This year’s fourth grade "If I Were Mayor I Would..." essay contest winners captivated the volunteer readers and finalist judges’ attention with their compelling essays.
Thank you to our volunteer readers, who were so impressed with the essays that they sometimes overlooked the fact that the ideas came from fourth graders!
With the 2025 MML Summer Conference right around the corner, now is the time to be thinking of how you plan to stand out. We'll make it easy, with our Summer Conference Sponsorships. Prominent exposure, networking opportunities, and brand visibility are just a few of our sponsorship benefits.
Join MML on April 23 at noon for a Lunch and Learn: Legislative Wrap Up webinar on the Maryland General Assembly’s 2025 legislative session. Gain insights from our esteemed panelists as we discuss MML's legislative objectives, the Maryland state budget, and other important municipal issues and information.
In the Maryland General Assembly, "crossover" refers to the point in the legislative session when bills must move from one chamber (either the House of Delegates or the Senate) to the other to continue in the legislative process. Crossover typically occurs around the end of the ninth week of the legislative session (usually in mid-March). After this deadline, bills that have not passed out of their originating chamber are considered "dead" for that year unless they are amended or revived in some way. Bills that cross over transition from the initial phase of the session, where bills are debated and modified, to the second phase, where bills are finalized and voted on by both chambers. This process ensures that both chambers have adequate time to review and debate bills originating in the other chamber.
So far this session, MML has taken positions on 211 bills. To see a complete list of which bills crossed over, click here.
MML's priority legislation allowing trained technicians to review speed camera images and issue citations met an important milestone by passing out of each chamber of origin by the crossover date. This keeps the bills on track for final passage.
SB 390, with the leadership of bill sponsor and Chair of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee Will Smith, passed out of the Senate on February 18. An amendment was added on the Senate floor that defines "reasonable training." This amendment is seen as clarifying and should not materially impact the functionality of the legislation.
Highlighting the overdependence on property tax and budget uncertainty, the League advocated for expanding its ability to raise revenues for local governments in 2025 – seeking enabling authority to leverage a fee on the sale of food and beverages consumption, up to 3%. This bill was a priority for MML, MACo, and Baltimore City.
The measure would have allowed local governments to broaden the ways they raise revenues - for example, to help support the costs of essential services to those who utilize them when working, shopping, or visiting a jurisdiction and choosing to eat out. Emergency services, water and sewer, to infrastructure are just a few of these services and currently, the financial burden falls almost exclusively to municipal residents, with 75% of all municipal revenues coming from property tax.
The Maryland Municipal League would like to recognize the following organizations for their long-standing support of Maryland local governments as summer conference exhibitors for over 20 years.
We appreciate and thank you for your dedication and also for educating Maryland's local governments on the latest service and product innovations.
Check out our MD Municipal Careers Job Board featured employment opportunity from University Park.
The MML Summer Conference remains the best place to acquire the core class credits you need to complete your Academy for Excellence in Local Governance certification. This year's event will include five Academy core classes spread across the four-day conference program:
Consensus & Team Building: Sunday, June 22, 1:00-2:45
Join the Eastern Shore Food Coalition from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, at Tackling Hunger Together: An Eastern Shore Food Security Symposium at Chesapeake College, 1000 College Circle, Wye Mills, MD.
The symposium will be a day filled with insightful discussions, engaging workshops, and networking opportunities. Attendees will explore innovative solutions to address food insecurity in their communities.
Thank you for your patience as the League adjusts its phone system. The best way to reach us is to know who you're trying to reach. Our phone tree guide, found under About Us on the main navigation tab of our website, corresponds with the system's Call by Team structure.
Dial 1 - Advocacy and Public Policy
Join MML and the Maryland Mayors for our inaugural Advocacy Day as we meet with state leadership, visit the State House, and attend delegation meetings.
March 6, 2025 - 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Governor Calvert House, Annapolis, MD
The 2025 Maryland Municipal League Summer Conference schedule goes live next Monday, February 24. This preliminary program will provide timing of sessions generally and, in some instances, for specific workshops such as Academy for Excellence in Local Governance core classes. One thing we can assure you is that this year’s summer conference will be stacked from top to bottom – and Sunday through Wednesday – with quality learning and networking opportunities. So, plan to arrive in Ocean City early and stay for the duration.
The Maryland Municipal League is excited to announce that this year's Summer Conference Opening Session keynote speaker will be Tim Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics International and co-creator of the Dignity Index. The Dignity Index is an eight-point scale that scores speech along a continuum from contempt to dignity in as unbiased a manner as possible. By focusing on the sound bites, not the people behind them, the Index attempts to stay true to its own animating spirit: that everyone deserves dignity. Join us in Ocean City to hear how you and your community can help build a nation that fosters dignity over contempt.
The 2025 Maryland Municipal League Summer Conference schedule is live and on the MML website. This preliminary program provides timing of sessions generally and, in some instances, for specific workshops such as Academy for Excellence in Local Governance core classes. One thing we can assure you is that this year’s summer conference will be stacked from top to bottom – and Sunday through Wednesday – with quality learning and networking opportunities. So, plan to arrive in Ocean City early and stay for the duration.
Contemplating whether or not to register for the Summer Conference? Don't wait too long, early-bird rates are ending March 3. Register at a lower rate while there's still time.
Want to learn more about our event offerings? Take a look at our Preliminary Schedule to catch a glimpse of what's in store. Stay up to date on all MMLCon25 related updates by visiting the Summer Conference website.
MML’s Summer Conference is a vibrant celebration of municipal government and its profound impact on the lives of over 2 million Marylanders. Highlighting the contributions of municipalities and the 44,000 dedicated local government professionals who serve them, MMLCon25 promises to inspire and unite.
Immediately following the closing general session, attendees can experience the highly anticipated MML Main Street event. This exclusive showcase offers member municipalities and MML affiliates a premier platform to spotlight their initiatives, innovations, or community pride. With only 12 spots available, don’t miss the chance to shine and share your story with peers and leaders from across the state.
Need to fill a position?
Join us on March 18 at noon for our MML Municipal Careers Job Board Lunch and Learn webinar.
The Maryland Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced that they are proposing an 18-month delay in implementation of Maryland’s paid family and medical leave insurance program, also known as the Time to Care Act (TCA). Key new dates would be:
· January 1, 2027 – Employer/employee contributions begin for the State TCA plan
View this profile on Instagram
