Read more about the article MACo: Uphold Longstanding Local Decision on “Home Rule”
County Government and Structure / County News / Intergovernmental Relations / MACo Testimony
MACo: Uphold Longstanding Local Decision on “Home Rule”

On March 4, Executive Director Michael Sanderson testified before the Government, Labor, and Election Committee in opposition to HB 190 - Constitutional Amendment - Form of County Government - Requirement to Adopt Charter Home Rule. This bill would repeal Maryland’s historic reliance on self-determination by county residents and instead mandate that every county conforms to a single governance structure – a full two-branch charter government. Through the constitutional principle of home rule, residents have chosen…

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March 9, 2026
Read more about the article Upending the Balance in Maryland’s Municipal Incorporation Framework
Intergovernmental Relations / MACo Testimony
Upending the Balance in Maryland’s Municipal Incorporation Framework

On February 26, Executive Director Michael Sanderson testified before the Government, Labor, and Elections Committee in opposition to HB 1141 -Municipal Incorporation - County Commissioners or County Council - Required Approval of Referendum Request.  This bill would upend the longstanding, carefully crafted framework that governs municipal incorporation by stripping county governments of their proper and necessary input and oversight. The legislation would effectively remove counties' formal review processes. Under current law, proposed incorporations undergo county…

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March 3, 2026
Read more about the article Conduit Street Podcast: Educating the Next Generation of Public Leaders
Education / Higher Education / Intergovernmental Relations
Conduit Street Podcast: Educating the Next Generation of Public Leaders

On this episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Michael Sanderson sits down with Dr. Roger E. Hartley of the University of Baltimore’s College of Public Affairs for a wide-ranging discussion on the future of public service in Maryland. 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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February 13, 2026
Read more about the article 5-Year Rule on Annexed Land a Balance To Protect Local Planning, Infrastructure
Intergovernmental Relations / MACo Testimony
5-Year Rule on Annexed Land a Balance To Protect Local Planning, Infrastructure

On February 5, Executive Director Michael Sanderson testified before the Government, Labor, and Elections Committee in opposition to HB 99 – Municipalities - Annexed Land - Land Use and Density.  This bill would effectively eliminate the longstanding transition period before a municipality is enabled to change the underlying zoning, following an annexation of previously unincorporated areas. This path to rapid-fire zoning change could overwhelm county infrastructure and school planning. Mr. Sanderson discussed the critical conflict…

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February 5, 2026
Read more about the article MACo to MGA: Maintain Collaborative Approach to Public Official Salaries
Employee Benefits and Relations / Intergovernmental Relations / MACo Testimony / Public Safety and Corrections
MACo to MGA: Maintain Collaborative Approach to Public Official Salaries

On February 4, Executive Director Michael Sanderson submitted written testimony to the Judiciary Committee in opposition to HB 165 – Courts - Sheriffs' Salaries - Alterations.  The bill alters the annual salary of Sheriffs in many counties to equal that of the county's State's Attorney. This legislation would replace a locally-driven legislative collaboration to properly set salaries for most county sheriffs with a uniform process pinning that salary to that of the county’s state’s attorney.…

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February 5, 2026
Read more about the article #MACoCon Recap: Environmental Finance Center’s Rural Offerings
Agriculture / Economic Development / Energy / Environment / Housing and Community Development / Intergovernmental Relations / Planning and Zoning / Transportation and Public Works / Winter Conference
#MACoCon Recap: Environmental Finance Center’s Rural Offerings

At the MACo Winter Conference, attendees learned about how UMD's Enviro. The Finance Center can help rural counties secure additional resources. MACo’s Rural County Coalition provides a forum for Maryland’s rural counties to share their unique perspective on critical state and federal policy issues. At this meeting, the University of Maryland’s Environmental Finance Center walked through services and opportunities to help rural leaders access grant funding and other resources to better serve their communities. Additionally, rural…

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December 16, 2025
Read more about the article Conduit Street Podcast: Professor Todd Eberly on “Interesting Times” in MD Politics
County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Education / Emergency Management / Finance and Procurement / General Assembly News / Intergovernmental Relations / Risk Management / School Construction and Capital Budgets / Taxes and Revenues
Conduit Street Podcast: Professor Todd Eberly on “Interesting Times” in MD Politics

As Maryland heads into a challenging budget year and an election cycle legislative session, Professor Todd Eberly of St. Mary’s College of Maryland joins the Conduit Street Podcast to unpack the forces shaping the state’s political and economic landscape.   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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December 5, 2025
Read more about the article Federal Policy and Marginalized Communities: County Strategies for Support and Equity at #MACoCon
Health and Human Services / Intergovernmental Relations / Public Safety and Corrections / Winter Conference
Federal Policy and Marginalized Communities: County Strategies for Support and Equity at #MACoCon

Counties sit at the crossroads of federal policy and local impact. When Washington makes decisions on funding, regulations, or enforcement, those choices don’t stay in DC — they ripple directly through county budgets, services, and communities. From Medicaid and healthcare to disaster relief, housing, food security, and energy, states and county governments often carry the load of federal shifts while keeping residents safe and services stable. These changes uniquely effect marginalized communities across every county…

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November 17, 2025
Read more about the article Congress Reopens Government, New Shutdown Deadline Looms: What Counties Need To Know
Feature / Intergovernmental Relations / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use
Congress Reopens Government, New Shutdown Deadline Looms: What Counties Need To Know

Congress passed a short-term agreement to end the shutdown and restart federal operations, stabilizing paychecks and contract flow for Maryland’s federally driven economy. The package runs only through January 30, keeping the state just weeks away from another potential lapse. Maryland felt the shutdown more than most due to its high concentration of federal employees, a large federal contracting base, and small businesses that lost income they will likely never recover. The bill provides full-year…

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November 13, 2025
Read more about the article Deep Dive: Solutions to Address Maryland’s Housing Crisis
County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Housing and Community Development / Intergovernmental Relations / Planning and Zoning / Policy Deep Dive / Taxes and Revenues
Deep Dive: Solutions to Address Maryland’s Housing Crisis

For several sessions, Annapolis has wrestled with how best to respond to the state’s lack of affordable housing. The 2024 & 2025 legislative sessions both saw intense debate around several major bills, including: the Housing Production and Affordability Act of 2024, the Housing for Jobs Act of 2025, legislation enabling ADUs statewide (HB1466/SB981 of 2025), legislation requiring reporting of housing related data to the state (HB131 of  2024 & HB698/SB814 of 2025), among a list…

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November 13, 2025
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