July 2025 Newsletter

Margery,

At the County Council's July Legislative Session, I introduced CB54-2025, legislation designed to remove barriers and encourage reinvestment in vacant and blighted properties throughout Howard County by amending the definition of “new construction” for building excise tax purposes. Howard County’s building excise tax is a one-time fee assessed on new construction to help fund public road improvements.

Under current law, when a property owner demolishes and rebuilds a structure, even if the new building is the same size or smaller, they are charged the full excise tax as though the construction were entirely new. This creates a financial barrier to revitalizing underused sites, especially older properties in need of replacement.

CB54-2025 proposes a more equitable approach. It ensures that when a building is demolished and rebuilt within three years, only the increase in square footage is subject to the excise tax. For example, if a 1,000 square foot building is replaced with a 3,000 square foot structure, the tax would apply only to the 2,000 square foot difference.

With less than two percent of Howard County’s land remaining for first-time construction, we must focus on smart reuse of already developed spaces. This policy encourages reinvestment in our existing communities, supports the creation of new buildings where infrastructure already exists, and removes barriers to making blighted or underutilized properties enjoyable and productive again. It can also help improve housing affordability by reducing the financial costs associated with building in already-established areas, as redevelopment is usually more costly than new development.

If you know of a vacant or blighted property that could benefit from this approach, I encourage you to share your support by emailing councilmail@howardcountymd.gov and testifying at our upcoming Public Hearing on Monday, July 21st at 7:00 PM. Registration in advance is required and can be done through the County Council website.

As always, please don't hesitate to contact my office if you are experiencing any issues in your community or would just like to get in touch. We are here to help with your concerns and listen to your feedback.

Wishing you a safe, happy, and cool July!

Yours in service,

Christiana Rigby (she/her)

Councilwoman, District 3

July 11, 2025

June Legislation Wrap-Up

On July 7th, the County Council convened for our July Legislative Session. The Council voted on several pieces of legislation, including the following:

CR116-2025: A resolution approving a schedule of fines and penalties for violations of and administrative costs related to the enforcement of Howard County’s parking laws, specifically increasing fines for parking citations for commercial motor vehicle parking in residential areas violations; allowing the Department of Police to embark on a public education campaign about the increased fines for commercial motor vehicles parking on residential areas violations; and generally relating to increased fines for commercial motor vehicles parking in residential area violations. This bill passed in a 5-0 vote. Introduced by Councilmember Dr. Opel Jones.

CB46-2025: An act reestablishing a tax credit against the County tax imposed on certain commercial or industrial real property located adjacent to Route 1 that is renovated, upgraded, or rehabilitated, under certain conditions; establishing the amount, terms, conditions, and duration of the credit; providing for an application procedure and administration of the credit; establishing a sunset provision; and generally relating to property tax credits. This bill passed in a 5-0 vote. Introduced by the Chairperson at the Request of the County Executive.

CB51-2025: An act amending the Howard County Code to remove the limit on the number of Speed Monitoring Systems permitted within a designated school zone and generally related to Speed Monitoring Systems in Howard County. This bill passed in a 5-0 vote. Introduced by Councilmember Liz Walsh.

CB52-2025: An act to revise the penalties for parking commercial motor vehicles in residential areas and generally relating to parking of commercial motor vehicles. This bill passed in a 5-0 vote. Introduced by Councilmember Dr. Opel Jones.

CB24-2025: An act adopting the International Building Code, 2024, the International Residential Code, 2024, the International Mechanical Code, 2024, the International Energy Conservation Code, 2024, and the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, 2024 Edition. This bill passed, as amended, in a 4-1 vote. Introduced by the Chairperson at the request of the County Executive.
For more information, please read the Climate Corner below.

July Legislation

On July 7th, the County Council convened for our July Legislative Session. Several new pieces of legislation were introduced, including the following:

CB54-2025: An act amends the Howard County Code to amend the definition of new construction as it relates to the building excise tax; and generally relating to the building excise tax. Introduced by Councilwoman Christiana Rigby.

CB55-2025: amending the Howard County Zoning Regulations to allow Age Restricted Adult Housing as a permitted use in the Planned Employment Center (PEC) zoning district, with additional requirements; amending the Moderate-Income Housing Unit (MIHU) requirements for Age-Restricted Units in the R-SI, POR, CCT, CEF and PSC zoning districts to require at least 5% Low-Income Housing Units (LIHU) or Disability Income Housing Units (DIHU); and generally related to MIHUs. Introduced by Councilmember Liz Walsh.

