The Task Force to Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Sources wants to hear from you! Don't miss this opportunity to share insights from your city, town, or village with the Task Force ahead of potential recommendations. 

On October 8, the Maryland Municipal League will host the 2026
Municipal Town Hall, providing municipal leaders with a unique
opportunity to hear directly from the major-party primary winners
for Maryland’s four statewide offices: Governor, Lieutenant
Governor, Attorney General, and Comptroller. Invited candidates
will address a municipal audience and respond to questions on the
issues that matter most to local leaders and the communities they
serve. There will be no debate or political sparring - just direct,
substantive conversation focused on the priorities of Maryland’s
municipalities.

Following the statewide candidates’ program, attendees are invited
to participate in a series of local government-focused workshops.

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) today released its $21.9 billion Draft Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP) for Fiscal Years 2027-2032. The balanced plan outlines the Department’s continued focus on prioritizing safety, addressing maintenance needs and growing Maryland’s economy. The six-year capital budget makes meaningful progress toward improving transportation across Maryland by advancing initiatives to lower traffic fatalities, rehabbing and replacing pavement and bridges, modernizing transit operations and leveraging current assets - like the Port of Baltimore, BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport and state-owned land for transit-oriented development - to drive economic growth.

The release of the draft program launches the Maryland Department of Transportation's public engagement process that includes a meeting in every Maryland county and Baltimore City to receive input from local officials and the public. This year’s tour is scheduled to take place during September and October with local jurisdictions hosting the meetings. The schedule can be found here but is subject to change and will be updated as needed throughout the process.

Maryland Department of Labor staff presented to the MML membership about the State's paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program as part of the Lunch and Learn webinar series. In case you missed it, or would like to rewatch it, the recording of the webinar can be found on MML's YouTube page here with a copy of the presentation slides here.

Elements of the program are already live such as employer registration through the State platform, now is the time to make decisions on how to comply with the law in a manner that meets the needs of your employees and your municipal budget.

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has begun preliminary conversations with MML and other stakeholders about concepts it is considering for potential legislation in the 2027 General Assembly session. These discussions are happening unusually early in the legislative development process, giving MML an opportunity to identify potential municipal impacts and provide feedback while proposals are still taking shape. 

At this stage, these are concepts only. They have not necessarily received final approval from the Administration, bill language has not been drafted, and the proposals may change substantially or may not ultimately be introduced at all. The concepts cover a range of housing and community development issues, including housing production and development requirements, local revenues and incentives, community revitalization programs, and other DHCD programs and authorities. Given the significant housing and land-use legislation considered in recent sessions, MML is paying particular attention to concepts that could affect municipal planning, zoning, infrastructure, finances, or local decision-making. 

The Task Force to Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Structures is set to have their second meeting virtually on Monday, August 31 at 10:30 a.m. during which MML will provide a presentation. The link to the virtual meeting will be posted here under the "Other" category, on the Maryland General Assembly's website. You'll see a "live" notice once the meeting is official underway.

The Task Force is the result of MML's 2026 priority legislation HB 1142, which established the Task Force, set its membership, outlined its purpose, and required a final report. The crux of the Task Force's work is to study existing local revenues and recommend legislative changes to address deficiencies. MML has two representatives on the Task Force: Michael O’Connor, Mayor, City of Frederick and MML Past President and Chad Rooney, Town Manager, Town of Chestertown. On December 1, 2026 the Task Force is set to publish its final report on its findings and recommendations. 

Mark your calendar for October 8. Join municipal leaders from across Maryland for a dynamic Town Hall featuring statewide candidates addressing the issues that matter most to local communities. Hear directly from fellow municipal officials seeking higher office, gain practical grassroots advocacy tools, and receive the latest update from the statewide task force studying local revenue ahead of the 2027 legislative session. 

Register here! 

Hear directly from the Maryland Department of Labor as they provide updates on the rapidly approaching rollout of the State's Family and Medical Leave Insurance program on September 2.

On Wednesday, September 2 at noon, MML will host a Lunch and Learn webinar focused on the State's Family and Medical Leave Insurance program. With deadlines approaching and decisions to be made, the Department of Labor staff will walk through the program, next steps, and options to comply with the law. 

The conversation can be complicated, controversial, and even daunting. But the goal should be clear: make the decision with the best information available.

Data center development is expanding rapidly in communities across Maryland and beyond. As proposals become more common, municipal leaders are increasingly being asked to consider a central question: Should our community welcome data centers?

