Governor Wes Moore has signed an executive order to increase housing production across the state. The order improves the use of state-owned land to create more efficient development, reduce state permitting timelines, and bring more homes to market faster in an effort to tackle housing affordability and promote the Moore-Miller Administration’s commitment to addressing Maryland's 96,000 unit housing shortage across the state.

The “Housing Starts Here” executive order:

The Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) is presenting a webinar, Building Local Resilience, on Wednesday, August 27 between noon and 1:30 p.m. Panelists will discuss methods for constructing resilient communities through guidance, resources, and planning best practices. The webinar will address the foundations of resilience at the local level, highlighting strategies such as Resilience Hubs and other capital projects that deliver the needs of the public and protect infrastructure. MDP will be joined by resilience partners from the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), the City of Baltimore, and Groundswell. Groundswell is a nonprofit that builds community power through community solar projects and resilience centers, clean energy programs that reduce energy burdens, and research initiatives that support clean energy futures for all.

Since June 2024, the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) has issued approximately 191 grower, processor, and dispensary conditional licenses in its first licensing round. Conditional licensees are now in various stages of becoming operational, which includes obtaining local zoning approval for a business location. A conditional licensee must obtain local zoning approval before MCA can issue a final license.

State law delegates authority to Maryland’s counties and municipalities to adopt reasonable zoning requirements for cannabis businesses within the parameters established in Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article §36-410. The MCA is not authorized to make zoning determinations on behalf of political subdivisions and defers to them to make determinations for their communities, provided they are not unduly burdensome, e.g., more restrictive than the parameters in Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article §36-410. 

The Maryland Community Investment Corporation (MCIC) is a new entity created by Governor Moore’s administration to bring equitable, community-driven investment to Maryland. It aims to connect grassroots organizations, developers, and anchor institutions to funding opportunities and technical assistance - especially through tools like the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program. 

MCIC's goal is to bridge the gap for organizations that have historically been left out of complex funding programs, with a focus on:

MML’s most engaged members have reached the end of this year’s Banner City/Town journey and have earned their Banner City/Town designation. MML’s oldest ambassador program is a guidepost for members to make the most of their MML membership as these municipalities have done.

Congratulations to MML's 2025 Banner Cities and Towns:

Bel Air, Berwyn Heights, Bladensburg, Brentwood, Brunswick, Cheverly, Colmar Manor, Cottage City, Denton, District Heights, Edmonston, Emmitsburg, Frederick, Friendsville, Frostburg, Gaithersburg, Glenarden, Greenbelt, Hagerstown, Hampstead, Hebron, Hyattsville, Keedysville, Kensington, La Plata, Laurel, Leonardtown, Middletown, Mount Airy, Mount Rainier, New Carrollton, North Beach, North Brentwood, Preston, Rising Sun, Rockville, Seat Pleasant, Sykesville, Takoma Park, Taneytown, Thurmont, Union Bridge, Upper Marlboro, Westminster, Williamsport

MML is often asked to nominate candidates to workgroups, task forces, and commissions created to study or work on specific policy areas. Below are two open seats that are designated to be filled by municipal officials. Please take a look and if either look interesting, please email Bill Jorch ([email protected]) with your name, title, municipality, and brief narrative about why you are interested in the seat. Please note that indicating interest in a seat does not guarantee you will be nominated. Thank you!

With the 2025 General Assembly session recently concluded, it is now time to start thinking about Legislative Action Requests (LAR) for next year!

Is there a legislative matter that your municipality, chapter, or department would like to see considered as an MML Legislative Priority for the 2026 Legislative session? Submit the 2026 LAR form by May 30, with governing body approval needed by July 1.

On Tuesday, April 22, HB 322 was signed into law by Governor Wes Moore and went into effect immediately.

This session, MML worked with Senator Cheryl Kagan and Delegate Greg Wims to introduce legislation in response to the State Board of Elections' (SBE) declaration in the fall of 2024 that SBE does not have the legal authority to enter agreements with municipalities to lease voting equipment or provide other support. Those bills were Senate Bill 88 and House Bill 322.

Congratulations to our member municipalities who have an essay contest winner: 

Berlin, Capitol Heights, Church Hill, Grantsville, Hagerstown, Middletown, Mount Airy, Rising Sun

The 2025 Maryland General Assembly session concluded with significant legislative actions aimed at addressing a $3.3 billion budget deficit and preparing for potential federal funding cuts. The Administration and legislature implemented a combination of spending cuts and tax increases, including new taxes on high-income individuals, IT services, capital gains, recreational cannabis, and sports betting, generating $1.6 billion in revenue and resulting in $2 billion in cuts while maintaining a $2.1 billion rainy day fund. Key legislative accomplishments included a comprehensive energy package promoting diverse energy sources and providing rebates for electric ratepayers, $25 million in abortion support funding, a permanent subsidy program for young adult health insurance, expanded prescription drug price controls, and increased opportunities for sentencing reconsideration and criminal record expungement. Additionally, lawmakers established a commission to study reparations for slavery and approved new liability caps for sexual abuse cases. Finally, a new legislative panel will monitor federal developments to safeguard Maryland's economic stability, particularly given its reliance on federal jobs and contracts. 