CB56-2025: An act amending the Howard County Code to require that Moderate Income, Low Income, and Disability Income Housing Units that are developed in an Age Restricted Adult Housing development, be developed on-site; and generally relating to Moderate, Low, and Disability Income Housing Units. Introduced by Councilmember Liz Walsh.

Residents can offer testimony on the legislation at the upcoming Public Hearing on Monday, July 21st at 7:00 PM. This legislation will be up for a vote on Wednesday, July 30th at 10:00 AM.

VIEW COUNCIL LEGISLATION

TESTIFY AT A PUBLIC HEARING

VIEW COUNCIL CALENDAR

Community News, Events, and Updates

BGE Customer Relief Fund

As our region experiences more extreme weather patterns, energy bills continue to rise. Residents are encouraged to apply for assistance through the new BGE Customer Relief Fund. These funds are part of a one-time, $15 million initiative to provide support and relief to customers who are struggling with high costs.

Eligible low and middle-income customers will be able to apply for one-time grants ranging from $250 to $750, which will be credited directly to their BGE accounts. Applications opened on July 1st through United Way of Central Maryland's website.

Free Summer Concert

Enjoy a free summer concert on Friday, July 18th at 7:00 PM at Glen Mar Church in Ellicott City!

The Marimba Linda Xelaju will delight audience members and provide folks a strong dose of Guatemalan culture.

For more information, visit the Glen Mar Church website.

Relay for Life Celebration

Relay For Life of Baltimore and Howard Counties is celebrating 40 years of Relay on Saturday, July 19th from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM, at Howard Community College’s Athletic and Fitness Center, 5500 Dragon Place, Columbia.

Relay For Life is an annual free event to celebrate cancer survivorship, remember those who lost their cancer battle, and raise money for the American Cancer Society. Funds are used for cancer research, prevention, detection and treatment, and patient services.

Play for All Fest

Join Recreation & Parks on Sunday, July 27th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Laura's Place Playground at Blandair Park to celebrate equity and inclusion for all at the annual Play For All Fest!

This event promotes disability awareness by providing an opportunity for children, adults, their families, and the general community to come together for a day of fun activities for all ages and abilities. Featuring Story Yoga, Spirit Club Fitness and Zumba, a bounce house/obstacle course, outdoor and adventure archery, playground bingo, crafts, face painting, tasty treats, and so much more, there is something fun for everyone!

Learn more about this free event by visiting the Recreation & Parks website.

Community Charging Connections

Do you live in a townhome or condo community in Howard County and drive an electric vehicle? Is your HOA interested in installing EV chargers in your community?

The Community Charging Connections Grant is here to help bring EV charging to communities across Howard County. This program offers financial support for the installation of electric vehicle chargers in townhome and condo neighborhoods, making it easier to charge where you live.

Through July 31st, HOAs can apply for a grant of up to $10,000 to reimburse for costs associated with adding chargers for community use on common property. This is a limited pilot program funded by a grant from the Maryland Energy Administration. Learn more and apply at the Live Green Howard website.

MIHU July Open Enrollment

The Department of Housing and Community Development is accepting applications for its Moderate-Income Housing Unit (MIHU) program July open enrollment period. DHCD’s MIHU is an inclusionary zoning program that offers quality new homes at reduced sale prices and rents to income eligible families.

To purchase an MIHU home, people must apply to DHCD during an open enrollment period to be placed in the database. Applicants with a combined annual household income of a minimum of $55,000 are eligible to apply; applicants who do not meet this minimum amount are not eligible for this program. Additionally, applicants must meet credit score requirements and household income must be sufficient to qualify for a mortgage based on industry standards. More information about the MIHU homeownership program can be found on the DHCD website, by contacting the Department at 410-313-6318 (select option two) or emailing moderateincomehousing@howardcountymd.gov.

To rent an MIHU unit, a qualified applicant’s household income may not exceed 60 percent of the Howard County median income. MIHUs are rented on a first-come, first-served basis, are interspersed throughout each community and residents enjoy the same amenities of community life as market rate tenants. Visit DHCD’s MIHU rental website for more information.

MIHU homeownership applications are available online and completed applications can be either submitted online, mailed to 9820 Patuxent Woods Drive, Suite 224, Columbia, MD, 21046, or dropped off at DHCD’s Patuxent Woods Drive office. Applications will be accepted through 4:00 PM on Thursday, July 31st.

Intern With My Office!

