Read more about the article Deep Dive: Counties Now Forced to Pay for a Process They Don’t Control — and Never Did
County Budgets / Feature / General Assembly News / Government Liability and Courts / News You Can Use / Policy Deep Dive / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Deep Dive: Counties Now Forced to Pay for a Process They Don’t Control — and Never Did

This article is part of MACo’s Policy Deep Dive series, where expert policy analysts explore and explain the top county policy issues of the day. Read all of MACo’s Policy Deep Dives. In Maryland, county governments do not prosecute, convict, or exonerate anyone. They play no role in determining wrongful incarceration settlements. Yet a new law forces them to pay the bill anyway. The 2025 Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BRFA) requires counties to cover…

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August 5, 2025
Read more about the article Medicaid, SNAP, SALT: Joint Committee Reviews Billions in Federal Budget Risks to Maryland
County Budgets / County News / Feature / General Assembly News / NACo and Federal Issues / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Summer Conference / Taxes and Revenues
Medicaid, SNAP, SALT: Joint Committee Reviews Billions in Federal Budget Risks to Maryland

Facing potential cost shifts in the billions, Maryland lawmakers met this week to assess how sweeping federal budget proposals and policy changes could upend the State’s finances -- with ripple effects likely to reach counties through increased service demands, reduced federal support, and added pressure on local budgets. The Maryland General Assembly's Joint Committee on Federal Relations convened its first interim meeting this week to assess the mounting federal fiscal and policy challenges, including the…

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June 25, 2025
Read more about the article Conduit Street Podcast: Inside the Committee Room With Delegate Marc Korman
County Government and Structure / County News / Environment / General Assembly News / Intergovernmental Relations / Transportation and Public Works
Conduit Street Podcast: Inside the Committee Room With Delegate Marc Korman

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson are joined by Chair of the House Environment and Transportation Committee, Delegate Marc Korman, for a deep dive into the inner workings of legislative committees in the Maryland General Assembly — how they function, why they matter, and what changes when one takes on the role of chair.     Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get…

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May 30, 2025
Read more about the article Counties Gain New Tool to Support Child Care Providers
Education / General Assembly News / Taxes and Revenues
Counties Gain New Tool to Support Child Care Providers

Counties and municipalities now have a new tool to bolster child care options in their communities, thanks to newly passed legislation, HB 389 / SB 516 of 2025. This new law, spearheaded by Delegate Julie Palakovich Carr and Senator Nancy King, enables local governments to grant property tax credits to child care providers — an innovative move to address the significant decline in child care availability across Maryland. MACo Supports Local Flexibility for Child Care…

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May 7, 2025
Read more about the article MACo Welcomes Proposals for 2026 Legislative Initiatives
County News / Feature / General Assembly News
MACo Welcomes Proposals for 2026 Legislative Initiatives

MACo welcomes proposals for legislative priorities for the 2026 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, public safety recruitment, and emergency response capacity (view MACo’s 2025 Initiatives for examples). MACo will soon send a formal request for submissions to counties. In the…

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April 30, 2025
Read more about the article General Assembly Adopts MACo-Backed Delay of Tax Overhaul for Airbnb-Type Rentals
County News / General Assembly News / News You Can Use / Taxes and Revenues
General Assembly Adopts MACo-Backed Delay of Tax Overhaul for Airbnb-Type Rentals

The General Assembly passed legislation this year to shift how Maryland collects hotel rental taxes from short-term rental (STR) platforms. SB 979 / HB 1103, as enacted, centralizes tax collection for qualifying platforms under the Office of the State Comptroller, aiming to improve enforcement and ensure short-term rentals (STRs) contribute fairly to local revenues. At MACo’s urging, lawmakers delayed the bill’s implementation until fiscal 2027, providing time to resolve administrative details, coordinate across jurisdictions, and…

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April 17, 2025
Read more about the article Major Issues & More – 90 Day Report Reviews the 2025 Legislative Session
County News / Feature / General Assembly News
Major Issues & More – 90 Day Report Reviews the 2025 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, environmental, and health issues addressed in bills that passed – and didn’t pass – in the 2025 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 passed in…

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April 14, 2025
Read more about the article 2025 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups
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2025 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups

Catch up on all of the latest outcomes of the 2025 Maryland General Assembly session with wrap-ups on important county-related bills in each policy area. Maryland’s 447th legislative session was defined by one of the most challenging budget environments in over a decade — with a $3.3 billion shortfall driving proposals for aggressive cost shifts, spending cuts, and tax changes. Despite these unprecedented fiscal pressures, counties worked together through MACo to protect essential services, limit…

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April 11, 2025
Read more about the article 2025 Session Down the Stretch: The County Watch List
General Assembly News / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
2025 Session Down the Stretch: The County Watch List

With the last ten days of the 2025 legislative session, county leaders still are watching for final outcomes on multiple major issues. We recap here, with links, and what we're watching for in the days ahead. Budget and BRFA - The House has moved its full fiscal plan, and the Senate has started its process. We expect a conference committee to resolve their differences, which look relatively minor compared to a more conventional year. Most…

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March 28, 2025
Read more about the article General Assembly Advances Bill to Bolster Security for 9-1-1 Centers
General Assembly News / News You Can Use / Public Safety and Corrections
General Assembly Advances Bill to Bolster Security for 9-1-1 Centers

The Maryland Senate has passed an amended version of HB 445, legislation designed to enhance protections against cyberattacks targeting 9-1-1 centers, known in law as public safety answering points (PSAPs). The bill now heads back to the House of Delegates for final approval. MACo supports the bill and its crossfile (SB 81), reinforcing the State’s commitment to safeguarding public safety infrastructure as counties transition to Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG911) — a statewide initiative to modernize…

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March 27, 2025
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