Greetings!
Welcome to my Legislative Newsletter, highlighting Council Resolutions and Council Bills proposed by the Howard County Council.
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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.
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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.
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Howard County Council Appointments and County Council Election Results for 2023
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Howard County Council Chairpersons
Chair: Councilmember Christiana Rigby, District 3
Vice-Chair: Councilmember Deb Jung, District 4
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 Deb Jung, District 4
Alternate: Councilmember David Yungmann, District 5
National Associations of Counties
Representative: Councilmember Deb Jung, District 4
Alternate: Councilmember David Yungmann, District 5
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Council-Related Legislation
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Howard County Council Legislation
Unless otherwise noted, the following legislation is introduced by the Chairperson at the request of the County Executive.
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Council Resolution 104-2023 will establish a Workgroup to examine issues surrounding the short-term implementation facing the legalization of adult-use cannabis in Howard County.
The legislation sets the membership of the Workgroup which will be comprised of:
- Local government officials, industry experts;
- An appointee from each Councilmember to represent their respective council districts;
- The Workgroup Chairperson who will be appointed by the County Executive;
- If enacted, the Cannabis Workgroup will meet before August 1st and will hold no more than two public hearings to receive community input; and
- In 2024, the Chairperson will present the Workgroup’s legislative recommendations to the County Council at a Council Monthly Meeting.
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Council Bill 32-2023 seeks to establish an Adult-Use Cannabis Advisory Panel to examine the long-term implementation of adult-use cannabis and offer recommendations which promote health, public safety, business, and social and racial equality in Howard County’s adult-use cannabis market.
- The Advisory Panel will submit an annual report on or before July 1st of each year on its activities during the previous 12 months.
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Appointments
CR105-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Damilola Aimola to the Howard County Local Children’s Board.
CR106-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Melanie Brown to the Board of Health.
CR107-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Ebonee Fitzgerald to the Housing Commission.
CR108-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Lorinzo Foxworth to the Howard County Commission for Veterans and Military Families.
CR109-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of H. Russell Frisby, Jr. to the Equal Business Opportunity Commission.
CR110-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Gift Gunaraj Jayakar to the Commission on Disabilities.
CR111-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Nicholas Jenkins to the Commission on Disabilities.
CR112-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Sean P. Keller to the Howard County Commission for Veterans and Military Families.
CR113-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Regina V. Lee to the Commission on Disabilities.
CR114-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Isaac Ramsey to the Howard County Local Children’s Board.
CR115-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Jai Salters to the Howard County Commission for Veterans and Military Families.
CR116-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Robert E. Suggs to the Commission on Disabilities.
CR117-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Bryan Weinstein to the Commission on Disabilities.
CR118-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Victoria I. Benitez to the La Alianza Latina Commission.
CR119-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Michele Brown to the Local Behavioral Health Advisory Board.
CR120-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Elise Choe to the Howard County Local Children’s Board.
CR121-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Gabrielle Demuren to the Recreation and Parks Board.
CR122-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Tabitha Dixon to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission.
CR123-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Mark Donovan to the Local Behavioral Health Advisory Board.
CR124-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Janet Edelman to the Local Behavioral Health Advisory Board.
CR125-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Robert A. Mentz to the Board of Library Trustees.
CR126-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Lily Peng to the Asian American and Pacific Islander Commission.
CR127-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Joan Webb Scornaienchi to the Local Behavioral Health Advisory Board.
Financial
CB33-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive AN ACT for purposes of the property tax credit for real property owned by certain disabled law enforcement officers or rescue workers, amending the definition of disabled law enforcement officer or rescue worker; and generally relating to the property tax credit for real property owned by certain law enforcement officers or rescue workers.
General
CR128-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION adopting the School Capacity Chart, pursuant to the Adequate Public Facilities Act of Howard County, to designate the elementary school regions, and the elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools constrained for new residential development during each of the following ten years as based on the definition of program capacity as defined by Howard County Public School System policy and requiring a certain joint special work meeting in accordance with Section 16.1103(d) of the Howard County Code.
CR129-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION adopting the Housing Unit Allocation Chart pursuant to the Adequate Public Facilities Act of Howard County.
CR130-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION approving a Financial Assurance Plan for Howard County’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permit programs, in accordance with Section 4-202.1 of the Environment Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland; and requiring certain copies be sent to the Maryland Department of the Environment.
CB34-2023 - Introduced by Deb Jung AN ACT altering a certain provision of law when the County Purchasing Agent may award a contract for supplies and services without competition; requiring the County Purchasing Agent to forward a proposed contract to the County Council for review and comment; requiring the County Purchasing Agent to review certain comments by the County Council under certain circumstances; and generally relating to purchasing.