The Task Force to Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Structures is set to have their first meeting virtually on Friday, July 31 at 10:00 a.m. during which MML will provide a presentation. The link to the virtual meeting will be posted here under the "Other" category, on the Maryland General Assembly's website. 

The Task Force is the result of MML's 2026 priority legislation HB 1142, which established the Task Force, set its membership, outlined its purpose, and required a final report. The crux of the Task Force's work is to study existing local revenues and recommend legislative changes to address deficiencies. MML has two representatives on the Task Force: Michael O’Connor, Mayor, City of Frederick and MML Past President and Chad Rooney, Town Manager, Chestertown. On December 1, 2026 the Task Force is set to publish its final report on its findings and recommendations. 

Maryland’s Office of Overdose Response is inviting members of the public to participate in its upcoming town hall series focused on using prescription opioid settlement funds. Marylanders are encouraged to share their ideas for how settlement proceeds can best be used to decrease overdoses and increase access to substance use disorder prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery services.

These town halls are open to the public and registration is not required to attend. However, attendees who would like to speak should complete the registration form found at StopOverdose.maryland.gov/ORF.

With the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session in the rearview mirror, please check out MML's Legislative Summary!

Do you have questions about Artificial Intelligence in Maryland? Are you confused about AI policies and guidance for your city or town? Are you researching AI software you would like to request or new technology you want to implement in your department?

As municipalities continue exploring how artificial intelligence can improve public service delivery, operational efficiency, and resident engagement, Maryland has created a centralized resource hub to support responsible AI adoption across government. Check out Maryland AI! Municipal members are encouraged to explore the platform, review available guidance, and consider how responsible AI tools may support their local operations and community outcomes. Agencies interested in using AI can submit an intake request to the Maryland Department of Information Technology (DoIT) describing the proposed AI use case, business justification, expected outcomes, success metrics, and perceived risk level here. Maryland also offers AI training here. 

If your city, town or village has a population below 50,000, please join the National League of Cities and the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy for a listening session to share feedback about your community's experiences with preparing for the upcoming compliance deadline. Communities with populations of below 50,000 now have until April 26, 2028 to comply with the requirements of the Department of Justice's rule on accessibility standards for local government websites, apps, and other online content. Feedback shared will be used to inform advocacy to the Department of Justice around possible regulatory relief, guidance and technical assistance needed for small communities. 

This listening session is open to communities with populations below 50,000. We welcome your feedback on the following topics and any other issues related to compliance you may wish to share:

Municipalities must have a valid Local Abatement Plan filed with the State by July 1, 2026 or funds may be redirected! Register for this May 6th webinar to learn more.

It can be a transformational time for your municipality with the impact the Opioid Restitution money can have to help address opioid and overdose issues. MOOR and MML are hosting this webinar on May 6 from noon to 1:00 p.m. to discuss the restitution dollars, as well as the Targeted Abatement Grants (TAG) and how to access this funding. Register here.

The Maryland Department of Labor (DoL) has released new details on the State's paid family leave program titled the Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) Program, with some of the provisions of the law starting this year.

Additionally, DoL is hosting a webinar about the program on April 21, you can register here.

The Maryland General Assembly concluded its 90-day legislative session on Monday, April 13. This was an incredibly successful year for the Maryland Municipal League (MML) including passing a priority bill for the third time in the past four years! Below is a recap of a handful of impactful bills. For a more in-depth summary, please see the article soon to be published in the Local and sign up for the Legislative Session Wrap Up webinar scheduled for April 28 from noon - 1:00 pm (Link to register).

MML Priority Bill

Happy Sine Die!

Join us on April 28 at noon for a detailed 2026 Legislative Session Wrap-Up webinar. We’ll break down the most impactful policy developments, unpack the outcomes of major legislation, and discuss what it all means for our communities, stakeholders, and the road ahead.

It's that time of year again as the League solicits legislative action requests (LARs) to be considered for MML priority legislation in the 2027 Maryland General Assembly session. All member municipalities and MML affiliate groups in good standing are eligible to submit up to three LARs (form). Submissions should focus on a policy area impacting the broader membership and requiring a fix through a change in State law. 

The deadline to return a completed LAR form is May 31. Additionally, each LAR submission must be approved by the elected body of the municipality or the full MML affiliate membership. The deadline to inform MML of this approval is July 1, 2026. For any questions, please contact Bill Jorch, [email protected]