Legislation

Any Council member may introduce legislation. The County Executive may request that the Council introduce legislation on his or her behalf. Typically, the Chairperson of the Council introduces legislation on behalf of the County Executive. Council members may introduce legislation at the request of other entities or individuals, such as County departments or citizens in the County.

If you have an idea for legislation, you must find a Council member who is willing to sponsor that legislation. Most often, a citizen who wishes to have a law passed will contact the Council member who represents the district in which they live.

A member may pre-file legislation by 2:00 p.m. no later than the 11th day preceding a legislative session. The legislation is read into the record at the legislative session, usually held on the first Monday of each month, except August and December. A hearing on the legislation is held on the third Monday of the month or as scheduled by the Council. There may be a work session in which members discuss the legislation and proposed amendments, usually held on the fourth Monday of the month. The legislation is given final consideration (members vote) at the next legislative session. Legislation may be passed as introduced, passed with amendments, postponed (tabled), or they may fail. Legislation in the form of a bill generally can be tabled only until the next month, when an affirmative vote of four members may extend the life of the bill for thirty-five days. A bill that is not acted upon within seventy days after introduction, unless it is extended as described above, dies.

Unlike Council bills, a resolution may remain “on the table” waiting for a vote for an indefinite time. Resolutions generally become effective on passage by the Council. Bills must be presented within three days of passage for signature to the County Executive, who may sign or veto the bills within ten days of presentation. If the Executive signs the bill, it generally becomes effective in sixty-one days. The Council may reconsider a bill that is vetoed at its next legislative session.  If four of the five Council members vote to override the veto, the bill becomes law. If the Executive fails to return a signed or vetoed bill within ten days of presentation, the bill becomes effective without his signature.

If a bill does not pass, a copy is held as part of the record, but the changes it proposed are not added to the law. A supermajority (four members) may vote to override a veto. If they do so, the bill becomes law, the Executive’s objection notwithstanding.

Bills generally are effective 61 days following enactment (signature by the County Executive). There are special provisions for an earlier effective date for certain emergency situations.

The Council has Rules that govern debate; however, the Rules do not provide for an absolute limit on the time or frequency of debate. The Chairperson is responsible for maintaining the order. Any member may make a motion to close debate. If the majority of the members agree, debate is closed, and a vote is taken.

Using our legislative search tool, you may search for bills and resolutions by number, sponsor or subject. The search tool will also allow you to view how Council members voted on bills and resolutions. The information about a bill’s status will be updated regularly.

Paper copies of legislation may be obtained through the Council office. There is a copying charge, as provided in the annually adopted fee schedule. Bills may be accessed electronically and downloaded from the Council’s legislative information system, accessible from the home page.

The annual operating and capital budgets are passed as legislation. The Council is responsible for reviewing the legislation, holding public hearings on the legislation, and passing it. The Council may reduce any proposed expenditure that is not required by law, but it may increase only the Board of Education’s budget to the extent that the County Executive’s proposal may have reduced the Board of Education’s request. Any increase in spending for the Board of Education that the Council may make must be offset by a corresponding reduction in spending in some other area of the budget or by an increase in tax revenue, as the County’s revenues and expenditures must be balanced.  

The capital budget provides funding for facilities and equipment having an extended “life.” Capital projects, such as new construction or renovation, may be financed with bonds or other instruments of finance, they may be paid from operating revenues on a “pay as you go” basis, or they may be funded through a combination of financing and pay-as-you go funding. Some capital projects, such as school construction, receive part of their funding from the State or other external sources. The operating budget provides for the current expenses of operating the county and other entities covered by the budget, including salaries, contractual services, supplies, and other expenses. The operating budget is funded from revenues expected to be received from taxes, fees, or grants.

The legislation proposing the operating and capital budgets and related taxes, fees, and bond authorizations may be accessed from the Council’s legislative information system on the Council web site following the first Monday in May each year, when the legislation is introduced. Proposals and detail made public before the introduction of legislation may be accessed from the Budget section of the County Administration’s website.

The County’s School System is governed by a Board of Education (BOE). The BOE structure, membership, powers, and duties are mandated by State law. Although the County provides a significant portion of the funds for school facilities and operations, the State governs the way funds are allocated and spent. The BOE sends a proposed budget to the County Executive, who sends it to the Council as proposed or with cuts. The Council then adopts the budget in broad categories, as defined by the State. The Council may restore funds that the BOE proposed but that were cut in the Executive’s proposal. The Council may not direct funds to specific programs or priorities.

The County Code is published and sold by the Municipal Code Corporation and may be purchased through the publisher. It is available without charge online and may be accessed below.

State law allows counties to adopt a charter form of government. The Howard County Charter was adopted by the voters in Howard County on November 5, 1968. The Charter may be amended by the voters of the County. The Charter form of government establishes home rule, separating the legislative and executive branches of government. It provides for the general authorities of the Executive and Legislative branches of government. To access the Charter, click below.