Greetings!

Welcome to my Legislative Newsletter, highlighting Council Resolutions and Council Bills proposed by the Howard County Council.
As your County Council representative, I encourage you to review this information and lend your voice by testifying via email or in person. To voice your support or opposition, please email councilmail@howardcountymd.gov. To sign-up in advance to testify at the upcoming Public Hearing click here.
It is my pleasure to serve you, your family, and the residents of District 2. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office by calling (410) 313-2001 or by emailing ojones@howardcountymd.gov. I hope you will continue to stay engaged by visiting my council website at https://cc.howardcountymd.gov/Districts/District-2.

Sincerely,
The Process
The County Council is responsible for adopting the laws of the County. The legislative process generally follows a monthly cycle:

  • 1st Monday- New legislation is introduced; legislation from prior month is given final consideration
  • 3rd Monday- Legislative Public Hearing on legislation introduced that month
  • Following the Legislative Public Hearing a Legislative Work Session is held, if needed

Council Bills must be signed or vetoed by the County Executive within 10 days of the Council's presentation of passed legislation.
Howard County Council Appointments and County Council Election Results for 2024
Howard County Council Chairpersons
Chair: Councilmember Deb Jung, District 4
Vice-Chair: Councilmember Liz Walsh, District 1

Zoning Board
Chair: Councilmember Liz Walsh, District 1
Vice-Chair: Councilmember Dr. Opel Jones, District 2

Board of License Commissioners
Chair: Councilmember David Yungmann, District 5
Vice-Chair: Councilmember Dr. Opel Jones, District 2

Maryland Association of Counties Legislative Committee
Representative: Councilmember Christiana Rigby, District 3
Alternate: Councilmember David Yungmann, District 5

National Associations of Counties
Representative: Christiana Rigby, District 3
Alternate: Councilmember David Yungmann, District 5
Council-Related Legislation
Howard County Council Legislation

Unless otherwise noted, the following legislation is introduced by the Chairperson at the request of the County Executive.
Introduced Legislation
Reappointments

CR33-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Herman L. Charity to the Recreation and Parks Board.

CR34-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Teresa Garcia to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission.

CR35-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Christine “Tina” Horn to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission.

CR36-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Dr. Abbie Diane Martin to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission.

CR37-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Kurt Woodrick Wall to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission.

CR38-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Kui Zhao, AICP, to the Asian American and Pacific Islander Commission.

General

CR39-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION adopting Howard County’s Annual Action Plan for housing and community services to qualify for the receipt of federal Community Development Block Grant and Home Investment Partnership Program funds.

CR40-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION endorsing and authorizing the Howard County Executive to file an application with the Maryland Transit Administration of the Maryland Department of Transportation for grants under the Federal Transit Act and certain State transportation grants; indicating certain endorsement by the County Executive; and requiring certain copies be sent to the Maryland Department of Transportation.

CR41-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION pursuant to Section 4.201 of the Howard County Code declaring that public tree maintenance easements containing approximately 0.1595 acres are no longer needed by the County for public purposes; authorizing the County Executive to terminate the easement and convey the property interest to the fee simple owner, Baltimore Gas and Electric Company; waiving the advertising and bidding requirements of Section 4.201 of the Howard County Code in order to convey the property to Baltimore Gas and Electric Company; and providing that the County Executive is not bound to terminate the easement and convey the property if he finds that the easements may have a public use.

CB15-2024 - Introduced by Liz Walsh, Opel Jones, Christiana Rigby AN ACT amending the Howard County Pay Plan; providing the pay scale for the County Auditor; and generally relating to the Howard County Pay Plan. expires – 06/10/2024; extended – 07/15/2024; extended twice – 08/19/2024

CB16-2024 (ZRA 206) - Introduced by The Chair at the request of Elite Facility Management
AN ACT amending the Howard County Zoning Regulations to change Section 128.0.A.12 to allow additional square footage for detached accessory structures on residentially zoned lots in the RC and RR zoning districts for both individual structures and cumulatively by allowing an additional 500 square feet for properties greater than 3 acres with larger properties having more allowance for detached accessory structures; and generally relating to lot coverage in the RC and RR zoning district. expires – 06/10/2024; extended – 07/15/2024; extended twice – 08/19/2024
Final Consideration
Appointments

CR23-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Hannah Eunji Chang to the Commission for Women.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

CR24-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Kristen Mahoney to the Commission for Women.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

