Policy Deep Dive Archives

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

County Budgets / Policy Deep Dive / State Budget and Fiscal Issues

Deep Dive: Disparity Grant Delivers Less Than It Promises

This article is part of MACo’s Policy Deep Dive series, where expert policy analysts explore and explain the top county policy issues of the day. Maryland created the Disparity Grant to deal with a basic problem. Counties raise revenue very differently, even when they apply the same tax rates. Some generate far more at the same rate because of higher incomes, while others cannot keep up. The program still tries to address that gap. But…

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April 22, 2026

Courts / Government Liability and Courts / Policy Deep Dive / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues

Roadmap for Maryland Recordation and Transfer Taxes Compliance

The Maryland State Bar Association has developed a revised guide to the multiple facets of Maryland's system of recordation and transfer taxes, as an aid to practitioners in real estate and land records. The 2025 revision updates documents last prepared in 2002, and covers both State and county-level tax systems, and the varying administration across the state. Maryland levies both State and county taxes on real estate transactions, both those that effect a sale (the…

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December 4, 2025

Environment / Parks and Recreation / Policy Deep Dive

Policy Deep Dive: A County’s Guide To Program Open Space

In Maryland, residents are rarely more than 15 minutes away from a park, trail, or outdoor recreational area made possible by Program Open Space (POS). From playgrounds to hiking trails and waterfront access points, this State-county partnership has built a network of outdoor spaces that define daily life for Marylanders. To date, Program Open Space has preserved hundreds of thousands of acres and built thousands of parks and conservation area projects, helping counties and municipal…

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November 19, 2025

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

County News / Economic Development / Feature / NACo and Federal Issues / Policy Deep Dive

Deep Dive: From Promise to Reversal — Maryland’s Last Stand for the FBI HQ

This article is part of MACo's Policy Deep Dive series, where expert policy analysts explore and explain the top county policy issues of the day. Read all of MACo's Policy Deep Dives. A years-long effort to bring the FBI's new headquarters to Prince George's County has reached a turning point, one that could redefine Maryland's relationship with federal partners and the future of regional economic development. The Short Version The State of Maryland and Prince…

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November 6, 2025

Education / Health and Human Services / NACo and Federal Issues / Policy Deep Dive

Deep Dive: Subsidized School Meals Safe From Shutdown… for Now

Amidst the federal government's shutdown of "non-essential" services, its central food assistance program is slated to cease support on November 1. Guidance suggests that in-school free and reduced-price meals will not be an immediate casualty of the federal freeze -- but this comfort is not certain if the shutdown continues for multiple weeks. The US Government, in the absence of either an annual budget or a comprehensive "continuing resolution," has ceased its functions deemed non-essential.…

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October 30, 2025

Employee Benefits and Relations / Health and Human Services / Human Resources / Policy Deep Dive

Changes AHEAD in MD’s Health Care Model?

Maryland’s hospital payment system has long kept costs low, hospitals stable, and care accessible, but the model now faces a major turning point. As the state’s Total Cost of Care waiver nears expiration and Maryland prepares to transition to the federal AHEAD model, potential sweeping changes to hospital payments and healthcare costs could have significant effects on counties as employers and public sector health plan sponsors. Introduction For decades, Maryland has stood apart in how…

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October 23, 2025

Cyber / Information Technology / Policy Deep Dive / Public Information and Ethics

Technology Is Complicating Public Information Laws…And It’s Getting Worse

Technology advancements continue to threaten to blow the wheels off the public information access process in Maryland and beyond. State and local officials are sounding the alarm but oversight committee stops short of meaningful recommendations to tackle the issues. Maryland’s Public Information Act (PIA) is a cornerstone of open government, designed to ensure transparency and accountability at every level of public service. For county governments in particular, the PIA can present a complex balancing act…

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October 15, 2025

Energy / Environment / Policy Deep Dive

Deep Dive: Maryland’s Nuclear Future

This article is part of MACo’s Policy Deep Dive series, where expert policy analysts explore and explain the top county policy issues of the day. A new article is added each week – read all of MACo’s Policy Deep Dives. As electricity demand grows and rate pressures mount, nuclear energy is once again drawing attention in Annapolis. Long a steady source of carbon-free power, nuclear is increasingly viewed as a potential pillar of Maryland’s energy future.…

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October 9, 2025