Read more about the article NACo Awards: Spotlight on Howard County in Information Technology – Part 2
County News / Finance and Procurement / Housing and Community Development / Information Technology / Leadership / NACo Achievement Awards / Public Information and Ethics / Public Safety and Corrections
NACo Awards: Spotlight on Howard County in Information Technology – Part 2

Introducing the 2024 MACo Celebratory Blog Series: Showcasing the Remarkable Achievements of Maryland's Award-Winning Counties! Join us on this exciting journey as we embark on a special blog series dedicated to honoring the exceptional accomplishments of the counties that triumphed in the National Association of Counties (NACo) 2024 Achievement Awards.  Each week, we will shine a well-deserved spotlight on a few remarkable counties, taking a deeper dive into their accomplishments, innovative initiatives, and the profound impact…

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July 18, 2024
Read more about the article 2024 NACo Awards: Spotlight in Arts, Culture, and Historic Preservation, Children and Youth, and Civic Education and Public Information
County News / Health and Human Services / Leadership / NACo Achievement Awards / Public Information and Ethics / Tourism
2024 NACo Awards: Spotlight in Arts, Culture, and Historic Preservation, Children and Youth, and Civic Education and Public Information

Introducing the 2024 MACo Celebratory Blog Series: Showcasing the Remarkable Achievements of Maryland's Award-Winning Counties! Join us on this exciting journey as we embark on a special blog series dedicated to honoring the exceptional accomplishments of the counties that triumphed in the National Association of Counties (NACo) 2024 Achievement Awards.  Each week, we will shine a well-deserved spotlight on a few remarkable counties, taking a deeper dive into their accomplishments, innovative initiatives, and the profound impact…

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June 27, 2024
Read more about the article FCC to Consider Rules for AI-Generated Political Ads on TV and Radio
Elections / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use / Public Information and Ethics
FCC to Consider Rules for AI-Generated Political Ads on TV and Radio

Proposed Disclosure Requirements Aim to Inform Consumers of AI Technology in Political Ads This week, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Jessica Rosenworcel proposed requiring political advertisers to disclose when they use AI-generated content in broadcast television and radio ads. If adopted by the five-person commission, it would add a layer of transparency amid widespread concern that quickly evolving AI technology could make it increasingly difficult for voters to accurately identify fraudulent video and audio material, which…

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May 22, 2024
Read more about the article State and Local Collaboration at the Forefront of 2024 County Attorneys Conference
Courts / Government Liability and Courts / Public Information and Ethics
State and Local Collaboration at the Forefront of 2024 County Attorneys Conference

County attorneys shared time with the Office of the Attorney General, the Comptroller, esteemed members of the Maryland Courts, and the Public Service Commission during the 2024 MACo County Attorneys Affiliate Conference. The Maryland Association of County Civil Attorneys, also known as the MACo County Attorneys Affiliate, hosted their 2024 County Attorneys Conference at Great Wolf Lodge in Cecil County last week with a full agenda on May 16th. Affiliate President Roscoe Leslie, Worcester County…

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May 22, 2024
Read more about the article 2024 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups
Cannabis / County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Education / Elections / Emergency Management / Employee Benefits and Relations / Energy / Environment / Feature / Finance and Procurement / General Assembly News / Government Liability and Courts / Health and Human Services / Housing and Community Development / Information Technology / Intergovernmental Relations / News You Can Use / Parks and Recreation / Pensions & Public Funds / Planning and Zoning / Public Information and Ethics / Public Safety and Corrections / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues / Transportation and Public Works
2024 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups

Catch up on all of the latest outcomes of the 2024 Maryland General Assembly session with wrap-ups on important county-related bills in each policy area. Maryland’s 446th legislative session convened amidst a substantial concern over the State’s fiscal situation, with weakened revenues and cost increases for many services at every level of government. Despite the budgetary limitations, many policy issues received a full debate, with many resolutions arising from the 90-day annual process. MACo’s legislative…

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April 12, 2024
Read more about the article 2024 End of Session Wrap-Up: Public Information and Ethics
Public Information and Ethics
2024 End of Session Wrap-Up: Public Information and Ethics

The segment below provides a brief overview of MACo’s work on public information and ethics policies in the 2024 General Assembly session.  County governments gather and maintain public information as part of their various functions. Compliance with federal and state public information mandates and guidelines is paramount. This responsibility and others are maintained with a standard of ethics in all government practices and priorities throughout Maryland's county governments' administrative agencies and legislative bodies. Through its…

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April 10, 2024
Read more about the article Immediate Counseling Available to People Affected by the Bridge Collapse in Baltimore
County News / Feature / Health and Human Services / News You Can Use / Public Information and Ethics
Immediate Counseling Available to People Affected by the Bridge Collapse in Baltimore

Anyone affected by the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, can receive immediate counseling through the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. “People who have been through a traumatic event can experience anxiety, worry or insomnia,” said Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the leader of SAMHSA. “People seeking emotional help in the wake of disaster or tragedy can call or text 1-800-985-5990 and begin…

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March 26, 2024
Read more about the article County Leaders Embrace More Visible Education Budgeting
County Budgets / Education / MACo Testimony / Public Information and Ethics
County Leaders Embrace More Visible Education Budgeting

On March 6, 2024, Associate Policy Director Brianna January testified before the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee in support of SB 1026- County Boards of Education - Budgets - Notice (Transparency in Education Spending Act). The following day, Brianna testified in support of the crossfile, HB 1115. This bill is one of MACo's four 2024 legislative initiatives. The implementation of The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, coupled with an influx of federal relief and…

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March 8, 2024
Read more about the article MACo: Include Body Cameras in Public Information Task Force Charge
MACo Testimony / Public Information and Ethics
MACo: Include Body Cameras in Public Information Task Force Charge

On February 16, 2024, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample testified before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee in support of SB 624- Task Force to Study Public Information Act Requests Made to Law Enforcement- Establishment with amendments. This bill re-establishes a task force to study costs, procedures, and compliance board decisions for Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) requests made to law enforcement agencies. MPIA requests to law enforcement agencies have increased exponentially in the last few…

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February 19, 2024
Courts / Public Information and Ethics
House Leadership to Seek Funding for State’s Attorneys Modernization and Transparency Updates

Modernization requirements for local State's Attorneys Offices could come with allocated funding and grant opportunities. According to Maryland Matters, legislation to ensure case management systems are modernized in all 23 counties and the city of Baltimore could be on the horizon for the 2024 legislative session. According to recent statements from House Majority Leader David Moon, legislators could be moving forward with some of the recommendations coming out of the Task Force to Study Transparency Standards…

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January 4, 2024
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