Subject
title
2025 Maryland Municipal League Legislative Action Requests
end
Department
City Manager's Office (CMO)
Recommendation
Discuss the recommended 2025 Legislative Action Requests and approve three for submittal to the Maryland Municipal League.
Discussion
Consideration of proposed Maryland Municipal League (MML) Legislative Action Requests (LAR) is the first step in the Mayor and Council’s development of the City of Rockville’s comprehensive 2025 State legislative program. MML has invited each member municipality to submit as many as three LARs by May 31, 2024 to be considered for inclusion in the League’s priority program for the 2025 General Assembly Session. The 2025 LAR due date is four weeks earlier than previous deadline (July 1) that was in place for several years. The City received an extension from MML to submit the final 2025 LAR request forms shortly after the Mayor and Council select and approve Rockville’s requests on June 10, 2024.
LARs are issues that are resolved through State legislation and have broad impact to the MML membership. The League does not typically advocate for issues that impact a small number of municipalities and does not engage with State legislation introduced by local Delegations. As the lead entity with whom decision makers in Annapolis engage on State legislation affecting municipalities, MML focuses on high-profile issues with significant impact to its membership. The Legislative Committee meets in the summer and selects up to four priority program issues to recommend to the Board of Directors for approval.
Rockville-specific State legislative issues are discussed and approved by the Mayor and Council in the fall, after the MML priority program is adopted. Rockville’s approved LARs are incorporated into the City’s comprehensive State legislative priority program. In recent years, advocating in support of educational needs across the spectrum, including capital and operating funding, legislation in support of the City’s vision zero and pedestrian master plan, and climate action plan goals are examples of items that are Rockville-specific that have been included in Rockville’s State legislative program. In recent years, the Mayor and Council’s comprehensive State legislative program has included MML-adopted priorities and Rockville-specific initiatives.
Based on high priority issues of interest to the Mayor and Council, a recent MML Montgomery Chapter discussion on FY25 MML LARs led by Mayor Ashton, Chapter president, and input received from the governing body, staff has included four potential LARs for the Mayor and Council’s consideration. MML will accept as many as three LARs.
Each of the four LARs proposed for consideration relate to ongoing Mayor and Council priorities. Staff recommends that the Mayor and Council select three LARs that will be submitted to MML. If a fourth item is supported, it can be forwarded to MML for consideration as a strategic priority that MML would advocate for during the 2025 Session.
Proposed 2025 Legislative Action Requests
1. Vehicle Laws - Intersections- Prohibited Acts (Don’t Block the Box Legislation)
This legislation was introduced in 2017 through 2022 (failed) and would prohibit a vehicle facing a circular green arrow signal, or a steady yellow signal from entering an intersection if the vehicle is unable to completely proceed through the intersection. However, a vehicle making a left turn at a circular green signal may enter an intersection while yielding the right-of-way to a pedestrian or to a vehicle approaching from the opposite direction, and a vehicle making a right turn may enter an intersection while yielding the right-of-way to a pedestrian or a bicyclist.
A police officer may not issue a citation for a violation unless the approach to the intersection has the appropriate signage installed in accordance with the Maryland Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices notifying the public that a vehicle may not make a movement at the intersection that violates the bill’s provisions. A violation is a misdemeanor subject to the existing penalty of a $500 maximum fine.
This legislation would assist residents who are trying to exit neighborhoods that abut heavily traveled roads such as Veirs Mill Road, MD 355, and MD 28 and improve pedestrian, bicycle, and traffic safety, all of which align with the Mayor and Council’s Vision Zero goals. In Maryland, the City of Baltimore has a don’t block the box ordinance law that is in effect.
2. State Highway Administration - Sidewalks and Bicycle Pathways - Maintenance and Repair - Legislation
This legislation was introduced in 2024 (HB 263) by Delegate Qi at the request of Montgomery County. HB 263 would require the State Highway Administration to maintain and repair sidewalks on State-owned roads. Rockville maintains and repairs sidewalks on City-owned streets but does not have the funding or capacity to also maintain and repair sidewalks on State-owned streets.
The legislation would support the State Highway Administration to provide the same level of attention and care to its sidewalks as it currently does for its roadways. This would lead to a more equitable, sustainable, fiscally resilient, and safer transportation system in Rockville.
The Mayor and Council supported HB 263 with an amendment to remove the provision that required local governments to be responsible for the removal of snow and ice from State-owned sidewalks. The bill sponsor requested an amendment to remove the language, which was the result of a bill drafting error. After the bill hearing, there was no further action taken and the bill failed. This legislation would increase pedestrian, bike, and traffic safety and aligns with the Mayor and Council’s Vision Zero goals.
3. Preserve and Protect Municipal Highway User Revenues
Highway User Revenues (HUR) are the share of the gas tax and vehicle titling tax dedicated for
the construction and maintenance of local roadways and bridges. All the revenues are levied by the State, as there are no local gas taxes in Maryland. Since most roads in Maryland are maintained by local governments, the State has historically shared a portion of these revenues, through a formula to County and municipal governments.
While FY25 municipal HURs were preserved, as well as the planned increases (current law) for HUR in 2026, and 2027, these critical funds were considered for cuts in the 2024 Session. With the State’s projected budget gap of $3 billion in highway and transit spending, municipal HURs could again be considered by State lawmakers for reductions in the 2025 Session. This initiative would involve municipal advocacy to protect these critical resources which help to fund municipal transportation projects, including street and sidewalk maintenance, and pedestrian safety initiatives. This initiative aligns with the Mayor and Council’s Vision Zero goals.
4. Legislation that Would Expand Access to the State Property Tax Credit to Low-and Medium-Income Homeowners, Including Senior Residents, to Provide Relief from Inflationary Pressures and Cost-of-Living Increases.
This was a Rockville 2024 State legislative priority that would expand the eligibility for the State Homeowner’s Property Tax Credit, low-and moderate-income residents would benefit by receiving some relief from inflation and cost-of-living increases. This initiative aligns with the Mayor and Council priority to not overburden residents with additional costs in a context of inflation and ongoing increases to the cost-of-living.
This initiative evolved from what was originally a 2024 MML LAR that was not accepted by the League, which was a request for State legislation that included authorization for municipalities to adjust the program parameters for the home value credit limits. Due to several factors, it was not feasible for the City to move forward with the legislation. Please see attachment A for additional details. While the City advocated for the 2024 State priority, monitored bill introductions and General Assembly discussions, there were no bills or initiatives that addressed this issue.
Mayor and Council History
The Mayor and Council annually discuss and approve LAR items to forward to MML for consideration in the League’s priority program for the next General Assembly Session.
Next Steps
With Mayor and Council approval, staff will forward the completed 2025 LARs to MML.
Staff will update the Mayor and Council on the priority issues that are approved for the 2025 MML priority program.
The Mayor and Council will consider 2025 State legislation priorities specific to the City of Rockville in the fall of 2024 (TBD), after MML’s priorities are adopted.