Last week, MML staff testified before the House Government, Labor, and Elections Committee in strong support of HB 99, a bill vital to ensuring that cities and towns have the final say in how their newly annexed land is developed. The legislation is sponsored by Delegate Schindler, a former municipal official from Hagerstown, Maryland.

Under current law, municipalities often face a "zoning freeze" after an annexation, regularly referred to as “The 5-year Rule.” Even when a town has a clear, community-vetted comprehensive plan, they are frequently barred from implementing higher-density or different land uses for five years unless they receive express permission from the county.

HB 99 seeks to amend the annexation process by allowing municipalities to move forward with land use and density changes that align with their own Comprehensive Plan, rather than being tethered to old county zoning. During testimony, MML staff highlight that these are 10-year plans which consider public school capacity, water and sewer capacity, public services, and infrastructure needs to accommodate growth.

“There's a lot of talk in [Annapolis] about growth. We need to grow our way out of our budget challenges. We need to grow our housing stock, our population,” said Justin Fiore, Director of Advocacy and Public Policy for the League.” Well, what you have before you is a smart growth bill.”

What’s Next?

Much of the Committee’s questions and discussion focused on the appropriate role of adequate public facilities ordinances (APFOs). The legislation will now go to the subcommittee level to see if they can find a path forward. We will monitor HB 99 closely as it moves through the 2026 Session.

For more information relating to this legislation, please contact Justin Fiore, Director of Advocacy and Public Policy, [email protected].