On October 8, the Maryland Municipal League will host the 2026
Municipal Town Hall, providing municipal leaders with a unique
opportunity to hear directly from the major-party primary winners
for Maryland’s four statewide offices: Governor, Lieutenant
Governor, Attorney General, and Comptroller. Invited candidates
will address a municipal audience and respond to questions on the
issues that matter most to local leaders and the communities they
serve. There will be no debate or political sparring - just direct,
substantive conversation focused on the priorities of Maryland’s
municipalities.

Following the statewide candidates’ program, attendees are invited
to participate in a series of local government-focused workshops.

Mark your calendar for October 8. Join municipal leaders from across Maryland for a dynamic Town Hall featuring statewide candidates addressing the issues that matter most to local communities. Hear directly from fellow municipal officials seeking higher office, gain practical grassroots advocacy tools, and receive the latest update from the statewide task force studying local revenue ahead of the 2027 legislative session. 

Register here! 

The conversation can be complicated, controversial, and even daunting. But the goal should be clear: make the decision with the best information available.

Data center development is expanding rapidly in communities across Maryland and beyond. As proposals become more common, municipal leaders are increasingly being asked to consider a central question: Should our community welcome data centers?

Join us for an exciting Summer Symposium on July 30th from 9:30am to 2:30pm as we feature insightful discussions, innovative ideas, and valuable networking opportunities with local leaders and subject matter experts. This year's program will be held at the beautiful Chesapeake Bay Foundation where we will continue to explore key issues impacting Maryland communities and provide practical strategies you can take back to your municipality.

Agenda Highlights:

If an eligible entity has not completed a cybersecurity assessment within the last 12 months, it may submit a request for Maryland’s Local Cybersecurity Support Fund (LCSF) funding to be used towards a cybersecurity assessment by a vendor approved by the Maryland Department of Information Technology (DoIT).

The LCSF Program, codified in Md. Code, Pub. Safety § 14-104.2, helps local governments including school systems, school boards, and local health departments strengthen cybersecurity and protect essential services.

There are only two weeks left to apply for the READY Local Governments Training Program.

Applications Are Due July 31 at 5:00 p.m. E.T

The Maryland Department of Information Technology (DoIT) announced that partnerships with the security research community have helped identify and fix more than 200 unique cybersecurity vulnerabilities on public-facing State of Maryland IT assets. The effort is part of DoIT’s broader cybersecurity strategy to remediate vulnerabilities and strengthen state defenses.

DoIT recently hosted Hack the State 2 with 12 security researchers vetted by BugCrowd. Through legal reporting channels and bug bounty incentives, researchers identify qualifying vulnerabilities. Hack the State 2, combined with the existing Vulnerability Disclosure Program (VDP) launched last October, positions Maryland as a leader among states in this area. Few, if any, other states have programs of this size and scope. This program is one of several cybersecurity advances the State has made in the last year. In February, the State released the Cybersecurity and Privacy Policy Suite, a comprehensive governance framework that is hardening state systems by mandating advanced “zero-trust” cybersecurity practices. It has also expanded its cybersecurity information-sharing umbrella to ensure that local partners and critical infrastructure providers have access to up-to-date threat intelligence. 

Interested in getting a tech worker for a temporary project in your municipality?

The Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation has some exciting news about their Maryland Corps/Service Year Option program. The program seeks to place 18-24 year old high school graduates in full time 9.5 month roles at host organizations with the state providing a grant up to $20,000 to help cover wages. 

The Office of Water Emergency Response and Cybersecurity is offering multiple Cybersecurity training webinars this summer! These webinars include a Water Cybersecurity Assessment tool training and a Cybersecurity Procurement Checklist tool training.

Water utilities, local governments, and drinking water professionals have access to a wide range of free training opportunities through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These seminars, webinars, and workshops are designed to help water sector leaders stay informed on regulatory requirements, cybersecurity, resilience planning, emergency response, and emerging drinking water challenges.

Do you have questions about Artificial Intelligence in Maryland? Are you confused about AI policies and guidance for your city or town? Are you researching AI software you would like to request or new technology you want to implement in your department?

As municipalities continue exploring how artificial intelligence can improve public service delivery, operational efficiency, and resident engagement, Maryland has created a centralized resource hub to support responsible AI adoption across government. Check out Maryland AI! Municipal members are encouraged to explore the platform, review available guidance, and consider how responsible AI tools may support their local operations and community outcomes. Agencies interested in using AI can submit an intake request to the Maryland Department of Information Technology (DoIT) describing the proposed AI use case, business justification, expected outcomes, success metrics, and perceived risk level here. Maryland also offers AI training here. 

Happy Sine Die!

Join us on April 28 at noon for a detailed 2026 Legislative Session Wrap-Up webinar. We’ll break down the most impactful policy developments, unpack the outcomes of major legislation, and discuss what it all means for our communities, stakeholders, and the road ahead.

Sine Die is days away!

Join us, April 28 at noon,  for the 2026 Legislative Session Wrap-up webinar focusing on reviewing key policy developments, discuss the outcomes of major legislation, and explore what these decisions mean for our communities, stakeholders, and future advocacy efforts. It will also serve as a space to ask questions to the Advocacy team regarding any policy, bills, future efforts, and next steps.

The Maryland Department of Information Technology has issued a new Cybersecurity and Privacy Policy Suite establishing unified security standards for all executive branch agencies to strengthen protection of state systems, data, and services against increasingly sophisticated threats.

Calling all municipal leaders: Join us for an unforgettable day of civic engagement on March 5, 2026.

Consider this your friendly nudge - the 2025 State of the Municipality is almost here, and this is the final call to secure your spot. Join the Maryland Municipal League for the 2025 State of the Municipality on December 4, 2025, at the Governor Calvert House in Annapolis. Discover findings from the new Municipal Services Report, a MML study done in collaboration with The Schaefer Center for Public Policy at the University of Baltimore. Hear from state and local leaders on budgeting, service priorities, and modernizing revenue for 21st-century Marylanders. Also, enjoy an exclusive National League of Cities (NLC) report finding on City Fiscal Conditions in 2025.

If you haven’t purchased your ticket yet, this is your last opportunity. Registration is closing soon and very limited tickets remain available.

The United States Environmental Protect Agency (EPA) recently held two webinars that featured information on cybersecurity threats and water system infrastructure. The links below will direct you to presentation slides that cover essential information on cybersecurity challenges facing water systems, including:

• Information technology vs. operational technology and their common myths, systems, and threats
• Best practices for reporting incidents and recovery
• Cyber threats to infrastructure and water systems
• Cybersecurity resources and information

Access the slides here: