Legislative Insights

I filed CB-51 which requires all Howard County officials involved in the Maryland Public Information Act process seek a formal review by the Howard County Office of Law before any documents, emails, or materials are withheld from the public. This policy change intends to reduce the level of political consideration that might influence this process when handled by political appointees.

The county's Fiscal Year 2023 budget was officially adopted on May 25. While I was grateful for things, including the funding needed to advance Valley Mede flood mitigation and expanded agribusiness investment, I voted against the budget. I believe instead of growing spending by over 8 percent and gifting millions to dozens of well-connected groups, we should have accelerated school projects (such as the new school in Turf Valley), built reserves and returned some of that money back to our taxpayers. I fear the excessive spending in this budget created structural budget obligations that will be difficult to sustain in the future, especially if the economy slows in the next few years.

I co-sponsored a bill with Councilmember Walsh to require geographic diversity on the Planning Board, as this is one of the authorities that hears petitions for new development and zoning changes. The bill was approved last week. After the phase-in of new members through attrition, the board will be comprised of one person from each council district including at least one member residing in the rural west. 

The County Council is currently deliberating a bill to change development parameters in Turf Valley. I have filed an amendment to this bill that would allow the development of Adult Restricted Adult Housing (ARAH or 55+ community). This housing type continues to lag demand, leading to severe shortages and price increases in the past few years. It has also created a trickle-down effect on the inventory of homes that would otherwise be available for new residents if the current occupants had more options. We want seniors in connected, walkable communities with easy access to services and amenities, plus changing some unrestricted housing allocations to ARAH will reduce the student yield from the new units. 

The creation of a Citizens Election Fund was approved by the previous Council and approved by the voters as Question A in 2018. This 2022 election cycle is the first for which this fund is available, and three notable candidates, Allan Kittleman, Deb Jung and Christiana Rigby, have stated their intent to use this Fund. However, an ambiguity in the original law opened the door to the County Executive holding back these funds until August 2022 (after the primary election). I introduced legislation to address this defect, which bill evolved into an emergency bill that was approved on February 7. I opposed the creation of this Fund because I do not believe the government should be diverting general fund money, funded through your property and income taxes, into campaigns. However, the voters approved this Fund and candidates had committed to using it, so I felt it was important to fix the issue so funds could be released this month. 

The Redistricting Commission finished its work to develop a recommended map of new council districts. That map was forwarded to the County Council in late November for its consideration, possible amendment and final approval. In order to afford the public with a meaningful public hearing before the County Council, as well as the opportunity for amendments based on that public input, legislation must be introduced. I sponsored that legislation and attempted to get it introduced on Monday, but did not receive the four votes necessary. Councilmember Liz Walsh from District 1 and Councilmember Deb Jung from District 4 supported the motion. The result is a Democrat-sponsored map finalized without Council debate, the public hearing in December having no purpose, and anyone who wants to speak on the commission’s map being robbed of public debate before the County Council. This was a partisan process from the start to the end – a glaring example of what happens when the same political party controls everything.

After several years of discussion, compromise and debate, the State Legislature approved an almost 50% increase in the statewide minimum wage in 2019 to be phased in over the next 3 years. However, hardline progressives demanded more, and they came to Howard County to get it. CB-82 not only creates the first Howard County specific minimum wage, it calls for a higher wage, faster phase-in than the rest of the state, and inflation adjusted increases beginning in 2027. It also applies to thousands of Howard County jobs and employers that are exempt from the minimum wage law in every other county in Maryland. Despite claims by activists, significant increases in the minimum wage in other localities across the nation have resulted in job loss, especially those held by younger and older part-time and lower skilled entry level workers, as well as increased prices and the loss of businesses. As many of us are working to grow our commercial tax base and attract job creators, which are crucial to the fiscal health of our county, others are creating stronger headwinds. I was able to get narrow approval for a handful of amendments exempting employees such as immediate family working in a family business, but even those were a struggle and not unanimous. Democrats in our state delegation asked the County Council to table this bill to no avail. This job killing bill passed on a party line 4-1 vote and all indications are that it will be signed by County Executive Ball in the coming week. As so many of us search for the common-sense middle, we continue to be pulled to the extremes here in Howard County.