Missed out on the opportunity to attend the recent Lunch and Learn Webinar on the NLC Affiliate Program? Watch and learn about the benefits associated with using the MML Affiliate status of the National League of Cities.

The recording can be found on our YouTube channel.

(January 18, 2024) Annapolis, Md. – The Maryland Municipal League (MML) joined Senator Michael Jackson and Maryland Secretary of Commerce Kevin Anderson at the Senate Budget and Taxation hearing, January 18, in support of Senate Bill 14. SB 14 would enable Maryland’s 157 municipalities to establish Tourism Zones, bringing in new visitors, future residents and helping to attract new tourism-related business to cities, towns, and villages across the state.

“Representing three districts with diverse needs, literally fits this bill to a tee,” opened the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Jackson. “Understanding that each [municipality] has their own particular needs, our job is to – as legislators – try to meet those needs.” The bill, if successful, would allow municipalities to self-designate the boundaries of a tourism zone, to establish definitions for tourism businesses and qualifications for incentives, and to provide certain local incentives. Incentives include, but are not limited to, real property tax credits, personal property tax credits, and exemption from local Admission and Amusement tax.

MML’s priority legislation, House Bill 282, will be heard in the House Environment & Transportation Committee on Thursday, February 8. HB 282 enables trained municipal personnel, in addition to a law enforcement officer, to approve or deny speed camera citations – just like red-light cameras and work zone speed cameras – simply standardizing the practice of camera enforcement.

The health and safety of the citizens who live, work, and play in our communities is one of the most important responsibilities of local governments. Improving the efficacy of municipal speed camera programs will reduce administrative burdens, empower smaller municipalities, and most importantly, enhance public safety.

Registration is open for the 2024 Maryland Mayors Association Winter Conference and our spots are filling up! This two-day event is only available to current Mayors and takes place February 29th - March 1st in Annapolis. The event is packed with educational sessions, networking opportunities, and policy discussions with Maryland General Assembly leaders.

Registration closes on Sunday, February 4, please confirm your place and book accommodations today: visit us online.

The Maryland Municipal League and the City of Annapolis are excited to bring together stakeholders for the 2024 Opening Day Legislative Reception taking place Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at 6 p.m. at the Governor Calvert House in downtown Annapolis.

We had a 1,500+ crowd in 2023, so please save the date on your calendar. Sponsorship opportunities are available, both for member cities and organizations. For more information, please contact Felicia Banuelos at [email protected] or Jane Bachman at [email protected].

Missed the chance to sit in during the recent Ethics Webinar? You can now watch the recording of the Ethics: Solicitation and Acceptance of Gifts Webinar featuring guest speaker Todd Turner, Executive Director of Prince George's County Office of Ethics and Accountability on the MML YouTube channel.

Please be sure to check our Year-At-A-Glance to stay up to date on the League's upcoming webinars, conferences, and events.

MML's summer conference is the largest single event dedicated to the training and professional development of Maryland's municipal officials. Lock in the dates: June 23-26, 2024 and get ready for one of our best summer conferences.

New features:

The League's longest running ambassador program, "If I were Mayor...I Would" is back. The program is designed to help Maryland's fourth graders grasp an understanding of municipal government and the role of a mayor. Each year, nearly 3,000 essays are submitted by students, describing how they would make their town/city/community a better place to live.

Join the Engagement and Outreach Committee during our virtual reading session on March 19. The essays are short, fun and insightful. Witness the great minds of Maryland's future community leaders during the virtual reading session by volunteering.

2024 “If I Were Mayor, I Would…" Essay Contest Materials Now Available

MML’s annual “If I Were Mayor, I Would…" essay contest is the League's oldest ambassador program. The 24-year-old contest educates fourth graders (and teachers) about municipal government and the role of the mayor.  The 2024 essay contest information has been mailed to all municipalities and is available on MML’s website. Contest information will be mailed to schools in early January.

MML’s priority legislation, SB 14, to allow municipalities to self-designate Tourism Zones will be heard in the Senate Budget & Taxation Committee on Thursday, January 18.

Modeled off a successful program in Virginia, this MML priority bill would authorize local governments to provide an array of local tax credits or waivers to businesses that aid in expanding tourism. This program would not only bolster the ability of jurisdictions to attract and retain community-oriented businesses, especially for those that lack access to other incentive programs, but to directly expand the State’s general revenue fund and attract new visitors to Maryland.

Mark your calendars with insightful and impactful events that will ensure you're maximizing your MML membership.

