As the 2026 legislative session continues, the Maryland Municipal League is actively monitoring several key bills scheduled for testimony next week. To ensure the municipal perspective is accurately represented in the record, we are inviting member cities and towns to submit written comments on the following items. These contributions are vital to documenting the local impact of proposed state policy before the committees of jurisdiction. 

The specific bills and their respective hearing dates are listed below:  

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 (testimony due Friday, January 30, 2026)  

SB 288 – Transportation – Highway User Revenues Capital Grants – Calculation (FAVORABLE) 

Senate Bill 288 is a vital measure for the long-term sustainability of municipal infrastructure as it seeks to stabilize and protect Highway User Revenue (HUR) funding levels. This bill removes the "sunset" provisions that would have otherwise triggered a decrease in municipal funding in 2028. By securing these funds at the 3.0% level for municipalities, SB 288 ensures that your community can commit to multi-year paving, bridge repair, and safety projects with the confidence in the state’s financial partnership. 

• Committee: Senate Budget and Taxation 
• MML Staff: Justin Fiore, [email protected] 

 HB 104 - Unhoused Individuals - Rights and Affirmative Defense (UNFAVORABLE) 

Under current law, local governments retain authority to address issues related to homelessness and public camping through ordinances and enforcement tools, maintaining a balance between compassion and public order. HB 104 dramatically alters this framework by broadly prohibiting civil or criminal penalties against unhoused individuals for engaging in activities like sleeping, resting, or storing their belongings in public spaces when adequate, accessible shelter is not available. HB 104 also extends legal defenses for trespassing or similar offenses if basic needs cannot otherwise be met, making enforcement even more difficult. Rather than empowering local governments to serve the needs of their communities, this bill establishes unworkable one-size-fits-all requirements and removes flexibility from those most familiar with local conditions. 

• Committee: House Judiciary 
• MML Staff: Angelica Bailey Thupari, [email protected] 

Thursday, February 5, 2026 (testimony due Tuesday, February 3, 2026) 

HB 99 – Municipalities – Annexed Land – Land Use and Density (FAVORABLE)  

Under current law, municipalities are often restricted for five years from allowing development that differs significantly from a county’s pre-existing zoning without express county approval. This bill alters that process by allowing a municipality to move forward with its own planned densities and uses as long as they align with the land use recommendations in its own comprehensive plan. By reducing the need for "express approval" from the county in these instances, HB 99 empowers cities and towns to implement their community’s vision more efficiently and ensures that municipal planning remains the primary driver of growth within newly annexed borders. 

• Committee: House Government, Labor, and Elections 
• MML Staff: Justin Fiore, [email protected]  

HB 55 – Vehicle Laws - Speed Monitoring Systems - Residential Districts (FAVORABLE)  

Under current law, only Anne Arundel, Montgomery, and Prince George’s counties, and the municipalities within, are permitted to place speed cameras in residential zones; this bill would expand that authority Statewide. We have seen the role speed cameras play to improve roadway safety in school zones statewide, that same principle can be applied to residential zones where there are also high concentrations of vulnerable road users (children, families, elderly citizens). This bill provides the opportunity to provide additional roadway safety measures for your residents. 

• Committee: House Environment and Transportation 
• MML Staff: Bill Jorch, [email protected]  

How to submit testimony: 

If you want to testify on a bill, you must sign-up online.    

• You must have/create an MyMGA account
• MyMGA has a great Witness Sign Up tutorial to navigate testimony submission (Don’t forget to hit Save!)
• Sign up starts 48 business hours (2 business days) before the bill hearing   
• Thursday for a hearing on Monday  
• Friday for a hearing on Tuesday  
• Monday for a hearing on Wednesday  
• Tuesday for a hearing on Thursday  
• Wednesday for a hearing on Friday  
• You can only sign up that day from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.  
• Recommendation: Include your jurisdiction, bill number, and position in the title of your PDF file you submit