Read more about the article SCOTUS Ruling in LGBTQIA+ Storybook Case Sides With Parents
Courts / Education / Government Liability and Courts
SCOTUS Ruling in LGBTQIA+ Storybook Case Sides With Parents

In a 6-3 ruling the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of Montgomery County parents that want the right to opt their elementary school children out of lessons including LGBTQIA+ themes.  As previously covered on Conduit Street, in the case of Mahmoud v. Taylor a number of plaintiffs from Montgomery County Maryland were seeking to restore the ability to have their elementary school children in the public schools “opt out” of certain materials used in school…

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July 2, 2025
Read more about the article Federal Judge Grants PSEG Access To Private Land for Power Line Surveys
Energy / Government Liability and Courts / News You Can Use
Federal Judge Grants PSEG Access To Private Land for Power Line Surveys

A federal judge has ruled in favor of PSEG, the New Jersey-based developer of the proposed Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP), granting the company limited access to private property to conduct environmental and engineering surveys. The ruling escalates an already contentious issue, as county governments and residents continue to raise concerns about the project’s potential impact on communities and landowners. As previously reported on Conduit Street, the MPRP proposes a new 500,000-volt transmission line, approximately…

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June 24, 2025
Read more about the article US Supreme Court Unanimous on Reverse Discrimination Case
Courts / Employee Benefits and Relations / Government Liability and Courts
US Supreme Court Unanimous on Reverse Discrimination Case

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of a plaintiff who alleged she was denied a promotion and subsequently demoted due to her sexual orientation. This overturns a lower court ruling imposing a higher evidentiary burden on majority-group plaintiffs. The unanimous decision, authored by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, overturns a lower court's application of the "background circumstances" rule, which imposed a higher evidentiary burden on majority-group plaintiffs—such as white, heterosexual, or Christian individuals—seeking to…

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June 5, 2025
Read more about the article What’s the Deal With This Sanctuary Counties List?
Government Liability and Courts / Health and Human Services / Public Safety and Corrections
What’s the Deal With This Sanctuary Counties List?

Maryland counties and Baltimore City moved quickly to correct false claims and poor communication from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security following the publication of "sanctuary jurisdictions" list. All jurisdictions have confirmed compliance with federal law, state law, and the U.S. Constitution and clarified local policies and procedures - most of which include fluid communication and cooperation with local immigration authorities.  Last week the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a list of "sanctuary jurisdictions"…

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June 4, 2025
Read more about the article County Attorneys Focus on Building Respect and Collaboration With State Agencies
Government Liability and Courts / Housing and Community Development / Planning and Zoning / Public Information and Ethics / Risk Management
County Attorneys Focus on Building Respect and Collaboration With State Agencies

County attorneys shared time with the Office of the Attorney General, the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Department of Planning, and Maryland Supreme Court members during the 2025 MACo County Attorneys Affiliate Conference. The Maryland Association of County Civil Attorneys, also known as the MACo County Attorneys Affiliate, hosted their 2025 County Attorneys Conference at Turf Valley Resort in Howard County with a full agenda. Affiliate President Roscoe Leslie, Worcester County Attorney, welcomed…

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May 22, 2025
Read more about the article MD Immigration Debate Culminates in HB 1222 – Here’s What It Does
Government Liability and Courts / Health and Human Services / Intergovernmental Relations / Policy Deep Dive / Public Safety and Corrections
MD Immigration Debate Culminates in HB 1222 – Here’s What It Does

There was no shortage of Maryland bills, arising from both sides of the aisle, attempting to address concerns around immigration enforcement, but HB 1222 took up the majority of the debate and is the only major provision to pass on that topic. Here we unpack what the bill was originally proposing to do, how the discussion went, and what are the county implications from the final law that goes into effect on June 1. After…

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May 21, 2025
Read more about the article MD Lawmakers Revise Child Victims Act, Legal Challenges Anticipated
Government Liability and Courts
MD Lawmakers Revise Child Victims Act, Legal Challenges Anticipated

During the 2025 legislative session, Maryland lawmakers adopted significant revisions to the Child Victims Act. These changes came as the number of claims against the state continued to rise, nearing 5,000. In February the Supreme Court of Maryland upheld the Child Victims Act of 2023 as constitutional, but the most recent adjustments will likely find the legislation back in court. Similar to the original passage in 2023, the changes are anticipated to face additional constitutional…

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May 1, 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 End of Session Wrap-Up: Government Liability and Courts
County News / Government Liability and Courts / MACo Testimony
2025 End of Session Wrap-Up: Government Liability and Courts

The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s work in the area of government liability and courts in the 2025 General Assembly session.  County governments enforce laws, employ county residents, and maintain facilities throughout Maryland. Therefore county governments may be subject to acting as defendants in court, litigating cases involving employment benefits, injuries sustained on county properties, and various other subjects. MACo advocates on behalf of county governments to clarify the unique role that…

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April 9, 2025
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