly News / Information Technology / Intergovernmental Relations
The Briefing Room Ep 4: The Data Center Dilemma

In Episode 4 of The Briefing Room, we continue our five-part energy series with a closer look at one of the fastest-growing and most controversial issues facing state and local governments: data centers.   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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June 2, 2026
Read more about the article The Briefing Room Ep 3: Where Our Power Comes From
County News / Economic Development / Energy / Environment / Feature / Planning and Zoning / Risk Management / Transportation and Public Works
The Briefing Room Ep 3: Where Our Power Comes From

In Episode 3 of The Briefing Room, Maryland’s energy picture comes into sharper focus. Host Dom Butchko is joined by Public Service Commission Chair Kumar Barve to unpack one of the biggest questions facing the state: where does our power actually come from?   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 26, 2026
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
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