Subject
title
2025 Mayor and Council State Legislative Priorities
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Department
City Manager's Office (CMO)
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Mayor and Council (i) receive the presentation, (ii) discuss the proposed 2025 State legislative priorities, and (iii) direct staff to bring forth a resolution that includes the approved 2025 State legislative priorities.
Discussion
Purpose:
The purpose of this work session is to provide the Mayor and Council with an overview of the proposed 2025 State legislative priorities, and for staff to receive direction on priority legislative/policy issues that the City will advocate for in the upcoming General Assembly Session.
Feedback on the questions below is needed from the Mayor and Council to guide the next step:
1) Does the Mayor and Council support the proposed priorities?
2) Does the Mayor and Council have other priorities?
Background:
Staff is seeking broad direction from the Mayor and Council regarding topics they would like to include in Rockville’s 2025 State Legislative Priorities program. With Mayor and Council direction, staff will return on October 21 with a resolution for adoption that includes the approved 2025 State Legislative priorities. Included in this staff report are proposed 2025 State legislative priorities for the Mayor and Council’s consideration.
The work session continues the Mayor and Council’s consideration of Rockville’s 2025 State legislative priorities. The discussion began on June 10, 2024, when the Mayor and Council approved three MML Legislative Action Requests that were forwarded to the League for consideration as 2025 priorities. This agenda item is comprehensive and entails all issues that will be included in Rockville’s 2025 State legislative priorities program.
As Maryland begins to plan for the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, the projected fiscal outlook is negative. For Fiscal Year 2026, the projected budget deficit is $1 billion. The gap increases to $1.3 billion in Fiscal Year 2027 and doubles to approximately $3 billion by Fiscal Year 2029, which is the largest deficit projected since the Great Recession. Cost drivers include the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future K-12 education plan and higher than expected healthcare costs to the State. The Mayor and Council will be kept informed by staff and the City’s State representation team as more information becomes available closer to the start of the Session as to how the State will address these deficits. The 2025 General Assembly Session will begin on January 8 and end on April 7, 2025.
Category I - Proposed State 2025 State Legislative Priorities, Including 2025 Priorities Adopted to Date
The following group of proposed priorities are specific issues to advocate for and advance in the 2025 General Assembly Session.
At the June 10, 2024, meeting, the Mayor and Council approved three 2025 priorities for submittal to the Maryland Municipal League (MML) as Legislative Action Requests. The approved are as follows:
• State Highway Administration - Sidewalks and Bicycle Pathways - Maintenance and Repair - Legislation
The legislation 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. HB 263 in the 2024 Session addresses this issue and the Mayor and Council supported it. While the bill failed in 2024, due to the increased cost to the State’s budget, it is anticipated that the bill will be introduced in the 2025 Session. The MML Legislative Committee did not select this as a 2025 priority issue. Rockville will advocate for this issue in the 2025 Session in conjunction with its State representation team.
• 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 priority would expand the eligibility for the State Homeowner’s Property Tax Credit. Low and moderate-income, including senior residents, would benefit by receiving some relief from inflationary pressures driving cost-of-living increases. This was a 2024 Rockville State legislative priority. The MML Legislative Committee did not select this as a priority issue. Rockville will advocate for this issue in the 2025 Session in conjunction with its State representation team.
• Preserve and Protect Municipal Highway User Revenues (HUR)
With the State’s projected budget gap of approximately $1.8 billion in highway and transit spending, municipal highway user revenues could again be considered by State lawmakers for reductions in the 2025 Session (2024 efforts were unsuccessful). HUR is the largest revenue source from the State that supports the cost of maintaining municipal transportation infrastructure. While this was not selected as a priority issue by MML, the MML Legislative Committee did adopt a transportation strategic priority. MML strategic priorities are issues that usually are accomplished over a period of years. As a result of the proliferation of electric and hybrid vehicles, the gas tax - the main funding mechanism for transportation funding - has been steadily declining in recent years. Preserving HUR and related issues are encompassed in the MML transportation strategic priority.
The State’s Transportation and Infrastructure and Revenue Needs Commission (TRAIN) is required to issue a final report at the end of 2024 and include recommended changes to solidify the transportation revenue structure. According to MML, it is likely that there will be TRAIN Commission legislation in the 2025 Session. MML plans to be actively engaged with the legislation and advocate for changes that would modify the Transportation Trust Fund revenue structure in a manner that will benefit municipalities. Rockville will partner with MML and other municipalities to advocate for these initiatives.
