On October 20, MML Director of Advocacy and Public Policy Angelica Bailey Thupari presented before the Maryland House Judiciary Committee during two briefings examining potential changes to Maryland's civil liability laws. The briefings focused on the state's cap on noneconomic damages in personal injury and wrongful death cases, and the distinction between contributory and comparative negligence. MML emphasized the importance of maintaining existing legal protections for municipalities, highlighting how changes could increase liability exposure, drive up insurance and settlement costs, and place additional strain on municipal budgets and essential public services.

MML will continue working with legislators to ensure municipal perspectives are considered as these issues are evaluated ahead of the 2027 legislative session. 

The Task Force to Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Structures held its fourth meeting on October 2, to discuss various revenue sources, including retail delivery fees, municipal hotel tax, food and beverage tax, and other proposals. The Task force also reviewed general local tax rates.

The next meeting, scheduled for October 30, is set to discuss further revenue options, including local sales tax. The agenda and live view link will be hosted here in the days prior to the meeting.

2026 marks the 90th year anniversary of the Maryland Municipal League's founding and brought with it our fourth independent research study "Funding Our Communities: Local Revenue Reforms to Meet Today's Needs." The League's 2026 research partner is the Maryland Center on Economic Policy (MDCEP), a leading and respected firm based in our largest municipality, Baltimore City. The study is another example of the League leveraging external relationships to produce content-rich deliverables which will further League and member municipality advocacy and public policy goals.

The study's focus was to provide viable options which could become new revenue streams for local governments and supporting data to back those options. While the study does recommend certain options which are solely the recommendations of MDCEP, the underlying data and context from other states has proven credibility and of incredible value to leaders in Maryland. As with past MML studies, the League and its members are able to use portions of the report in legislative testimony, fiscal note responses, and in your council chambers.

In accordance with Maryland law, the Office of the Attorney General has released updated guidance for interactions with immigration enforcement officials at sensitive locations operated by state and local entities. The guidance document, and more information, can be found on the OAG's "Guidance on Rights and Protections under Maryland Law" site.

October 8 is here, and limited tickets remain for a full day designed around the issues, skills, and conversations that matter to Maryland’s municipal leaders. The day will begin with our Statewide Candidate Forum, moderated by MML President and Town of Bladensburg Mayor, Takisha James, where invited statewide candidates including Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller will share their priorities and discuss what their vision for Maryland could mean for municipalities.

And that’s just the morning.

The American Planning Association Maryland (APA MD 2026) Conference, held this year at the Turf Valley Resort on October 18 - 20, will feature a free training on Sunday, October 18 for Planning Commissioners to support compliance with the Smart and Sustainable Growth Act of 2009. 

The Smart and Sustainable Growth Act of 2009 directs county and municipal planning commission/board and board of appeals members to complete an education course. The Planning Commission, Planning Board, and Board of Appeals Education Course, also known as the Planning Commissioner Training Course, is hosted by the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP), and satisfies this state requirement per Section 1-206 of the Land Use Article. 

Governor Moore has announced a new artificial intelligence framework designed to protect Maryland communities, workers, and children while preparing the state’s workforce for rapidly evolving technology. In the absence of federal safeguards, the Moore-Miller administration will guide the responsible development, deployment, and regulation of AI through three principles: protecting people, centering workers, and keeping children safe. “With the speed with which AI is moving, Marylanders deserve guardrails that safeguard their rights, privacy, and dignity,” said Governor Moore. “This technology is already here, and we believe Maryland is the best state in the country to benefit from the promise of AI responsibly - but we can’t afford to wait while Washington sits on their hands.”

The framework calls for stronger oversight of frontier AI companies, protections for individuals’ likenesses, and clear application of civil rights, consumer protection, housing, lending, and workplace laws to AI. It would also address discriminatory tenant screening, algorithmic rent coordination, the targeting of at-risk gamblers, and harmful workplace use through labor-management engagement and transition planning. To help Marylanders adapt, the administration will continue investing in education, apprenticeships, reskilling, and career pathways. Safeguards for young people would address unsafe chatbots and addictive platform design, require school protocols for AI-related crises, establish a “do no harm” standard for classroom tools, notify families before those tools are used, and provide K–12 lessons on using AI safely, ethically, and effectively.

Governor Wes Moore announced a partnership between Maryland and RAISE US, a national nonprofit that works with states, employers, workers, and educators to build the training and workforce systems needed for an AI-driven economy.

The partnership will help Maryland workers, employers, and community organizations adapt to emerging technologies by piloting incentives for companies to retrain and redeploy workers, develop support for people navigating job transitions, and create training models tied to employer demand. It will also expand Maryland’s Service Year Option into sectors such as health care and education, establish a competitive fund for innovative career-transition programs, and launch an accelerator to help displaced workers pursue entrepreneurship.

