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.
Introduction
Appointments

CR153-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Leslie Bauer to the State Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board.

CR154-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Xavier V. Bruce to the Equal Business Opportunity Commission.
 
CR155-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Roxanne Cox to the Equal Business Opportunity Commission.

CR156-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Kellyann Few to the Environmental Sustainability Board.

CR157-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Monteith Mitchell to the La Alianza Latina Commission.

CR158-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Katie Myers to the Cemetery Preservation Advisory Board.

CR159-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Derek Patrick to the State Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board.

CR160-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Andrew Sherman to the Equal Business Opportunity Commission.

CR161-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of William Phillip Webster to the Environmental Sustainability Board.

Reappointments

CR162-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Ash Baker to the LGBTQIA+ Commission.

CR163-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Brian Bailey to the LGBTQIA+ Commission.

CR164-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Abby Gibbon to the Howard County Agricultural Preservation Board.

CR165-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Abby Gibbon to the State Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board.

CR166-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Cathy Hudson to the Howard County Agricultural Preservation Board.

CR167-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Cathy Hudson to the State Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board.

CR168-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Beck Rainbow Lynn Seckler to the LGBTQIA+ Commission.

Financial

CB38-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
AN ORDINANCE authorizing the issuance, sale and delivery of up to $150,000,000 consolidated public improvement bonds and up to $50,000,000 metropolitan district bonds, pursuant to various bond enabling laws; providing that such bonds shall be general obligations of the County; authorizing the County Executive to specify, prescribe, determine, provide for or approve the final principal amounts, maturity schedules, interest rates and redemption provisions for such bonds, and other matters, details, forms, documents or procedures and to determine the method of sale of such bonds; providing for the disbursement of the proceeds of such bonds and for the levying of taxes to pay debt service on such bonds; and providing for and determining various matters in connection therewith.

General

CR169-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive A RESOLUTION adopting the Howard County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan.

CR171-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION pursuant to Title 5, Subtitle 3 of the Education Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, approving the Howard County Board of Education’s Capital Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2025 and Capital Improvement Program Request for Fiscal Years 2026-2030 for the purpose of submission to the Interagency Commission on School Construction.

CR170-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson A RESOLUTION calling the County Council of Howard County, Maryland into legislative session on specified dates.

CB39-2023 (ZRA 204) - Introduced by Christiana Rigby AN ACT amending the definitions of "Parking Area, Parking Facility or Parking Use" and "Solar Collector, Rooftop" to ensure that solar canopies are permitted by right uses on parking structures.; and generally relating to solar canopies.

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.
Final
Appointments

CR131-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Leslie Bauer to the Howard County Agricultural Preservation Board.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Tabled

CR132-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of James Bell to the Advisory Board on Consumer Protection.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

CR133-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Kyle R. Burton, MD, MPP, to the Commission on Aging.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

CR134-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Dana Couch to the Local Behavioral Health Advisory Board.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Tabled

CR135-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Candace Dodson-Reed to the Housing Commission.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved as amended

CR136-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION recommending to the Governor of Maryland that Lynda Eisenberg be appointed to the Patuxent River Commission.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

CR137-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Brent Grazman, Ph.D., to the Adult Public Guardianship Review Board.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

CR138-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Melissa Hudzik to the Adult Public Guardianship Review Board.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

CR139-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Samantha Magness to the LGBTQIA+ Commission.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

CR140-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Eneanya Obioha to the Human Rights Commission.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved as amended

CR141-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Derek Patrick to the Howard County Agricultural Preservation Board.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Tabled

CR142-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Madiha Rahimi to the Asian American and Pacific Islander Commission.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

CR143-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Jill Rathburn to the Local Behavioral Health Advisory Board.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved
CR144-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Prateek Shukla to the Adult Public Guardianship Review Board.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

CR145-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Narissa Solanki to the Local Behavioral Health Advisory Board.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

CR146-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Sean Thomas to the Board of Social Services.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

CR147-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Bradley Welsh to the Local Behavioral Health Advisory Board.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

CR148-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Jessica K. Winkles, Ph.D., to the Howard County Local Children’s Board.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

CR149-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Antoine RJ Wright to the Multimodal Transportation Board.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

CR150-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Kathryn Valentine to the Housing Commission.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved as amended

Reappointments

CR151-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Jae Chon to the Pension Oversight Commission.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved
General
 
CB35-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive AN ACT authorizing step adjustments for purposes of pay equity, under certain
conditions; requiring certain approvals by the Personnel Officer following an assessment and recommendation by the Human Resources Administrator; and generally relating to the rates of pay for County employees.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Passed

CB36-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
AN ACT amending the Pay Plan for Howard County; providing pay scales for certain public safety employees that shall be effective January 1, 2024; to correct a scale that applies to members of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 143; and generally relating to the Pay Plan for Howard County.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Passed as amended

CR152-2023 - 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 a portion of land owned by Howard County, Maryland and located within Centennial Park, along Centennial Lane and Maryland Route 108, is no longer needed by the County for public purposes; authorizing the County Executive to convey, upon certain consideration, fee simple title to 0.834 acres and permanent easement interests in 0.152 acres to the State of Maryland, Department of Transportation, State Highway Administration; 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

CB37-2023 - Introduced by Deb Jung Co-sponsor(s) David Yungmann
AN ACT removing the prohibition on owners of multiple residential properties from receiving the property tax credit for seniors and retired military personnel; and generally relating to property tax credits.
My Vote: Abstained
Status: Passed

CR170-2023 - Introduced by The Chairperson A RESOLUTION calling the County Council of Howard County, Maryland into legislative session on specified dates.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Passed as amended
Tabled Legislation
Appointments

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.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Removed from table and 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

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
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:

  • Offices Closed - Indigenous Peoples Day: Monday, October 9th
  • Council Joint Meeting with HC Board of Education: Wednesday, October 11th at 9:45 AM
  • Legislative Public Hearing: Wednesday, October 11th at 2 PM
  • Legislative Public Hearing: Monday, October 16th at 7 PM
  • Legislative Work Session: Monday, October 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.