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 2023
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
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.
Legislative Spotlight
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.
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.
Introduction
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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

CB31-2023 - Introduced by David Yungmann  AN ACT designating September 19 as Howard County Flag Day; and generally relating to the Howard County Flag.

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.

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. 
Final Consideration
Appointments

CR62-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive  A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Dr. Homayara Aziz to the Commission for Women.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved 

CR63-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Steven M. Bolen to the Police Accountability Board.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved 

CR64-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive  A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Stephen Liggett-Creel to the Board to Promote Self-Sufficiency. 
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved 

Financial

CB14-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive  AN ACT establishing a Student Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Teachers; defining certain terms; setting forth certain eligibility requirements; providing that the program will be administered by the Howard County Public School System; providing for the method of appropriation and providing that the program may be subject to annual appropriation; providing for a limit to the fiscal obligation of the program; requiring certain applications; providing for the application of this Act; requiring a report; providing for a sunset of the Program after five years; and generally relating to the Student Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Teachers.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Passed as amended

CR65-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive  A RESOLUTION approving certain transfers between major categories of the Howard County Board of Education Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2023; transferring a total of $800,000 to Other Instructional Costs and $300,000 to Operation of Plant; and generally relating to the Fiscal Year 2023 Operating Budget of the Board of Education.   
My Vote: Yes
Status: Passed as amended
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:

  • General Plan Work Session #3: Wednesday, June 7th at 9:30 AM
  • Montlhly Meeting: Monday, June 12th at 9:30 AM
  • ACS Conversation with the Council: Wednesday, June 14th at 9 AM
  • General Plan Public Hearing: Wednesday, June 14th at 7 PM
  • Juneteenth - Offices Closed: Monday, June 19th
  • Legislative Public Hearing: Tuesday, June 20th at 7 PM
  • General Plan Work Session #4: Wedsnesday, June 21st at 9:30 AM
  • Legislative Work Session: Monday, June 26th 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.