Looking to gain hands-on experience in local government this fall? My office is now accepting applications for Fall Interns!

If you’re passionate about public service, community engagement, and policy, this is your chance to get involved and make a difference. Internships are open to college students.

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to crigby@howardcountymd.gov by August 1st. The Fall Intern program runs from September to December with flexible start and end dates.

Learn more and apply today on the District 3 website.

Free Summer Meals

Free summer meals are back this summer!

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) ensures that children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. When school is out, SFSP provides free meals in low-income areas to kids and teens 18 years and younger.

Learn more and find the closest site at the Summer Food Service Program website.

Know Your Rights

All immigrants, documented or not, have constitutional protections. Knowing these rights are a crucial tool for self-protection, dignity, and equality.

Learn more by visiting the Luminus website.

Christiana's Climate Corner

Welcome to Christiana's Climate Corner, where I will be sharing updates on environmental and sustainability efforts in Howard County, including information on legislation, events, and opportunities for you to support sustainability efforts in our community!

Flip the Switch on the Future 💡

This month, the County Council passed CB24-2025, making Howard County the first jurisdiction in Maryland to adopt various 2024 codes of the International Code Council, including the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). This vote is a powerful step forward in reducing emissions, improving efficiency, and building a climate-resilient future.

And we didn’t just follow the code, we supercharged it! The Council passed six key amendments to ensure new construction is wired for a cleaner, healthier, more affordable tomorrow. These updates include:

Electric-ready infrastructure for homes and businesses, allowing future appliances and systems to plug into clean energy with ease. New homes will need to include dedicated circuits and outlets for future electric appliances, including HVAC, water heating, and cooking.
Solar-ready building standards so rooftops are ready to catch rays and cut carbon from day one. Roof orientation and structural capacity need to be able to support solar panels without costly retrofits.
EV charging capacity requirements for businesses and multifamily buildings, to include a mix of EV-ready, EV-capable, and fully equipped EV charging spaces, ensuring that up to 100% of parking can support electric vehicles now or in the future.
Energy efficiency upgrades that will lower utility bills and keep buildings running cool, clean, and green. In addition to the higher bar already set by the 2024 IECC, these guidelines call for just a bit more in terms of energy efficient building components.

These provisions not only reduce emissions but are expected to lower utility bills for homeowners and business owners, support local clean energy jobs, and improve indoor air quality by reducing fossil fuel use inside homes. I’m so proud of the progress we’ve made so far, and this vote proves that even within today’s legal and political constraints, we can still take meaningful, enforceable steps toward a cleaner, healthier future.

Get Involved!

There are many opportunities to volunteer and serve in your community. Read below for upcoming and ongoing volunteer opportunities.

Carroll Baldwin Hall Work Nights

Carroll Baldwin Hall hosts monthly Volunteer Work Nights every third Thursday from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. There are always tons of projects for volunteers with all skills and abilities to work on - cleaning, painting, and more. They also provide food and the opportunity to meet or catch up with your neighbors in Savage.

Howard County Boards and Commissions

The County is seeking members to serve on numerous Boards and Commissions. Below is a list of current openings:

Asian American Pacific Islander Commission – seeks one college/trade student commissioner and one high school commissioner to host public bi-monthly meetings, advise the Howard County Executive on policy initiatives, and advocate for issues that impact the AAPI community.
Cemetery Preservation Advisory Board – seeks up to three adult applicants who represent or work in the development-building industry, religious, or special interest in historic preservation or genealogy to review newly discovered cemeteries for County adoption and advise on historic cemetery resources. Two applicants may live outside Howard County.
Historic Preservation Commission – seeks two adult applicants who live or own property in the Lawyers Hill Historic District or who have architectural experience or professional experience in the architectural field to review applications for alterations to historic structures, provide advice on historical resources and review applications for historic tax credits.
La Alianza Latina Commission – seeks one adult commissioner, one college/trade school commissioner, and one high school commissioner to promote diversity, civility and address the concerns of Latino and immigrant communities.
LGBTQIA+ Commission – seeks one adult commissioner, one college/trade school commissioner, and one high school commissioner to advance policy and systemic change for all persons who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Non-binary, and other capacities along the LGBTQIA+ spectrum.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission – seeks four adult commissioners and two high school commissioners to encourage and coordinate appropriate ceremonies and activities honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.
Planning Board – seeks one applicant who resides in Councilmanic District 5 and the Rural Conservation District or the Rural Residential District and has an interest in planning and zoning.