MML Adopted 2025 Priorities:
On September 13, the MML Board adopted the following priorities recommended by the MML Legislative Committee. For several years, the City has endorsed and included the League’s proposals as Rockville State legislative priorities.
• Speed Monitoring Systems - Person to Issue Citation - Alteration
Current law only allows duly authorized law enforcement officers to sign and issue citations for violations caught by a speed camera and only a duly authorized officer’s signature ensures the admissibility of the citation in court as evidence. This proposal would amend the law to permit municipalities to utilize non-sworn personnel, trained with the same standards as police officers, to sign and issue the certificate of violation (citation) for speed camera violations and for their signature to be sufficient for admissibility by the courts. Rockville adopted this MML priority in 2024 and supported MML’s legislation (failed).
• Municipal Revenue Sources - Admissions and Amusement Tax - Food and Beverage
This proposal would authorize a 2% local food and beverage fee. Authorizing an enabling local fee under the Admissions and Amusements statute would allow municipal governments to hold local public hearings and assess the viability for each jurisdiction. According to MML, the proposed 2% local food and beverage fee is significantly less regressive than continuing to increase property tax rate and is in line with neighboring states like Virginia with up to 7.5% authority, and the District of Columbia, which is set at 10%. This would limit the revenue burden being placed on Marylanders, as out of state visitors would also then contribute to the cost of services under this model. Rockville adopted this MML priority in 2024 and supported MML’s legislation (failed).
• Legislation to Support Funding for Youth Service Bureaus and Initiatives for Teens During Out of School Hours
In the 2024 Session, the City supported HB 1136, Delegate Boafo’s Youth Service Bureau funding legislation. The bill failed due to the mandated expenditure of $4.8 million (beginning in FY26) in the State’s budget. According to Rockville’s State representation team, the Delegate does not plan to introduce the bill due to the challenging budget situation. If this priority is approved, the City could request that a member of the District 17 Delegation or another legislator sponsor this bill in 2025.
• Just Cause Eviction Legislation
Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins (Montgomery County Delegation) has been the lead sponsor on this bill. The legislation would authorize a County to enact local laws or ordinances that prohibit a landlord from failing to renew a lease during the lease period or seeking to terminate a holdover tenancy without good cause, as specified. Essentially, landlords could not evict a tenant or refuse to renew a lease without a reason. The bill was introduced in the 2022, 2023 and 2024 Sessions and failed. Rockville’s State representation team indicated that Delegate Wilkins plans to introduce the legislation in the 2025 Session.
• 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 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.
Proposed Legislative Bond Initiative Options
Staff is recommending two options for the Mayor and Council’s consideration, as the District 17 Delegation prefers to have more than one legislative bond initiative project to consider. Additionally, staff is asking the Mayor and Council for approval to share the two potential priority projects with the District 17 Delegation, and for direction on the ranking of priorities by order of importance. Each project is included in the Adopted FY25 Budget and would meet the required project match, if required (in recent years a match has not been required).
At the request of the District 17 Delegation, in the 2024 Session, the City submitted two legislative bond initiatives to the Maryland General Assembly. Staff will update the Mayor and Council on the option that gains majority support from the District 17 Delegation. Staff will keep the Mayor and Council informed and engaged.
• Elwood Smith Community Center Renovation - Request for $500,000
Project Cost - $845,000
This project funds the design and construction of the Elwood Smith Community Center renovation.
This work will correct identified Americans with Disabilities Act barriers, reconfigure space from offices to space for activities such as out-of-school-time programs, community gatherings, classes, and summer camps, install flooring, and convert the gender-specific restrooms to multiple single-user ADA-compliant restrooms.
• Talbot Street Park - Request for $500,000
Project Cost - $950,000
The water tower located at 200 Talbott Street within the Rockville Pike Corridor has been decommissioned. This project includes the demolition and removal of the water tower as well as the design and construction of a park on the city-owned .5-acre property. The Rockville Pike corridor is park deficient as defined in the 2020 Recreation and Parks Strategic Plan and this project will provide a park to several nearby multifamily complexes, including the Woodmont Park Apartments. Design and amenities to be included in the park will be determined with the community.
Category II - Broad-Based Priorities, Including Ongoing Policy Priorities
The following group of proposed priorities are broader policy strategies, are ongoing in nature, and do not have an end date. Some are priorities which the Mayor and Council have been advocating for over a period of several years and are as follows.
