Maryland Municipal League (MML) leadership invites you to learn more about an important municipal rail safety communication system. On Thursday, April 25 from 12:00-1:00 p.m., MML will be hosting a webinar in partnership with Maryland Class I freight carriers to facilitate increased direct communication between local governments and rail operators. Presenters from CSX and Norfolk Southern will focus on existing information sources that will assist local leaders and municipalities to better understand details about freight rail shipments and how best to coordinate emergency response.

Rail safety has been an important issue for years touching on public health, emergency response, infrastructure damage, and environmental impact. Rail has been identified as an anticipated transportation option with the loss of the Key Bridge for the current trucking industry routes of hazardous materials through the I-95 corridor. We highly encourage you or a representative from your municipality to participate in the webinar.

Gain insights from our esteemed panelists as they discuss MML's legislative objectives, the Maryland state budget, and other important municipal issues and information that emerged from the Maryland General Assembly's 2024 legislative session. Don't miss out on this opportunity to hear how this year's legislative session may impact Maryland's cities and towns. 

Watch here!

On March 15^th, in Lindke v. Freed, the Supreme Court established the test for when local government officials are considered "state actors" for the purposes of the First Amendment when they post on social media.  The case is a win for local governments, as the test provided by the Supreme Court safeguards the free speech rights of elected officials while balancing the rights of their citizens. 

The National League of Cities (NLC) has created two resources to help local governments navigate this in practical terms:

MML Leadership hosted an insightful Lunch and Learn webinar in partnership with Conference Planning Committee Chair, Dave Unglesbee (Hampstead) and Vice Chair, Terry McGean (Ocean City). Packed with previews and sneak peeks, the recording provides a comprehensive overview of what attendees can expect from #MMLCon24.

Hear about the newest features to our largest professional development event, first hand. Join our leadership and executive team, on March 28 at noon, for a sneak peek into what's ahead at MML's summer conference and how the event is evolving to meet the ever changing needs of Maryland's local officials.

Lunch and Learn Registration

The Municipal Technical Assistance Program is hosting a roundtable on Maryland ARPA Spending Trends and Success Stories on February 27th from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EST. This roundtable-style webinar will review municipal 2023 ARPA spending trends and invite towns to share examples of ARPA-funded projects. ARPA funding has offered municipal leaders a significant opportunity to carry out projects and initiatives with a wide-ranging impact. And keep in mind that all ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) must be obligated by December 31, 2024.

If your town is still determining how best to apply this critical federal funding before the obligation deadline later this year, we welcome your participation! Click here to register

Missed out on the opportunity to attend the recent Lunch and Learn Webinar on the NLC Affiliate Program? Watch and learn about the benefits associated with using the MML Affiliate status of the National League of Cities.

The recording can be found on our YouTube channel.

Missed the chance to sit in during the recent Ethics Webinar? You can now watch the recording of the Ethics: Solicitation and Acceptance of Gifts Webinar featuring guest speaker Todd Turner, Executive Director of Prince George's County Office of Ethics and Accountability on the MML YouTube channel.

Please be sure to check our Year-At-A-Glance to stay up to date on the League's upcoming webinars, conferences, and events.

Your municipal league is always at work.  We and the National League of Cities (NLC) are glad to announce that through a special affiliate membership agreement, all MML members under 20,000 in population are now eligible to be NLC affiliate members with no additional cost to your municipality. 

Municipalities with affiliate status are joining NLC as the organization celebrates 100 years of accomplishments on behalf of local governments. Learn all about affiliate status and how this new benefit will extend MML's resources and your municipality's reach on Wednesday, January 24 at noon during a joint MML/NLC webinar.

Cyberthreats are not only real, they are constant. Local governments are targeted over 1,600 times a week by potential cyber threats. As local government leaders, you are entrusted with sensitive data and a limited budget for IT and preventing cyberthreats.

Meet with MML exclusive cybersecurity partner, VC3, to assess your vulnerabilities and learn how to protect your community.