Read more about the article Rural Counties Confront the Growing Challenge of PFAS #MACoCon
Environment / Summer Conference / Transportation and Public Works
Rural Counties Confront the Growing Challenge of PFAS #MACoCon

Rural county leaders examine how PFAS contamination affects drinking water, agriculture, wastewater systems, and local communities. PFAS contamination presents distinct challenges for Maryland’s rural counties, where private wells, small water systems, agricultural operations, wastewater infrastructure, and biosolids management can all intersect with emerging state and federal requirements. At MACo’s 2026 Summer Conference, Queen Anne’s County Commissioner Jack Wilson moderated a discussion with Zach Schafer, Assistant Secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment, on the…

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August 19, 2026
Read more about the article Building the Bigger Picture at #MACoCon
Education / Energy / Environment / Housing and Community Development / Planning and Zoning / Summer Conference / Transportation and Public Works
Building the Bigger Picture at #MACoCon

County leaders examine how Maryland can plan, finance, and deliver infrastructure that supports growth, affordability, and resilient communities. Infrastructure touches nearly every county priority, from transportation, schools, and water systems to housing, economic development, and environmental resilience. At the 2026 MACo Summer Conference, Senator Karen Lewis Young moderated a discussion with county and state infrastructure leaders on the challenges of planning, financing, and delivering the projects communities rely on, particularly as counties balance limited resources…

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August 19, 2026
Read more about the article Maryland in 50 Years and Beyond: Planning for the Long View
State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Summer Conference
Maryland in 50 Years and Beyond: Planning for the Long View

Planning for the next budget cycle is a necessity, but planning for the next generation may be even more important. During the 2026 MACo Summer Conference session, “Maryland in 50 Years and Beyond,” Delegate Lorig Charkoudian moderated a discussion on the long-term decisions that will shape Maryland’s future and the role state and county leaders play in preparing communities for decades to come. The conversation examined how local and state leaders can balance today’s challenges…

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August 19, 2026
Read more about the article From Risk to Resilience at #MACoCon
Energy / Environment / Summer Conference / Transportation and Public Works
From Risk to Resilience at #MACoCon

Maryland leaders examine the planning, financing, and local tools counties can use to strengthen community resilience. Resilience planning increasingly requires counties to connect emergency management, infrastructure, climate preparedness, and long-term investment. At the 2026 MACo Summer Conference, Delegate Michele Guyton moderated a discussion with state, county, and national leaders on how Maryland can move from resilience planning to implementation, including the financing, technical assistance, and coordination needed to advance projects that reduce risk and strengthen…

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August 19, 2026
Read more about the article AI Chatbots Raise New Opportunities and New Questions for Counties
Information Technology / Summer Conference
AI Chatbots Raise New Opportunities and New Questions for Counties

As counties explore chatbot technology, the conversation is increasingly focused on how to deploy these tools responsibly while maintaining public trust. During the 2026 MACo Summer Conference session, “To Bot or Not To Bot? The Promise and Panic of Chatbots,” panelists examined how counties are using or evaluating chatbot technology to support government operations and improve access to information. Moderated by Delegate Melissa Wells, the discussion focused on the practical applications of chatbots in local…

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August 19, 2026
Read more about the article Bay Goals, Stormwater Realities at #MACoCon
Environment / Summer Conference / Transportation and Public Works
Bay Goals, Stormwater Realities at #MACoCon

State and county leaders examine stormwater, Bay restoration, infrastructure needs, and the evolving policies shaping local water quality efforts. The health of the Chesapeake Bay remains closely tied to county investments in stormwater management, wastewater systems, and other local infrastructure. At the 2026 MACo Summer Conference, Delegate Dana Stein moderated a discussion with state and water policy experts on the next phase of Maryland’s Bay restoration efforts, including the future of the Bay Restoration Fund,…

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August 19, 2026
Read more about the article The Electric Slide at #MACoCon
Energy / Environment / Information Technology / Planning and Zoning / Summer Conference / Transportation and Public Works
The Electric Slide at #MACoCon

Maryland leaders examine how AI and data center growth is reshaping energy demand, infrastructure, affordability, and local economic development. The rapid growth of artificial intelligence and data centers is creating new economic opportunities while placing significant pressure on Maryland’s energy system, infrastructure, and local communities. At the 2026 MACo Summer Conference, Delegate David Fraser-Hidalgo moderated a discussion with energy, utility, and consumer policy leaders on how rising electric demand could affect energy prices, grid capacity,…

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August 19, 2026
Read more about the article Moving at the Speed of Need at #MACoCon
Housing and Community Development / Planning and Zoning / Summer Conference / Transportation and Public Works
Moving at the Speed of Need at #MACoCon

State and county leaders examine how Maryland can make permitting more predictable and efficient while supporting responsible growth. Counties face growing pressure to move housing, commercial development, and critical infrastructure projects through the permitting process more efficiently, while still navigating complex regulatory requirements, public processes, and community priorities. At the 2026 MACo Summer Conference, Senator Benjamin Brooks moderated a discussion with state and county planning leaders on improving coordination, increasing predictability, and finding practical ways…

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August 19, 2026
Read more about the article Integrating Technology in the Classroom Must Be Handled With Caution and Pragmatism
Education / Summer Conference
Integrating Technology in the Classroom Must Be Handled With Caution and Pragmatism

Tempering expectations for educational outcomes is recommended when integrating new digital learning tools in school systems.  During the 2026 MACo Summer Conference session, "I, Teacher...Education in the Virtual Age," audience members learned about the ways technology and artificial intelligence are being integrated into school systems across Maryland as well as the pitfalls, safeguards, and benefits of new technology for learning. Erin Senior from the Maryland State Department of Education spoke about policies and guidance that…

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August 18, 2026
Read more about the article Judges and Local Experts Unpack Legal Changes Impacting Counties In Maryland
Courts / Government Liability and Courts / Summer Conference
Judges and Local Experts Unpack Legal Changes Impacting Counties In Maryland

Between US Supreme Court decisions and outcomes and initiatives of the state courts in Maryland, county governments have a number of issues to track across a shifting legal landscape.   During the 2026 MACo Summer Conference session, "Beyond the Bench: Legal Shifts Shaping Local Government," speakers helped county officials and other stakeholders understand what legal changes have taken place at both the federal and state level that county officials need to be aware of. Representatives from…

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August 18, 2026
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