Subject
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Adoption of a Resolution in Support of HB 1142, Maryland Municipal League’s Priority Legislation, Establishing the Task Force to Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Sources
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Department
City Manager's Office (CMO)
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Mayor and Council adopt the resolution.
Discussion
The Maryland Municipal League (MML) requested that all member municipalities adopt a resolution supporting HB 1142, Establishing the Task Force to Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Sources. The resolution urges that the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee provide the bill with a favorable report.
HB 1142 is MML’s priority legislation for the 2026 General Assembly Session. This legislation is critically needed, as Maryland’s municipal revenue structure has not been meaningfully updated in nearly six decades. The current structure forces municipalities to have an overreliance on the property tax, which is unsustainable and inequitable. The proposed task force would provide a data-driven forum to study these inequities and recommend solutions that ensure municipal governments can remain fiscally resilient without overburdening local property owners.
Mayor and Council History
The Mayor and Council submitted written testimony to the House Ways and Means Committee on February 24, 2026, in support of HB 1142 for inclusion in the bill hearing public record.
Next Steps
Upon approval, and as requested by MML, staff will forward the approved resolution to the District 17 Delegation and League staff. Staff and the City’s State lobbyist will monitor HB 1142 and report on the outcome. The 2026 Session will conclude on April 13, 2026.