Public Safety and Corrections Archives

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

County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Education / Elections / Energy / Environment / General Assembly News / Housing and Community Development / Information Technology / Intergovernmental Relations / MACo Testimony / Public Safety and Corrections / Transportation and Public Works

Conduit Street Podcast: 90 Days Later — Sine Die Recap

This Week on the Conduit Street Podcast, we bring you an episode fresh from Sine Die to break down the 2026 legislative session from start to finish. 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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April 17, 2026

MACo Testimony / Public Safety and Corrections

2026 End of Session Wrap-Up: Public Safety & Corrections

The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s work on public safety and corrections policies in the 2026 General Assembly session. Counties are critical partners in Maryland's public safety and criminal justice systems, overseeing law enforcement, operating local detention centers, and coordinating emergency response services that protect residents every day. Through its public safety and corrections advocacy, MACo works to ensure that state policies support effective operations, adequate resources, and local flexibility in meeting…

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April 14, 2026

County News / Emergency Management / Public Safety and Corrections

Anne Arundel Opens New Crownsville Fire Station

Anne Arundel County has placed the new Crownsville Fire Station 6 into service, marking a transition in how the surrounding community is served. The 22,000+ square-foot facility, located at Sunrise Beach Road and Generals Highway, replaces the former Herald Harbor Volunteer Fire Department, which has now closed after years of service. The new station is designed to improve both response capabilities and firefighter safety. It will house multiple units, including Engine 6, Tanker 6, Medic…

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April 2, 2026

County News / Public Safety and Corrections

Baltimore City Launches Resident-Led Safety Initiative

Baltimore City is taking a hands-on approach to public safety by investing directly in residents. Mayor Brandon Scott has announced the Community Action Lab, a new initiative designed to equip residents, small business owners, and community partners with the tools to help lead neighborhood-level safety and revitalization efforts. The program reflects a growing trend in local government: treating public safety not just as a policing function, but as a shared, community-driven responsibility. About the Program…

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April 2, 2026

Public Safety and Corrections

New Traffic Safety Enforcement Tools Get Stuck in Committee Ahead of Crossover

Multiple traffic safety enforcement bills were introduced during the 2026 legislative session with a handful of them getting stuck in committee ahead of the deadline to cross over to the opposite chamber. Two of these bills were attempting to improve traffic safety by extending new enforcement tools. With the “crossover” deadline for the Maryland General Assembly having come and gone, as of Monday, a handful of traffic safety bills failed to make the cut in…

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March 25, 2026

Public Safety and Corrections

Detention Center Bills Miss Crossover, Some Components Added to Other Bills Still on the Move

Two bills introduced and heard in the Maryland Senate, dealing with local detention center housing requirements, have not met the cross over deadline for the 2026 session. Both bills aimed to change housing mandates for certain populations during incarceration. The "crossover" date for the General Assembly was Monday, therefore, legislation that has not received approval from its original committee is likely not viable this session. While this is the fate for most of the bills…

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March 25, 2026

Bill Hearing / County News / General Assembly News / Health and Human Services / Public Safety and Corrections

A Day in the Life at MACo: Legislative Session Edition

In this episode of the Conduit Street podcast, Michael Sanderson is joined by Karrington Anderson and Charlotte Fleckenstein (making her podcast debut), as they walk through what advocacy looks like in real time. From testifying on complex labor policy to weighing in on unexpected issues like statewide “dogs at large” laws, there's never a dull moment. Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit…

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March 20, 2026

County News / Emergency Management / Health and Human Services / Public Safety and Corrections

Queen Anne’s Announces County-Wide Public Safety Peer Support Team

Queen Anne’s County recently announced the launch of the County-Wide Public Safety Peer Support Team, an initiative designed to strengthen the emotional well-being and resilience of public safety peers across the county. “As First Responders, we’re trained to step into chaos and bring calm — but no one teaches us what to do with everything we carry afterward. This peer support team is our way of saying that the people behind the uniforms deserve the…

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March 19, 2026

MACo Testimony / Public Safety and Corrections

MACo to MGA: Deliver on Long-Sought Medication-Assisted Treatment Arrangement

On March 10, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample testified before the Health Committee in support of HB 1162 – Correctional Services - Medication-Assisted Treatment Funding. This bill clarifies State procedures and viable funding sources for medication-assisted treatment in local detention centers. It reflects a careful balance to resolve a prolonged and vexing issue and will help the State reach compliance with at least one of several missed obligations within local detention centers. Local detention centers…

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March 11, 2026