Greetings!

Welcome to my Legislative Newsletter, highlighting Council Resolutions and Council Bills proposed by the Howard County Council.
As your County Council representative, I encourage you to review this information and lend your voice by testifying via email or in person. To voice your support or opposition, please email councilmail@howardcountymd.gov. The next Legislative Session will be Monday, February 7th at 7:00 PM (meetings will be held in person and virtually). To sign-up in advance to testify, click here.
It is my pleasure to serve you, your family, and the residents of District 2. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office by calling (410) 313-2001 or by emailing ojones@howardcountymd.gov. I hope you will continue to stay engaged by visiting my council website at https://cc.howardcountymd.gov/Districts/District-2.

Sincerely,
The Process
The County Council is responsible for adopting the laws of the County. The legislative process generally follows a monthly cycle:

  • 1st Monday- New legislation is introduced; legislation from prior month is given final consideration
  • 3rd Monday- Legislative Public Hearing on legislation introduced that month
  • Following the Legislative Public Hearing a Legislative Work Session is held, if needed

Council Bills must be signed or vetoed by the County Executive within 10 days of the Council's presentation of passed legislation.
Howard County Council Appointments and County Council Election Results for 2022
Howard County Council Chairpersons
Chair: Councilmember Opel Jones, District 2
Vice-Chair: Councilmember Christiana Rigby, District 3

Zoning Board
Chair: Councilmember Deb Jung, District 4
Vice-Chair: Councilmember Liz Walsh, District 1

Board of License Commissioners
Chair: Councilmember David Yungmann, District 5
Vice-Chair: Councilmember Christiana Rigby, District 3

Maryland Association of Counties Legislative Committee
Representative: Councilmember Liz Walsh, District 1
     Alternate: Councilmember Deb Jung, District 4

National Associations of Counties
Representative: Councilmember Liz Walsh, District 1
      Alternate: Councilmember Deb Jung, District 4
Council-Related Legislation
Howard County Council Legislation

Unless otherwise noted, the following legislation is introduced by the Chairperson at the request of the County Executive.
Legislation for Introduction
Appointments

Council Resolution 1-2022 - A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Ralph O. Frith to the Citizens' Election Fund Commission. (No expiration)

Council Resolution 2-2022 - A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Stephanie Lyon to the Commission on Aging. (No expiration)
 
Council Resolution 3-2022 - A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of George Stephens to the Commission on Disabilities. (No expiration)

Council Resolution 4-2022 – Introduced by David Yungmann - A RESOLUTION appointing Keith Ohlinger to the Citizens’ Election Fund Commission of Howard County, Maryland, to fill a term ending on May 1, 2025. (No expiration)

 Reappointments

Council Resolution 5-2022 - A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Jessica Epps to the Commission for Women. (No expiration)

Council Resolution 6-2022 - A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Nafrettifi Griffin to the Howard County Commission for Veterans and Military Families. (No expiration)

Council Resolution 7-2022 - A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Cynthia Gula to the Equal Business Opportunity Commission. (No expiration)

Council Resolution 8-2022 - A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Greg Jolissant to the Howard County Commission for Veterans and Military Families. (No expiration)

Council Resolution 9-2022 - A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Robert Lowell to the Howard County Commission for Veterans and Military Families. (No expiration)

Council Resolution 10-2022 - A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Robert McLaughlin to the Plumbing Advisory Board. (No expiration)

Council Resolution 11-2022 - A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Jessica Nichols to the Commission for Women. (No expiration)

Council Resolution 12-2022 - A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Jason Peay to the Equal Business Opportunity Commission. (No expiration)

Council Resolution 13-2022 - A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Marian Vessels to the Commission on Disabilities. (No expiration)

Council Resolution 14-2022 - A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Terry Winegar to the Plumbing Advisory Board. (No expiration)

Financial

Council Resolution 15-2022 - A RESOLUTION amending a schedule of fees for utility construction permits and generally relating to fees charged by the Department of Public Works. (No expiration)
 
General

Council Bill 1-2022 - AN ACT amending the Pay Plan for Howard County to revise the pay scales for Recreational Licensed Child Care providers and contingent employees; and generally relating to the Pay Plan for Howard County. (Expires 3/14/22; 4/18/22 if extended; or 5/23/22 if extended twice.)