Ongoing Policy Priorities:
• Advocate in Support of Educational Needs Across the Spectrum
This is an ongoing high priority of the Mayor and Council. The priority involves advocacy in all aspects of educational policy, from birth through community college, including childcare, to secure additional State funding for capital and operating needs.
• Advocate in Support of the City’s Vision Zero and Pedestrian Master Plan Efforts, including:
o A comparative negligence law that allows pedestrians to claim damages at a percent at which they are determined to be at fault in a vehicle crash.
o Revising the State transportation code to make clear that the state is responsible for maintaining all transportation facilities, including sidewalks and streetlights at state intersections and along state roadways, and providing dedicated state funding for such maintenance.
o Maintenance, pedestrian accommodations, and safety improvements by the State Highway Administration.
• Advocate for Legislation Supporting Rockville’s Climate Action Goals of Reducing Greenhouse Gases, Prioritizing Equity, and Building Resiliency.
• Increase Senior Transportation Services, Recreation and Wellness Programs, Senior programs in Neighborhoods, Aging-in-Place and Village Initiatives, and Senior Outreach.
Broad-Based Priorities:
The following topics are proposed priorities and align with the Mayor and Council's guiding principles and three focus areas of opportunity. Support for these broad policy areas will provide staff with the direction needed to quickly respond to legislation that is introduced and best position the City to potentially influence outcomes that achieve the City’s legislative and policy objectives.
• Economic Development
o Funding for revitalization projects
o Incentives for job creation
• Housing and Development
o Affordable Housing Initiatives
o Support for mixed-use development
o Zoning and land use regulations
• Public Safety and Wellness
o Funding for emergency services
o Crime prevention and community safety initiatives
o Mental health and wellness Programs
• Infrastructure/Transportation
o Funding for road maintenance and improvement
o Expansion of public transportation options
o Infrastructure resilience and climate adaptation
Other:
Speed Cameras on State Roads
It was noted in the MML LAR discussion on June 10, 2024 that speed cameras are needed beyond school zones and it is difficult to get approval for the installation of speed cameras on State Roads.
According to the City Police, gaining approval for automated enforcement on State roads in municipalities is a lengthy and arduous task. SHA relies on crash and other engineering data when determining whether to approve cameras on State roads. The City Police indicated it took approximately two years to receive approval for the speed cameras at 900 Veirs Mill Road. The City’s speed camera vendor noted that Takoma Park has been waiting for approval of a red-light camera site for upwards of three years and their speed camera vendor (same as Rockville’s) recently met with SHA to request a shorter approval time.
The Police and Public Works Departments confirmed they do not have any pending applications before SHA for speed cameras. Therefore, staff does not recommend administrative action with SHA or legislative efforts at this time. Currently, the Public Works Department continues to push SHA to resolve high-priority Vision Zero issues in quarterly meetings such as speed reductions, intersection audits, and intersection improvements. Recent successes include the SHA agreement with the City’s grant application to study intersection improvements at many State intersections in the City, the reduction of speed on Veirs Mill Road, and the SHA agreement to install additional lighting at MD 355/King Farm Road.
Staff recommends the City monitor the outcome of the Takoma Park efforts with SHA. Additionally, staff can contact Takoma Park to note the City’s support for their efforts and ask them to share the message with SHA. At such a time when the City has applications pending before SHA for a speed camera location on a State road, Rockville could partner with Takoma Park and any other interested Montgomery municipalities and engage SHA through an administrative request to streamline their approval process.
Maryland Renter’s Tax Credit
Some questions were asked about the Renter’s Tax Credit at the June 10, 2024 MML LAR discussion.
Attachment A is additional information requested related to the Maryland Renter’s Tax Credit,
including materials from the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.
Mayor and Council History
In the fall of each year, the Mayor and Council discuss, select, and approve a comprehensive State legislative priorities program for the upcoming General Assembly Session.
Next Steps
Should the Mayor and Council choose to provide broad direction on 2025 Rockville State Legislative Priorities, staff will return on October 21, 2024, with a resolution that includes the selected priorities for adoption.
Rockville’s 2025 State Legislative approved priorities will be highlighted at the Joint House and Senate Priorities hearing before the Montgomery County Delegation on November 18, 2024. Rockville and its State representation team will collaborate with the District 17 Delegation to advocate for the adopted priorities in the 2025 General Assembly Session.