Read more about the article Deep Dive: Breaking Down the Utility RELIEF Act Part II
Energy / Environment / Planning and Zoning / Policy Deep Dive
Deep Dive: Breaking Down the Utility RELIEF Act Part II

In Part I of our analysis of HB 1532, the Utility RELIEF Act of 2026, we examined new requirements related to county permitting of residential rooftop solar, including more detailed software mandates, caps on permitting fees, and new enforcement authority for the Attorney General.  In Part II, we turn to study language directing the Power Plant Research Program (PPRP), along with other state agencies, to identify certain sites for large-scale energy generation and energy storage. While Part…

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May 6, 2026
Read more about the article Virginia Energy Legislation Could Offer Lessons for Maryland
Energy / Environment / Planning and Zoning / Transportation and Public Works
Virginia Energy Legislation Could Offer Lessons for Maryland

Virginia's SB621 requires utilities to use grid utilization metrics to more effectively manage grid loads, reduce energy losses.  As electricity demand grows from data centers, electrification, economic development, and extreme weather, policymakers are looking for ways to get more out of the electric grid that already exists. One emerging focus is “grid utilization,” or better measuring how much existing transmission capacity is actually being used before assuming new infrastructure is the only answer. Virginia is…

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May 4, 2026
Read more about the article Deep Dive: Breaking Down the Utility RELIEF Act Part I
Energy / Environment / Planning and Zoning / Policy Deep Dive
Deep Dive: Breaking Down the Utility RELIEF Act Part I

With the 2026 legislative session now in the rearview mirror, several major bills deserve a closer look. Lawmakers faced a series of consequential and time-sensitive issues this year, forcing difficult decisions that will carry lasting implications for Maryland residents, counties, and the state’s broader policy landscape.  Energy policy, in particular, took center stage. With affordability serving as the watchword of the session, there was intense focus on what the General Assembly would do to address…

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April 29, 2026
Read more about the article Park & Planning Retirement System Seeking Montgomery, Prince George’s Trustees
County project map, image courtesy of Prince George's County Planning
Parks and Recreation / Pensions & Public Funds / Planning and Zoning
Park & Planning Retirement System Seeking Montgomery, Prince George’s Trustees

The Retirement System serving Park and Planning officials in the two DC-adjacent counties has Trustee vacancies, and is seeking interested parties to apply to serve. The Board of Trustees for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) is seeking two trustees, one each from Montgomery County and Prince George’s County. Public Trustees serve a three-year term, from July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2029. The Board holds fiduciary oversight of the…

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April 28, 2026
Read more about the article Rent Growth Slows in Major Maryland Metros
Housing and Community Development / Planning and Zoning
Rent Growth Slows in Major Maryland Metros

A new report from Zillow shows that rent growth is slowing nationally, including in Marylands largest metropolitan areas. Rents are still rising nationally, but the pace has slowed to its weakest level in several years. According to a new report from Zillow, the typical U.S. rent reached $1,910 in March, up 1.8% from the prior year. The slowdown appears tied to more rental supply coming onto the market, softer post-pandemic demand, and affordability pressures limiting…

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April 27, 2026
Read more about the article DOJ Moves to Loosen Cannabis Restrictions, Signals Shift Toward Rescheduling
Cannabis / Health and Human Services / Planning and Zoning / Taxes and Revenues
DOJ Moves to Loosen Cannabis Restrictions, Signals Shift Toward Rescheduling

The US Department of Justice announced a significant shift in federal cannabis policy, moving to loosen restrictions on certain cannabis products while advancing a broader effort to reclassify the drug under federal law. The action does not legalize cannabis nationwide. But it marks one of the most consequential federal moves in decades. It could reshape how the industry operates, particularly in states like Maryland that already allow medical and adult-use sales. As previously covered on…

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April 24, 2026
Read more about the article Maine Looks Toward Data Center Ban Citing Rising Energy Costs
Energy / Environment / Planning and Zoning
Maine Looks Toward Data Center Ban Citing Rising Energy Costs

Maine set to limit growth of large data centers over 20 megawatts.  The Maine State Legislature is testing one of the country’s most aggressive responses to data center growth. Lawmakers have approved a statewide pause on new data centers with power needs of 20 megawatts or more through November 2027, while the state studies what these facilities could mean for electric demand, customer bills, and host communities. Currently, Governor Janet Mills is undecided on whether…

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April 21, 2026
Read more about the article FERC to Address Data Center Interconnection in June
Energy / Environment / Planning and Zoning
FERC to Address Data Center Interconnection in June

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is set to establish new data center interconnections standards, impacting on Maryland and surrounding states. FERC indicated that it expects to take action in June on a Department of Energy proposal aimed at improving how very large new electric loads, including data centers, connect to the grid. At the center of the discussion is a familiar but increasingly urgent question: how to accommodate major new demand while maintaining clarity…

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April 21, 2026
Read more about the article 2026 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups
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2026 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups

Catch up on all of the latest outcomes of the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session with wrap-ups on important county-related bills in each policy area. Maryland’s 448th legislative session unfolded under significant fiscal pressure. Lawmakers closed the fiscal 2027 gap, preserved reserves, and fully funded principal commitments, such as the Blueprint, but did not resolve the larger structural deficits projected for the years ahead. That budget pressure shaped debates across nearly every policy area, from…

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April 17, 2026
Read more about the article 2026 End of Session Wrap-Up: Planning and Zoning
MACo Testimony / Planning and Zoning
2026 End of Session Wrap-Up: Planning and Zoning

The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s work on planning and zoning policy in the 2026 General Assembly session. Planning and zoning decisions are an integral function of county government, shaping how communities grow, where infrastructure is placed, and how residents and businesses coexist. In its planning & zoning advocacy, MACo seeks to preserve the ability of local governments – those closest to the people and with the most insight into local needs…

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April 15, 2026
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