For more information on legislation directly impacting municipalities, 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. Registration and more information is available here.

This session, MML worked with Senator Cheryl Kagan and Delegate Greg Wims to introduce legislation in response to the State Board of Elections' (SBE) declaration in the fall of 2024 that SBE does not have the legal authority to enter agreements with municipalities to lease voting equipment or provide other support. Those bills were Senate Bill 88 and House Bill 322.

House Bill 322 received its final vote for passage around 8:30 p.m. on the final day of session, Sine Die. As emergency legislation, this new law will go into effect as soon as it is signed by the Governor. As amended, the bill also shortens the amount of lead time required to join the State ballot from 18 months to 9 months.

The Maryland Department of Labor announces two programs - one active and one upcoming - to provide funding to launch apprenticeship training programs for public sector workers. Local governments are eligible applicants for both programs. The Department of Labor is hosting a webinar on Thursday, April 17 to provide information and assistance with applications. Visit the EventBrite webpage where anyone can register to attend.

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.

The Moore Administration's 2025 housing bill, the Housing for Jobs Act (SB 430/HB 503), will be heard by both chambers on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. This measure aims to address regional housing infrastructure gaps. Key points include:

• Mandates Housing Infrastructure Analysis: The Departments of Housing and Community Development and Planning must annually calculate and publish housing infrastructure gaps for designated regions
• Apportionment of Housing Gaps: Regional housing deficits will be divided among counties and incorporated municipalities based on their share of regional jobs
• Incentives for Housing Development: Local jurisdictions can reduce their assigned housing gap by approving new housing, particularly near rail stations and for affordable housing
• Limits on Housing Denials: Local jurisdictions must justify rejections of housing projects with clear and convincing evidence, citing specific adverse impacts or zoning restrictions
• Legal Enforcement: Developers may challenge denials in court, and courts can mandate approval if a jurisdiction is found to have improperly rejected a project
• Implementation Timeline: The law would take effect on January 1, 2026

MML's position is Support with Amendments, and will be testifying in person. If you would like to participate - either in person, virtually, or through written testimony - or you have suggestions for amendments, please contact Angelica Bailey Thupari ([email protected]). The deadline to submit testimony is this Friday, February 28 by 6 p.m. 

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) State Highway Administration will host a series of public workshops this February and March to present grant opportunities that can enhance bicycle and pedestrian access, support transit-oriented development, and promote sustainability initiatives across the state. 

Workshop Highlights:
When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the following dates:

On Monday, Delegate Ryan Spiegel presented MML's priority legislation on local food and beverage authority to the House Ways & Means Committee. Delegate Spiegel, a past MML President, is the sponsor of HB 997, which would enable local jurisdictions to charge up to a 3% fee on food and beverages sold for on-site consumption. 

In his testimony, Delegate Spiegel highlighted the fact that local governments have limited revenue tools and are already too reliant on property taxes. He also noted Maryland receives more than 43.5 million visitors each year who use local government services but whose spending doesn't support those same services. That burden falls almost exclusively on Maryland homeowners.

MML's oldest ambassador program, the annual If I Were Mayor, I Would...essay contest is celebrating its 25^th anniversary. The 25-year-old contest educates fourth graders (and teachers) about municipal government and the role of the mayor.

Francis Scott Key Elementary/Middle School #76 fourth grade teacher, Ms. Gauthier, shares tips on how she encourages students to enter the contest. Ms. Gauthier not only had a winning student in MML's 2024 essay contest, it was also her first time entering the contest.

One of MML's legislative priorities in 2025 is to allow trained civilians to review speed camera images and issue citations. While this bill was introduced last year, it has two new sponsors this year; Delegate Vaughn Stewart, who is the chair of the Motor Vehicle Subcommittee, and Senator Will Smith, who is the chair of the Judicial Proceedings Committee. Recently, they formally introduced the bills, HB 343 and SB 390. In addition to these two great sponsors, Governor Moore publicly announced his support of the legislation at the MML Legislative Reception on January 8.

Next steps are the public hearings which have not yet been scheduled. For more information please contact Bill Jorch, [email protected].

MML’s annual “If I Were Mayor, I Would…" essay contest is the League's oldest ambassador program and is celebrating its 25^th anniversary. The 25-year-old contest educates fourth graders (and teachers) about municipal government and the role of the mayor. A postcard announcing the 2025 essay contest was mailed to schools and municipalities in early January. Materials are now live on our website.

Essay contest deadline is March 7

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