Council Bill 2-2022 - AN ACT prohibiting discrimination based on citizen or immigration status in the areas of employment, law enforcement practices, public accommodations, and financing; clarifying prohibited discrimination based on citizenship or immigration status in the area of housing; and generally related to Human Rights provisions of the County Code. (Expires 3/14/22; 4/18/22 if extended; or 5/23/22 if extended twice.)

Council Resolution 16-2022 - A RESOLUTION pursuant to Section 4.201 of the Howard County Code declaring that a portion of land containing a total of 1,669 square feet or 0.0383 acres owned by Howard County, Maryland located on Main Street in Ellicott City is no longer needed by the County for public purposes; authorizing the County Executive to convey, upon certain consideration, fee simple title to 8308 Main Street, LLC while retaining easement interests; waiving the advertising and bidding requirements of Section 4.201 of the Howard County Code; and providing that the County Executive is not bound to convey the Property if he finds that the County may have a use for the property. (No expiration)
 
Council Resolution 17-2022 - A RESOLUTION adopting a comprehensive revision to the Howard County Design Manual Volume III (Roads and Bridges) that includes content changes; renaming the Howard County Design Manual Volume III to be “Complete Streets and Bridges”; amending the Howard County Design Manual Volume IV (Standard Specifications and Details for Construction) to include updated sections and details reflecting Complete Streets concepts and policy in Howard County; repealing current Howard County Design Manual Volume III (Roads and Bridges); and generally related to Volume III and IV of the Design Manual. (No expiration)
 
Council Bill 3-2022 – Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the Compensation Review Commission - AN ACT to set the annual compensation of the members of the Howard County Council for the term beginning in December 2022. (Expires 3/14/22; 4/18/22 if extended; or 5/23/22 if extended twice.)

Council Bill 4-2022 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the Compensation Review Commission - AN ACT to set the annual compensation of the Howard County Executive for the term beginning in December 2022. (Expires 3/14/22; 4/18/22 if extended; or 5/23/22 if extended twice.)

Council Bill 5-2022 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the Compensation Review Commission - AN ACT to set the compensation for members of the Howard County Zoning Board. (Expires 3/14/22; 4/18/22 if extended; or 5/23/22 if extended twice.)

Council Bill 6-2022 – Introduced by David Yungmann - AN ACT repealing a certain provision of law relating to the determination of whether an election is contested for the distribution of a public contribution from the Citizens’ Election Fund; confirming that a certified candidate may receive a matching public contribution for any qualifying contributions that were collected prior to the effective date of this Act; making a technical correction in order to remove an ambiguity in the Citizens’ Election Fund law to facilitate orderly administration of the program; and generally relating to the Citizens’ Election Fund. (Expires 3/14/22; 4/18/22 if extended; or 5/23/22 if extended twice.)

Council Bill 7-2022 (ZRA199) – Introduced by Liz Walsh - AN ACT amending the Howard County Zoning Regulations to require that Moderate Income Housing Units (MIHUs) be developed in the Planned Golf Course Community (PGCC) zoning district; and generally relating to Moderate Income Housing Units. (Expires 3/14/22; 4/18/22 if extended; or 5/23/22 if extended twice.)

Council Bill 8-2022 – Introduced by Liz Walsh - AN ACT amending the Howard County Code to require that Moderate Income Housing Units (MIHUs) be developed in the Planned Golf Course Community (PGCC) zoning district; and generally relating to Moderate Income Housing Units.  (Expires 3/14/22; 4/18/22 if extended; or 5/23/22 if extended twice.)

Council Bill 9-2022 – Introduced by Deb Jung - AN ACT to alter a duty of the Department of Planning and Zoning related to the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance; requiring certain developers to meet with the School System about school capacity solutions; and generally relating to the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance. (Expires 3/14/22; 4/18/22 if extended; or 5/23/22 if extended twice.)

Council Bill 10-2022 – Introduced by Liz Walsh - AN ACT requiring certain employers to recall certain employees who have been laid-off after the imposition of the COVID-19 state of emergency; specifying the procedures by which the recall would operate; establishing certain procedures for filing, investigating, and adjudicating a complaint; prohibiting retaliation against employees for filing a certain complaint or participating in certain proceedings; declaring that this Act is an Emergency Bill necessary to meet a public emergency affecting life, health or property; providing for a certain termination date; and generally relating to a right of recall for Covid-19 laid-off employees. (Expires 3/14/22; 4/18/22 if extended; or 5/23/22 if extended twice.)
Legislation for Final Consideration
Vetoed Legislation