CR25-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Ted L. Meyerson to the Advisory Board on Consumer Protection.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

CR26-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Shannon B. Taitt to the Commission for Women.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

CR27-2024 - Introduced by Christiana Rigby A RESOLUTION appointing Robbyn Harris to the Board of Appeals of Howard County, Maryland, to fill a term ending on December 31, 2028.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

Reappointments

CR29-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Pedro Ramirez to the Public Works Board. Financial
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

CR30-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION amending the Howard County Health Department Operating Budget, as adopted by Council Resolution No. 70-2023, to account for additional funding received from the State of Maryland; and generally relating to the Health Department Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2024.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Passed

General

CB10-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
AN ACT amending the Howard County Retirement Plan in order to create an enhanced normal retirement benefit for Dispatchers, adding and amending certain definitions; increasing the amount of employee pick up contributions to be made by participating Dispatchers, changing the normal retirement age for participating Dispatchers and generally relating to the Howard County Retirement Plan. expires – 05/13/2024; extended – 06/17/2024; extended twice – 07/22/2024
My Vote: Yes
Status: Passed


CB11-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
AN ACT adopting the 2023 National Electrical Code as the Electrical Code for Howard County; regulating the design, construction, alteration, improvement or modification to electrical equipment; adopting certain local amendments to the Electrical Code; making certain technical corrections; and generally relating to the electrical code in Howard County. expires – 05/13/2024; extended – 06/17/2024; extended twice – 07/22/2024
My Vote: Yes
Status: Passed as amended


CB12-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
AN ACT amending the membership of the Local Children’s Board to add certain ex officio members and to amend the total number of members accordingly; and generally relating to the Local Children’s Board. expires – 05/13/2024; extended – 06/17/2024; extended twice – 07/22/2024
My Vote: Yes
Status: Passed as amended


CR31-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION authorizing the sale of certain microwave network equipment owned by Howard County to the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems upon such terms and conditions as the County Purchasing Agent deems proper.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Passed

CR32-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION pursuant to the Howard County Cable Televisions Systems Franchise Act, granting the renewal of a cable franchise agreement to Comcast of Howard County, LLC under certain terms and conditions.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Passed as amended

CB13-2024 - Introduced by Deb Jung AN ACT establishing the Trap-Neuter-Return program for community cats, specifying the purpose and administration of the program, defining certain terms; and generally relating to the Trap-Neuter-Return program. expires – 05/13/2024; extended – 06/17/2024; extended twice – 07/22/2024
My Vote: Abstained
Status: Failed

CB14-2024 - Introduced by The Chair at the request of Corridor 70/32, LLC
AN ACT amending the Howard County Zoning Regulations to amend the Flex space land use classification of the Planned Office Research (POR) zoning district by defining the light manufacturing uses permitted as a matter of right to include “Contractor’s Office and Outdoor or Indoor Storage Facility, Self-Storage Facilities, Warehouses, Moving and Storage Establishments and Light Industrial Uses”; removing the restriction to limit the light manufacturing uses to those uses permitted in the PEC District; and generally relating to light manufacturing uses in the POR zoning district. expires – 05/13/2024; extended – 06/17/2024; extended twice – 07/22/2024
My Vote: Yes
Status: Passed
Tabled Legislation
 General

Council Resolution 05-2024 - A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Steven Hunt to the Alcoholic Beverage Hearing Board.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Removed from table and approved
Upcoming Council Meetings
Unless otherwise noted, the County Council will hold its meetings in the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, MD. Meetings will be held in person and virtually. The next meetings are as follows:
  • Legislative Public Hearing: Monday, April 15th at 7 PM
  • Council Monthly Meeting: Tuesday, April 16th at 9:30 AM
  • Legislative Work Session: Tuesday, April 23rd at 9:30 AM
Please note these dates are subject to change. To access the most up-to-date calendar of meetings in its entirety, click here.
  • Budget Presentation by County Executive: Tuesday, April 16th at 5:30 PM
  • Capital Budget Public Hearing: Tuesday, April 16th at 6 PM
  • Capital Budget Work Session #1: Wednesday, April 17th at 10 AM
  • Capital Budget Work Session #2: Friday, April 19th at 10 AM
  • Capital Budget Work Session #3: Wednesday, April 24th at 10 AM
  • Education Budget Public Hearing: Wednesday, April 24th at 6 PM
  • Capital Budget Work Session #4: Monday, April 29th at 10 AM