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

The Maryland Municipal League's educational partners at the University of Maryland's School of Public Policy published a new article on Social Equity in Public Budgeting in the Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting and Financial Management.  John Ronquillo, Director of the University's Institute for Public Leadership, and Assistant Professor Juan Pablo Martinez Guzman's paper looks at how consideration of social equity is incorporated into developing public budgets, including how social equity considerations vary across different governments.

Thank you, to all who attended the Joint Opening Day of Session Legislative Reception. Did you stop by our selfie station? Check out our FlickR account, to see if you are in the mix of photos, packed with big smiles and good vibes. https://www.flickr.com/photos/mdmunicipal/

The countdown to #MMLCon26 registration has begun. Although summer conference registration doesn't open until March 2, you wouldn't want to miss out on our event refresher Lunch and Learn webinar to help you prepare to get your officials signed up.

Join us on Tuesday, February 17 at noon as we provide an overview of the event registration process that will include:

Join the Rural Maryland Council and the Maryland Heritage Areas Program for a grant information session and workshop on Tuesday, January 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.. Hosted by the Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area, Heart of Chesapeake Country Heritage Area, and Beach to Bay Heritage Area, this free event, sponsored by the Waterfowl Festival, is an opportunity to learn more about two state-level grant programs and hone your skills as a grant writer.

Register today

Get ready for another year of exciting and memorable events. From virtual webinars to our annual "If I were mayor, I would..." Essay Contest ceremony, you won't want to miss out. Save the dates for all MML events and stay in the loop with any updates, as we prepare for our special 90th anniversary celebration!

On January 20 at noon, we will offer a Lunch and Learn: Tutorial Session on Key Contact Functionality to introduce/refresh key contacts on how to add their officials into the platform. Each city/town is allowed two Key Contacts; please make sure that at least one municipal contact plans to attend.

Key contacts are municipal staff who have been designated by their municipality to have access to MML's database platform. This functionality allows key contacts to add new officials into our system as well as register officials for our events.

For decades, the League's oldest ambassador program, "If I were Mayor, I would..." Essay Contest has educated fourth graders (and teachers) about municipal government and the role of the mayor. In late December, a postcard announcing the 2026 essay contest was mailed to schools and municipalities. Contest materials are now available on our website. 

Essay submissions are now open. The essay contest deadline is March 5.

The Banner City/Town Program bestows formal recognition each year to cities and towns that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to MML programs and activities. This program serves as a guidepost on how to make the most of your MML membership.

The Maryland Municipal League (MML), with membership in attendance, demonstrated its commitment to environmental stewardship through participation in two major events this November. Tyler Brice, MML Manager, Advocacy and Public Affairs, attended both the Greater Baltimore Climate Summit and the "Wandering Maryland's Waterways" Bus Tour, engaging with local and state leaders on critical resilience and water quality issues.

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) is accepting applications through November 7, 2025 for the second round of the Transit-Oriented Development Capital Grant and Revolving Loan Fund. $3.75 million is available to local jurisdictions and their development partners to fund projects at State-designated station areas.

For more information, please visit the program website, email [email protected] or attend an upcoming webinar: Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Capital Grant and Revolving Loan Fund  - MDOT.

Stormwater is the water that flows off of impervious surfaces, like parking lots, roads and roofs. It can carry bacteria, nutrients, and other pollutants into local waterways. Excess stormwater can lead to flooding and cause damage to infrastructure, private property, and people.

A recent decision from the Appellate Court of Maryland significantly broadens local governments’ potential liability in employment discrimination and retaliation cases. In Joseph Watts v. Prince George’s County, the Court held that the damage caps under the Local Government Tort Claims Act (LGTCA) do not apply to claims brought under the Maryland Fair Employment Practices Act (MFEPA) or local anti-discrimination ordinances.

Background:
A Prince George’s County jury awarded the plaintiff approximately $1.7 million for employment discrimination and retaliation under MFEPA and the County Code. The County sought to reduce the award under the LGTCA cap, and the circuit court lowered the judgment to $400,000. The plaintiff appealed that reduction.

The Maryland Office of the Attorney General (OAG) recently issued a memorandum clarifying how state and local law enforcement officers must operate when working alongside federal agencies. The OAG’s “Maryland Law Enforcement Standards When Working with Federal Agents” (October 2025) establishes clear expectations that Maryland officers remain fully bound by state law—even during joint operations or federal task forces. The guidance is intended to help departments avoid conflicts between state and federal standards and maintain community trust. Among other things, the OAG memo outlines what officers must do, may do, and must not do when participating in joint operations, covering areas such as:

• Use-of-force and de-escalation standards;

Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources has opened two grant programs that municipalities can use to strengthen greenspace, engage residents, and advance environmental goals.

The Greenspace Equity Program Appraisal Funding Grants cover the costs of property appraisals in underserved and overburdened communities, helping towns and cities take the first step toward acquiring land for new parks, trails, and green spaces. A total of $120,000 is available, with applications due by 3 p.m. on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.

Join us Friday, August 1 for a timely panel series tackling Maryland’s most urgent energy and climate challenges. Hear directly from legislators, experts, and local leaders as they dive into the rising cost of energy, who it’s impacting most, and the solutions being put into action. Also, be there to learn how communities across the state are securing funding for climate projects and building strategies for long-term resilience. 

For a closer look at what’s in store, check out the full Summer Symposium agenda below

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development invites applications for grants to provide strong rural communities the leadership and technical know-how to keep growing.

The funding is being made available through the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) program for fiscal year (FY) 2025. This program awards grants to qualified intermediary organizations to deliver financial and technical assistance that helps recipients build capacity to carry out projects related to housing, community facilities, and community and economic development.

MML’s most engaged members have reached the end of this year’s Banner City/Town journey and have earned their Banner City/Town designation. MML’s oldest ambassador program is a guidepost for members to make the most of their MML membership as these municipalities have done.

Congratulations to MML's 2025 Banner Cities and Towns:

Bel Air, Berwyn Heights, Bladensburg, Brentwood, Brunswick, Cheverly, Colmar Manor, Cottage City, Denton, District Heights, Edmonston, Emmitsburg, Frederick, Friendsville, Frostburg, Gaithersburg, Glenarden, Greenbelt, Hagerstown, Hampstead, Hebron, Hyattsville, Keedysville, Kensington, La Plata, Laurel, Leonardtown, Middletown, Mount Airy, Mount Rainier, New Carrollton, North Beach, North Brentwood, Preston, Rising Sun, Rockville, Seat Pleasant, Sykesville, Takoma Park, Taneytown, Thurmont, Union Bridge, Upper Marlboro, Westminster, Williamsport