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
Read more about the article Conduit Street Podcast Hot Takes: Shutdowns, SNAP, and the State of Countyland
County Budgets / County News / Energy / Environment / Health and Human Services / Intergovernmental Relations / School Construction and Capital Budgets / Taxes and Revenues
Conduit Street Podcast Hot Takes: Shutdowns, SNAP, and the State of Countyland

This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally, Michael Sanderson, and Karrington Anderson debut a new recurring segment – Conduit Street Podcast Hot Takes, where our hosts break down what’s “news” and what’s just… “noise” in Maryland policy and politics.   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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November 7, 2025
Read more about the article Governor Moore Deploys $62M to Prevent Food Assistance Shortfall
County News / Health and Human Services / Intergovernmental Relations / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Governor Moore Deploys $62M to Prevent Food Assistance Shortfall

Maryland will cover the federal shortfall and fund full November SNAP benefits, with Governor Moore authorizing $62 million after the federal government committed only partial support. Maryland will step in once again to protect food assistance for residents caught in the federal shutdown fallout. After two federal courts ruled on Friday that the Trump Administration must unlock contingency funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Administration responded today, stating that it will only cover…

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November 3, 2025
Read more about the article Farm Bureau Pushes to Scrap Controversial Transmission Line After Developer Says It Can’t Meet Deadline
Energy / Intergovernmental Relations / News You Can Use / Winter Conference
Farm Bureau Pushes to Scrap Controversial Transmission Line After Developer Says It Can’t Meet Deadline

The Maryland Farm Bureau moved to shut down the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project after the developer acknowledged it cannot meet the June 2027 deadline, arguing that there is no reason to spend more time and money on a project that has already failed its own timeline. The Maryland Farm Bureau,  joined by local county Farm Bureaus, filed a motion asking the Public Service Commission to dismiss the application for the MPRP, a 500,000-volt transmission line…

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November 3, 2025
Read more about the article Pitching Policy & Fielding a Federal Shutdown – A DC View with Congressman Johnny O
County Budgets / County News / Feature / Intergovernmental Relations / NACo and Federal Issues / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Pitching Policy & Fielding a Federal Shutdown – A DC View with Congressman Johnny O

A federal shutdown hits close to home in Maryland. This week, Congressman Johnny Olszewski, Jr. joins the Conduit Street Podcast to talk about the pressure on local governments, how his Baltimore County experience guides his work in Washington, DC, and why practical, bipartisan focus matters when residents feel the squeeze. 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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October 30, 2025
Read more about the article MDTA Hosts Industry Forum on $177M Bay Bridge Protection Project
County Budgets / County News / Environment / Finance and Procurement / Intergovernmental Relations
MDTA Hosts Industry Forum on $177M Bay Bridge Protection Project

The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) hosted an industry forum for the Bay Bridge Protection Project. During the forum, MDTA representatives provided an overview of the anticipated Design-Build process and engaged with potential heavy marine contractors, consultants, and subcontractors. The forum also informed industry stakeholders about the upcoming Request for Proposals, which is anticipated to be released in Winter 2025.  From the news release: “The MDTA remains serious about safety and is committed to infrastructure improvements…

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October 23, 2025
Read more about the article Counties Urge Swift End to Federal Shutdown
County News / Feature / Intergovernmental Relations / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use
Counties Urge Swift End to Federal Shutdown

The ongoing federal government shutdown is straining local economies and threatening essential services nationwide. Counties are urging a bipartisan solution to restore stability and protect the federal–state–local partnership that residents depend on. The National Association of Counties (NACo) this week issued a statement urging a swift, bipartisan resolution to the ongoing federal government shutdown, warning that lapses in operations undermine critical partnerships that counties depend on to serve residents effectively. NACo Executive Director Matthew Chase…

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October 16, 2025
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