Read more about the article MD Supreme Court Clears Redistricting Question for November Ballot
Elections / General Assembly News / News You Can Use
MD Supreme Court Clears Redistricting Question for November Ballot

The Supreme Court of Maryland has cleared a proposed congressional redistricting amendment for the November ballot, overturning two circuit court rulings that would have blocked the measure. The Court found the ballot language approved by the General Assembly misleading but ordered revised language, ending weeks of uncertainty as State and local election administrators move deeper into preparations for the November 3 general election. The divided Court issued its order Thursday evening after hearing arguments earlier…

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September 4, 2026
Read more about the article Local Revenue Task Force Sets Public Hearing: Here’s How To Testify
County Budgets / County News / Feature / General Assembly News / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Local Revenue Task Force Sets Public Hearing: Here’s How To Testify

County governments, local leaders, residents, and other stakeholders have a chance to weigh in directly as Maryland considers the future of local revenue flexibility. The Task Force to Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Structures will hold a virtual public hearing on September 14, with registration and written testimony due September 10. The hearing comes as the Task Force examines whether Maryland’s local revenue structure still works for local governments. Counties face growing responsibilities and rising…

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September 2, 2026
Read more about the article Revenue Task Force Weighs Options for Modernizing Local Revenues
County Budgets / County News / Feature / General Assembly News / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
Revenue Task Force Weighs Options for Modernizing Local Revenues

The Local Revenue Task Force met Monday to review potential options for modernizing local revenue structures. Members examined existing taxing authority, previous legislative proposals, and several approaches that could give counties and municipalities more flexibility. The Task Force to Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Structures met Monday to work through the mechanics behind Maryland’s local revenue system. The Department of Legislative Services (DLS) reviewed State aid, the State budget, existing local taxing authority, recent legislation,…

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August 31, 2026
Read more about the article Local Revenue Task Force Sets Second Meeting for August 31
County Budgets / General Assembly News / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Local Revenue Task Force Sets Second Meeting for August 31

The Task Force to Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Structures will meet again on August 31 as members continue examining Maryland’s local revenue structure and the fiscal pressures facing local governments. The Task Force will meet virtually on Monday, August 31, at 10:30 am. Members will receive an agenda and additional information ahead of the meeting, and the General Assembly website will stream the meeting live. As previously reported on Conduit Street, the Task Force…

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August 18, 2026
Read more about the article Digital Ad Tax Ruling Adds to Blueprint Funding Pressure
Source: Maryland Department of Legislative Services
Education / General Assembly News / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
Digital Ad Tax Ruling Adds to Blueprint Funding Pressure

A Maryland Tax Court decision striking down Maryland’s digital advertising tax could create another significant challenge for funding the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. The tax has generated hundreds of millions of dollars for the education plan, which already faces growing costs and long-term funding pressures. On August 14, the Maryland Tax Court ruled that Maryland’s digital advertising tax violates federal law. The court ordered refunds of taxes paid, plus applicable interest, in separate challenges brought by…

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August 17, 2026
Read more about the article Special Session Adjourns, Redistricting Question Heads to Voters
Elections / General Assembly News
Special Session Adjourns, Redistricting Question Heads to Voters

Maryland's special legislative session concluded Tuesday night with final passage of HB 2100, placing a proposed constitutional amendment on the November 2026 general election ballot. If approved by voters, the amendment would clarify that Maryland's constitutional requirements for compact, contiguous legislative districts apply only to General Assembly districts. It also would add new constitutional language stating that nothing in the Maryland Constitution, including the Declaration of Rights, provides applicable criteria for congressional district boundaries. In…

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August 6, 2026
Read more about the article Revenue Task Force Convenes: Counties Shoulder 96% of Local Spending, But Revenue Tools Haven’t Kept Pace
County-level entities accounted for 95.5 percent of Maryland local government spending in fiscal 2024. Source: Department of Legislative Services.
County Budgets / Feature / General Assembly News / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
Revenue Task Force Convenes: Counties Shoulder 96% of Local Spending, But Revenue Tools Haven’t Kept Pace

Counties face growing costs for education, transportation, infrastructure, and other core services, but State law offers relatively few ways to generate additional local revenue. For most local governments, the property tax remains the only practical tool to address significant budget needs. That reality framed Friday's first meeting of the Task Force to Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Structures. The Department of Legislative Services began with an overview of local government finance, followed by representatives from the…

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July 31, 2026
Read more about the article Special Session Preview: Bill Language, Testimony Details, and What’s Ahead
Elections / General Assembly News
Special Session Preview: Bill Language, Testimony Details, and What’s Ahead

As previously reported on Conduit Street, Maryland lawmakers will return to Annapolis August 3-5 for a special legislative session focused exclusively on congressional redistricting. HB 2100 / SB 2100 would place a constitutional amendment on the November ballot asking voters to change how Maryland handles future congressional redistricting. The General Assembly has scheduled a joint hearing of the House Government, Labor, and Elections Committee and the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee for Monday,…

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July 30, 2026
Read more about the article Presiding Officers: Special Session Limited to Redistricting
County News / Feature / General Assembly News
Presiding Officers: Special Session Limited to Redistricting

Maryland legislative leaders have directed the Department of Legislative Services (DLS) to accept bill drafting requests for the August 3-5 Special Session only if they relate directly to congressional redistricting. In a letter to members of the General Assembly, Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk said the Special Session is being reconvened for the limited purpose of considering legislation related to congressional redistricting standards. To keep the session focused on that purpose,…

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July 21, 2026
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