Council Bill 78-2021 – Introduced by Liz Walsh - AN ACT adding new definitions to the Forest Conservation ordinance; establishing a “look-back” provision for the disturbance of certain trees; reducing the diameter threshold to 24 inches for forest retention; and generally relating to forest conservation in the County. (Expires 12/13/21; 01/17/22 if extended; or 02/21/22 if extended twice.)
My Vote: No to override veto
Status: Veto override failed

Tabled Legislation

Council Bill 83-2021 - AN ACT to establish a Police Accountability Board; setting forth the qualifications for members and method of appointment; setting forth the process for selection of the board chairperson; providing for a process to receive certain complaints alleging police misconduct; setting forth the duties of the Board; defining certain terms; providing for the requirement to submit financial disclosure statements; providing for the staggering of initial appointments to the Board; providing for the application of this Act; and generally relating to police accountability in Howard County. (Expires 1/10/22; 02/14/22 if extended; or 03/21/22 if extended twice.) TABLED 12/6/21
Status: Tabled

Council 87-2021 ZRA198 – Introduced by the Chair at the request of Dunteachin Estates Homeowners Association, Inc. - An Act amending the Howard County Zoning Regulations pertaining to Age-Restricted Adult Housing conditional uses by reducing the maximum number of dwelling units allowed per net acre in Residential: Environmental Development (R-ED) and Residential: Single (R-20) zoning districts; limiting the square-footage of a certain number of Age-Restricted units; increasing the square-footage of required community buildings in certain circumstances; and generally relating to Age-Restricted Adult Housings. (Expires 1/10/22; 02/14/22 if extended; or 03/21/22 if extended twice.) TABLED 12/6/21
Status: Tabled

Council Bill 88-2021 – Introduced by Liz Walsh - AN ACT to prohibit the willful failure to do specified maintenance and repair of certain historic structures thus prohibiting certain demolition by neglect of those structures; allowing the Historic District Commission to waive compliance in certain cases of financial hardship; providing for a hearing and an opportunity to cure specified violations; and generally relating to historic structures, historic sites, and historic districts in the County. (Expires 1/10/22; 02/14/22 if extended; or 03/21/22 if extended twice.) TABLED 12/6/21
Status: Tabled

The following Resolutions were not removed from the Table

Council Resolution 140-2021 - A RESOLUTION approving the terms and conditions of a Payment in Lieu of Taxes Agreement by and between the Howard County, Maryland and SunEast Friendship Solar LLC and MHGH&S, LLC for the generation of electricity on property located at 13300 Frederick Road, West Friendship. (No expiration date) TABLED 10/4/21

Council Resolution 141-2021 - A RESOLUTION approving the terms and conditions of a Payment in Lieu of Taxes Agreement by and between the Howard County, Maryland and SunEast Friendship ANEM Solar LLC and MHGH&S, LLC for the generation of electricity on property located at 13300 Frederick Road in West Friendship, Maryland. (No expiration date) TABLED 10/4/21

Council Resolution 142-2021 - A RESOLUTION approving the terms and conditions of a Payment in Lieu of Taxes Agreement by and between the Howard County, Maryland and Terrapin Branch Solar, LLC, and 2800 Nixon’s Farm Lane, LLC, for the generation of electricity on property owned by 2800 Nixon’s Farm Lane, LLC located at 2800 Nixon’s Farm Lane, West Friendship, Maryland. (No expiration date) TABLED 10/4/21

Council Resolution 143-2021 - A RESOLUTION approving the terms and conditions of a Payment in Lieu of Taxes Agreement by and between the Howard County, Maryland and Community Power Group, LLC and Jack Coogan Fyock Jr. for the generation of electricity on property located on Ten Oaks Road, Glenelg, Maryland. (No expiration date) TABLED 10/4/21
Upcoming Council Meetings
Unless otherwise noted, the County Council will hold its meetings in the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, MD. Meetings will be held in-person and virtually. The next meetings are as follows:

  • Monday, January 17, 2022 - County Offices Closed
  • Tuesday, January 18, 2022, 7 PM - Legislative Public Hearing
  • Monday, January 24, 2022, 1 PM - Legislative Work Session

Please note these dates are subject to change. To access the most up-to-date calendar of meetings in its entirety, click here.

Can't attend a meeting but still want to stay involved? You can stream the Council's sessions online and click on the meeting you would like to watch. The Council's sessions are also streamed in real time on this website.