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Appointments
CR90-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Laura Elizabeth Bacon to the Board of Directors of the Economic Development Authority.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved
CR91-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Ishaan Busireddy to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved
CR92-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Mason Godsey to the Planning Board.
My Vote: No
Status: Tabled
CR93-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Phillip Patrick Larson to the Board of Directors of the Economic Development Authority.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved
CR94-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Dr. Sean Kendric Stewart to the Board of Directors of the Economic Development Authority. Reappointments
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved
CR95-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Ted Cochran to the Multimodal Transportation Board.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved
CR96-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Ralph O. Frith to the Citizens' Election Fund Commission.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved
CR97-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Marcellous P. Frye Jr. to the Board of Directors of the Economic Development Authority.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved
CR98-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Suzanne R. Geckle to the Citizens’ Election Fund Commission.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved
CR99-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Monica Simon to the Multimodal Transportation Board.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved
Financial
CB27-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive AN ACT for purposes of the property tax credit for real property owned by certain Public Safety Officers, amending the definition of Public Safety Officer in response to a State Law change; and generally relating to the property tax credit for real property owned by certain Public Safety Officers.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Passed
General
CB28-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive AN ACT adopting HoCo By Design as the general plan for Howard County, Maryland which includes a Plan for the Route 1 Corridor, for the purpose of planning for land use and land conservation and multiyear development planning for transportation, public facilities, water, sewerage, parkland, housing, human services, and environmental protection; and generally relating to planning, zoning, and land use in Howard County, Maryland.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Tabled
CB29-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive AN ACT pursuant to Section 612 of the Howard County Charter, approving a multi-year Second Amendment of Lease Agreement (the “Second Amendment”) between Howard County, Maryland and The Howard County Arts Council, Inc., a Maryland non-profit corporation, for approximately 12.652 acres of land at 8510 High Ridge Road, Ellicott City, Maryland, under the terms of which the County agrees to pay certain costs associated with the premises; authorizing the County Executive to enter into the Second Amendment and to make changes to the Second Amendment before executing it, under certain conditions; and generally relating to a multi-year lease of certain premises owned by Howard County, Maryland to The Howard County Arts Council, Inc.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Passed
CR101-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION pursuant to Section 4.201 of the Howard County Code, authorizing the County Executive to grant easements to Baltimore Gas and Electric Company so that it may replace and relocate poles and other equipment maintained by Baltimore Gas and Electric Company on property owned by Howard County, Maryland in Ellicott City; waiving the advertising and bidding requirements of Section 4.201 of the Howard County Code; and providing that the County Executive is not bound to grant the easements if he finds that the property may have a further public use.
My Vote: No
Status: Tabled
CR102-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION authorizing the County Executive to grant a deed of easement to Baltimore Gas and Electric Company so that Baltimore Gas and Electric Company may install communication facilities on property owned by Howard County, Maryland; waiving the advertising and bidding requirements of Section 4.201 of the Howard County Code; and providing that the County Executive is not bound to convey the Property if he finds that the County may have a use for the property.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Passed
CR103-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION amending previously adopted Resolutions to correct the term of appointments to the Board of Directors of the Economic Development Authority.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Passed as amended
CB30-2023 - Introduced by Liz Walsh AN ACT amending the purpose of the Forest Conservation Act of Howard County; altering the definition of a forest; increasing certain reforestation calculations; amending qualification for the use of certain forest mitigation banks; and generally related to the Forest Conservation Act of Howard County.
My Vote: No
Status: Failed
CB31-2023 - Introduced by David Yungmann AN ACT designating September 19 as Howard County Flag Day; and generally relating to the Howard County Flag.
My Vote: No
Status: Failed
CB32-2023 - Introduced by Opel Jones AN ACT creating an Adult-Use Cannabis Advisory Panel; specificizing the duties and responsibilities of the Advisory Panel; providing for the membership and staffing of the Advisory Panel; establishing requirements for meetings and reports; and generally related to the Adult-Use Cannabis Advisory Panel.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Passed
CR104-2023 - Introduced by Opel Jones A RESOLUTION creating a Cannabis Workgroup to study the effects of adult-use cannabis legalization in Howard County and recommend legislative actions to promote health, public safety, and equity in the local adult-use cannabis market; and generally relating to adult-use cannabis.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Passed as amended
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Upcoming Council Meetings
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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:
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General Plan Work Session #5: Wednesday, July 12th at 9:30 AM
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Legislative Public Hearing: Monday, July 17th at 7 PM
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General Plan Public Hearing: Wednesday, July 19th at 7 PM
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General Plan Work Sessoin #6: Wednesday, July 26th at 6:30 PM
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Legislative Wrap-Up Session: Monday, July 31st at 10:00 AM
Please note these dates are subject to change. To access the most up-to-date calendar of meetings in its entirety, click here.
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