On March 6, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic Butchko testified before the Economic Matters Committee in support of HB 1296 - Preliminary Subdivision and Site Plans - Safe School Route Reports - Requirement with amendments.  This bill places certain requirements on residential projects which may contribute to the population of students walking to schools. Safe walking and biking routes to school are a shared priority for local governments, families, and school systems across Maryland. HB…

On March 5, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic Butchko testified before the Economic Matters Committee in support of HB 1221 - Public Safety - Short-Term Rental Units - Fire Safety (Jillian and Lindsay Wiener Short-Term Rental Fire Safety Act) with amendments.  This bill advances a straightforward and important goal: ensuring that short–term rental units meet baseline, common-sense fire safety expectations—clear egress information, functional smoke alarms, and readily available extinguishers. Short-term rentals have rapidly emerged as…

On March 5, Director of Intergovernmental Relations Dominic Butchko testified before the Economic Matters Committee in support of HB 1259 - Zoning Authorities - Operation of Family Child Care Homes - Prohibitions and Requirements with amendments. This bill limits local jurisdictions’ ability to regulate the siting of family child care homes and large family child care homes within residential neighborhoods. While counties certainly share the objective of expanding access to affordable, reliable child care in…

On February 25, Director of Intergovernmental Relations Dominic Butchko submitted a letter of information to the Economic Matters Committee on HB 993 - Real Property - Short-Term Rentals.  MACo submits this Letter of Information on legislation clarifying that tenants may offer a leased property as a short-term rental, while reaffirming local authority to regulate these uses and prevent abusive practices such as “AirBnB arbitrage.” As counties and the General Assembly continue advancing major housing initiatives—including…