Tailored with your busy schedule in mind, our Year at a Glance is a helpful tool that gives you a heads up to key League events such as: 

Your municipal league is always at work.  We and the National League of Cities (NLC) are glad to announce that through a special affiliate membership agreement, all MML members under 20,000 in population are now eligible to be NLC affiliate members with no additional cost to your municipality. 

Municipalities with affiliate status are joining NLC as the organization celebrates 100 years of accomplishments on behalf of local governments. Learn all about affiliate status and how this new benefit will extend MML's resources and your municipality's reach on Wednesday, January 24 at noon during a joint MML/NLC webinar.

Join us Wednesday, January 10, 2024, for an exciting evening celebrating opening day of the 2024 Maryland General Assembly session!

Hosted by the Maryland Municipal League and the City of Annapolis, this annual event serves as a great start to the legislative session. The MML Opening Day Reception is the ultimate platform to connect and network in a dynamic legislative setting. With over 1,500 attendees in 2023, you do not want to miss one of the best attended legislative networking receptions of the year. So mark your calendars for MML’s Opening Day Reception at the Governor Calvert House, 58 State Circle, Annapolis, tonight from 6 to 8 p.m.

Mark your calendar for February 29th-March 1st for the 2024 MMA Winter Conference. This year, Mayors will hold the two-day event at the beautiful downtown Governor Calvert House. While the preliminary program is forthcoming, please note that our advocacy day will take place on February 29th, with continued learning through March 1st. New this year, we are opening advocacy day up to all MML members and staff! While MMA members will stand apart in gold scarves, we know that there is strength in numbers. Please have your elected and appointed staff members mark their calendars for February 29th to join you as you make your way down to the State House. An additional email will be sent out regarding Advocacy Day registration.
MML is delighted to offer discounted room rates, thanks to our ongoing partnership with the Governor Calvert House. MMA members are advised to book their hotel room asap. As the legislative season gears up, we want to ensure that our members have secured their rooms. We strongly encourage you to use the link below, if you do not, we are unable to continue to offer discounts and maintain registration costs unless we fill the room block.
Please note: The MMA Winter Conference is only open to dues paying MMA members. Guests will not be permitted, unless prior authorization has been granted by the MMA Executive Committee. For questions relating to the event, please reach out to Felicia Banuelos, Manager, Executive Operations and Board Government at 410.295.9118 or [email protected]. Click here to register and book your hotel room. 

Federal RAISE Grants Available

As a component of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, grants are available through the U.S. Department of Transportation for investments in surface transportation that will have significant local and regional impact.

  PRESS RELEASE 

Maryland Municipal League Holds Inaugural “State of the Municipality”; Acknowledges $5.2+ Billion Municipal Economic Impact, 42,000 Jobs Supported       

MML’s Banner City/Town Program

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

Last week, a new report titled "The Economic Significance of Maryland's Municipalities," was unveiled in partnership with Sage Policy Group, a Baltimore-based economic and policy consultancy. The report details how the operation of municipal governments positively impacts the local and State-wide economy to the tune of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of economic output. The results in this report will be invaluable to solidify the message that Maryland’s municipalities are where people want to work, live, and play.

A few highlights include that Maryland municipal governments:

The Department of Budget and Management's Municipal Technical Assistance Program (MTAP) will be hosting a webinar on Water Infrastructure Funding in ARPA and IIJA on December 7, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. in partnership with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region 3 WaterTA Program at the University of Maryland (UMD) Environmental Finance Center.

The Department of Budget and Management's Municipal Technical Assistance Program (MTAP) will be hosting a webinar on Water Infrastructure Funding in ARPA and IIJA on December 7, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. in partnership with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region 3 WaterTA Program at the University of Maryland (UMD) Environmental Finance Center. This webinar will include presentations from representatives from MDE and the EPA WaterTA Program at UMD on applying for water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure funding and relevant technical assistance.

The Maryland Municipal League wants to know how your municipality is using State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) received through the American Rescue Plan Act.  This exercise will be immensely helpful as the League begins communications with State legislators interested in knowing how Maryland’s cities and towns are using these funds.  In short, the more effectively we use SLFRF funds to lift our communities, the more receptive State legislators will be to assisting municipalities during the upcoming General Assembly session.   

Please share how your municipality is using SLFRF funds on the MDCommunities Discussion page.  Doing so will also help other cities and towns still determining best uses in light of the December 2024 deadline for obligating SLFRF funding.