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
Appointments

CR1-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Kristen Aybar OTR/L, to the Commission on Aging.

CR2-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive 
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Barbara Darley, JD, to the Commission on Aging.

CR3-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive 
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Arthur Gold to the Commission on Aging.

CR4-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive 
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of James Earl Hollywood III to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission.

CR5-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive 
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Steven Hunt to the Alcoholic Beverage Hearing Board.

CR6-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive 
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Julie-Ann S. Hutchinson to the Board of Social Services.

CR7-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive 
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Carol Miller to the Board of Social Services.

CR8-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive 
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Renee F. Williams to the Commission on Aging.

CR9-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive 
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Thomas Zei to the LGBTQIA+ Commission.

CR10-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive 
A RESOLUTION approving a list of Howard County residents to be sent to the Governor, in accordance with State law, so that the Governor may choose one of the residents from the list to fill a vacancy on the Property Tax Assessment Appeal Board.
 
Reappointments

CR11-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive 
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of James Jiyu Obasiolu to the Environmental Sustainability Board.

Financial

CB1-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive 
AN ORDINANCE authorizing and empowering the County to issue up to $17,200,000 of its special obligation refunding bonds at a maximum interest rate not to exceed 6.10% per annum in order to refinance the cost of certain public improvements relating to the development district in Howard County, Maryland known as the “Annapolis Junction Town Center Development District” (the “Development District”) and the special taxing district in Howard County, Maryland known as the “Annapolis Junction Town Center Special Taxing District” (the “Special Taxing District”) and other costs permitted under the Acts (as identified herein) through the issuance of bonds to refund the County’s outstanding Special Obligation Bonds (Annapolis Junction Town Center Project) 2014 Series; providing that such bonds and the interest thereon shall never constitute a general obligation of the County or a pledge of its full faith and credit; providing for the further specification, prescription, determination, provision for or approval of various other matters, details, documents and procedures in connection with the authorization, issuance, security, sale and payment for any such bonds; making certain legislative findings; and generally ratifying the levy, imposition, collection and application of such special tax and the issuance of refunding bonds in accordance with the Acts identified herein.
 
General

CB2-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive AN ACT approving and providing for a multi-year Installment Purchase Agreement by Howard County, Maryland to acquire development rights in approximately 56.02 acres of agricultural land located at 1611 Saint Michaels Road, Woodbine, Howard County, Maryland, from Rhonda Winkler and Jeff Winkler or any other owner thereof for a maximum purchase price of $2,191,600 or, if less in acreage, not more than $39,120 per acre or portion thereof, rounded to the next highest $100, plus interest on the deferred portion of such purchase price; providing that the County's obligation to pay such purchase price and interest on the deferred portion of such purchase price shall be a full faith and credit general obligation of the County; providing for the levying of taxes for such payments; authorizing the County Executive to modify such Agreement; and providing for and determining various matters in connection therewith.

CB3-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive  AN ACT imposing a cap on the amount of damages that can be awarded to a person aggrieved by a prohibited employment action; and generally relating causes of action and the award of civil remedies.

CR12-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive 
A RESOLUTION pursuant to the Howard County Cable Television Systems Franchise Act, granting a franchise renewal application received from Comcast of Howard County, LLC and providing that the parties shall agree on the terms of a franchise agreement within a certain time.

CR13-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the Howard County Council 
A RESOLUTION amending the Rules of Procedure of the Howard County Council that allow for the creation and reading of legislative short titles under certain circumstances; and generally relating to the Rules of Procedure of the Howard County Council.

CB4-2024 - Introduced by Liz Walsh AN ACT repealing certain provisions of law that provide optional methods for a developer to provide moderate income housing units under the zoning regulations and that allow a developer to request permission from the Director of Housing to use alternative compliance to certain optional methods; repealing certain provisions of law relating to market-based required alternatives to the moderate income housing unit obligation; repealing certain provisions of law relating to alternatives to moderate income housing unit obligation in certain zones; repealing certain provisions of law relating to the sale of moderate income housing units; repealing certain provisions of law relating to the rental of moderate income housing units; altering certain definitions and certain regulations; and generally relating to the sale of moderate income housing units.
Final Consideration
Tabled

CB40-2023 - Introduced by Liz Walsh AN ACT removing certain exemptions for stream restoration projects in the Forest Conservation Act, removing the definition of a stream restoration project, and generally relating to the Forest Conservation Act.
Status: Failed to be removed from table
My Vote: No

CB43-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive Co-sponsor(s) Christiana Rigby AN ACT authorizing the County or the Housing Commission to assign the right to purchase by written agreement to certain entities who may acquire or finance the purchase of rental housing; clarifying the time that an offer shall remain open; amending the minimum number of affordable units; defining certain terms; providing that certain assignments may be recorded; requiring that certain covenants be recorded; and generally related to the notice and right to purchase rental housing.
Status: Failed to be removed from table
My Vote: No

CB44-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive Co-sponsor(s) Christiana Rigby AN ACT prohibiting the increase in the amount of rent over a specified amount for certain regulated units; requiring the publication of the permitted amount of rent increase; allowing a landlord to apply for a capital improvement surcharge upon a showing of certain criteria; allowing a fair return for a regulated unit; providing certain exemptions; defining certain terms; requiring that certain fees be prominently displayed; setting forth penalties; inserting a severability clause; providing for the abrogation of certain provisions of this Act; establishing a workgroup to study the effect of this Act; and generally relating to rental increases in Howard County.
Status: Failed to be removed from table
My Vote: No

CB45-2023 - Introduced by Liz Walsh AN ACT requiring a restaurant that offers children’s meals for sale to offer a certain number of healthy children’s meal for sale; specifying the options required for a certain children’s meal; requiring a restaurant that offers for sale a children’s meal with a beverage to include a certain default beverage; preserving a consumer’s choice to purchase and a restaurant’s right to sell a children’s meal other than a healthy children’s meal; requiring the Howard County Department of Health to create and disseminate certain written informational resources; providing for the enforcement of this Act; providing for the severability of certain provisions of this Act; and generally relating to healthy meals for children.
Status: Failed to be removed from table
My Vote: Yes
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:

  • Council Monthly Meeting: Tuesday, January 9th at 9:30 AM
  • Offices Closed - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: Monday, January 15th
  • Legislative Public Hearing: Tuesday, January 16th at 7 PM
  • Legislative Work Session: Tuesday, January 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.