The Task Force to Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Sources wants to hear from you! Don't miss this opportunity to share insights from your city, town, or village with the Task Force ahead of potential recommendations. 

Maryland Department of Labor staff presented to the MML membership about the State's paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program as part of the Lunch and Learn webinar series. In case you missed it, or would like to rewatch it, the recording of the webinar can be found on MML's YouTube page here with a copy of the presentation slides here.

Elements of the program are already live such as employer registration through the State platform, now is the time to make decisions on how to comply with the law in a manner that meets the needs of your employees and your municipal budget.

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.

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has begun preliminary conversations with MML and other stakeholders about concepts it is considering for potential legislation in the 2027 General Assembly session. These discussions are happening unusually early in the legislative development process, giving MML an opportunity to identify potential municipal impacts and provide feedback while proposals are still taking shape. 

At this stage, these are concepts only. They have not necessarily received final approval from the Administration, bill language has not been drafted, and the proposals may change substantially or may not ultimately be introduced at all. The concepts cover a range of housing and community development issues, including housing production and development requirements, local revenues and incentives, community revitalization programs, and other DHCD programs and authorities. Given the significant housing and land-use legislation considered in recent sessions, MML is paying particular attention to concepts that could affect municipal planning, zoning, infrastructure, finances, or local decision-making. 

The Task Force to Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Structures is set to have their second meeting virtually on Monday, August 31 at 10:30 a.m. during which MML will provide a presentation. The link to the virtual meeting will be posted here under the "Other" category, on the Maryland General Assembly's website. You'll see a "live" notice once the meeting is official underway.

The Task Force is the result of MML's 2026 priority legislation HB 1142, which established the Task Force, set its membership, outlined its purpose, and required a final report. The crux of the Task Force's work is to study existing local revenues and recommend legislative changes to address deficiencies. MML has two representatives on the Task Force: Michael O’Connor, Mayor, City of Frederick and MML Past President and Chad Rooney, Town Manager, Town of Chestertown. On December 1, 2026 the Task Force is set to publish its final report on its findings and recommendations. 

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?

Hear directly from the Maryland Department of Labor as they provide updates on the rapidly approaching rollout of the State's Family and Medical Leave Insurance program on September 2.

On Wednesday, September 2 at noon, MML will host a Lunch and Learn webinar focused on the State's Family and Medical Leave Insurance program. With deadlines approaching and decisions to be made, the Department of Labor staff will walk through the program, next steps, and options to comply with the law. 

The Task Force to Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Structures is set to have their first meeting virtually on Friday, July 31 at 10:00 a.m. during which MML will provide a presentation. The link to the virtual meeting will be posted here under the "Other" category, on the Maryland General Assembly's website. 

The Task Force is the result of MML's 2026 priority legislation HB 1142, which established the Task Force, set its membership, outlined its purpose, and required a final report. The crux of the Task Force's work is to study existing local revenues and recommend legislative changes to address deficiencies. MML has two representatives on the Task Force: Michael O’Connor, Mayor, City of Frederick and MML Past President and Chad Rooney, Town Manager, Chestertown. On December 1, 2026 the Task Force is set to publish its final report on its findings and recommendations. 

With the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session in the rearview mirror, please check out MML's Legislative Summary!

Municipalities must have a valid Local Abatement Plan filed with the State by July 1, 2026 or funds may be redirected! Register for this May 6th webinar to learn more.

It can be a transformational time for your municipality with the impact the Opioid Restitution money can have to help address opioid and overdose issues. MOOR and MML are hosting this webinar on May 6 from noon to 1:00 p.m. to discuss the restitution dollars, as well as the Targeted Abatement Grants (TAG) and how to access this funding. Register here.

The Maryland General Assembly concluded its 90-day legislative session on Monday, April 13. This was an incredibly successful year for the Maryland Municipal League (MML) including passing a priority bill for the third time in the past four years! Below is a recap of a handful of impactful bills. For a more in-depth summary, please see the article soon to be published in the Local and sign up for the Legislative Session Wrap Up webinar scheduled for April 28 from noon - 1:00 pm (Link to register).

MML Priority Bill

It's that time of year again as the League solicits legislative action requests (LARs) to be considered for MML priority legislation in the 2027 Maryland General Assembly session. All member municipalities and MML affiliate groups in good standing are eligible to submit up to three LARs (form). Submissions should focus on a policy area impacting the broader membership and requiring a fix through a change in State law. 

The deadline to return a completed LAR form is May 31. Additionally, each LAR submission must be approved by the elected body of the municipality or the full MML affiliate membership. The deadline to inform MML of this approval is July 1, 2026. For any questions, please contact Bill Jorch, [email protected]