St. Mary’s Commissioners Receive Legislative Update As Budget Pressures Grow In Annapolis

LEONARDTOWN, Md. — St. Mary’s County commissioners received a legislative update Tuesday from Deputy County Attorney John Houser, who said the pace of activity in Annapolis remains relatively quiet for now but is expected to increase as the Maryland General Assembly approaches the crossover deadline.

Houser told the St. Mary’s County commissioners at the March 10 meeting that the session is currently in a transitional period between the introduction of bills and the stage when legislation begins moving more rapidly between chambers.

“We’re still in that lull between the introduction of bills, the hearing of bills, and then when they start crossing over in earnest in full force,” Houser said. “We’ve got 34 days left in the session. The crossover date is March 23.”

Below are key topics discussed during the update.

Local Bills Begin Moving

Houser reported that several local bills affecting St. Mary’s County have begun progressing through the legislative process.

One measure, House Bill 600, known as the “fix-it” bill for the county’s Metropolitan Commission, is expected to advance soon.

“The word is that HB 600 MetCom’s annual fix-it bill for Chapter 113 … its favorable report out of committee is expected fairly imminently,” Houser said.

Another proposal, House Bill 668, remains temporarily stalled as the Maryland State Highway Administration reviews language related to roadway signage tied to the legislation. The bill addresses safety concerns on certain roadways where solicitation activities would be restricted.

According to Houser, the remaining issue centers on who will cover the cost of signage, though the county has already indicated it can absorb those expenses.

“We said that we kind of just factored that cost into the cake … and that the Department of Public Works transportation would be more than willing to eat that, is more than able to eat that,” he said.

Gaming Device Permitting Legislation Narrowed Down

The most significant movement so far involves Senate Bill 357, which would establish a local permitting system for certain gaming devices in St. Mary’s County.

Houser explained that amendments narrowed the bill’s scope considerably.

“They narrowed down the legislation to rather than include all gaming activities inclusive of raffles, bazaars, carnivals, et cetera, to just gaming devices that would require permits,” he said.

The legislation also provides a broad definition of gaming devices, which Houser said could allow county officials flexibility when developing regulations.

“The way to read it could potentially go beyond the list of gaming devices that’s been delineated and specifically enumerated there for decades,” he said.

One notable change to the bill is its timeline. The effective date was moved from Oct. 1 to July 1, meaning the county would need to adopt local regulations sooner if the measure becomes law.

“Originally an effective date of October 1 of this year … the effective date changed now under this iteration to July 1 of this year,” Houser said.

If passed, the county commissioners would designate which local agency oversees the permitting system. Possible options could include the treasurer’s office, the sheriff’s office or another designated entity.

Living Shorelines Bill Facing Opposition

Houser also noted that a proposal related to living shorelines and nonstructural shoreline stabilization has encountered opposition from several environmental organizations and state agencies.

The proposal, Maryland Senate Bill 546, would tighten state rules governing shoreline stabilization projects along Maryland waterways. The bill would prohibit the Maryland Department of the Environment from automatically allowing property owners to replace existing hardened shoreline structures, such as seawalls, bulkheads or stone revetments, with similar structural barriers without first evaluating whether a living shoreline or other nonstructural method could be used instead.

Living shorelines rely on natural materials such as marsh plants, sand and rock to reduce erosion while also improving wildlife habitat and water quality.

The bill would also authorize the state’s Tidal Wetlands Compensation Fund to provide grants for property owners who choose to replace hardened shoreline structures with living shoreline projects.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources offers a comprehensive list of living shoreline techniques and project examples on its website. You can see pictures of what shoreline erosion control techniques look like and the project examples that currently exist.

He said the legislation has drawn pushback from the Maryland Department of the Environment, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

“I haven’t heard officially there’s a hold in there … but that’s all I got on those bills,” he said.

Budget Proposal Could Shift Pension Costs To Counties

A major concern raised during the update involves potential cost shifts in the state budget.

Houser said the Maryland Department of Legislative Services has recommended transferring the remaining state share of certain retirement costs for teachers, community college staff and library employees to local governments.

Under the proposal, counties could be required to absorb the entire remaining portion of those pension obligations.

“We don’t like that, we don’t want that,” Houser said. “It’s not great policy … but it was something that’s more or less been expected.”

For St. Mary’s County, the change could represent approximately $640,000 in additional costs.

Additional Education Funding Reductions Possible

Houser also warned commissioners that other potential education funding reductions are being discussed as part of the state’s budget process.

While no county-specific estimates have been released yet, Houser said the cuts could total several million dollars statewide.

“No jurisdictional estimate or local county by county breakdown … yet, but that’s something just to be on the radar,” he said.

Community College Funding Cap

Another proposed budget change would cap annual increases in state aid to community colleges at 3 percent per year.

For the College of Southern Maryland, which serves St. Mary’s and neighboring counties, Houser said the proposal could reduce anticipated funding by roughly $860,000.

“For College of Southern Maryland, that looks like about an 860,000 odd cut in their expected funding under the Cade formula,” he said.

However, Houser noted there is still disagreement in Annapolis over how the funding formula will ultimately be handled.

Tri-County Council Funding Reduction

Houser also mentioned a proposed $300,000 reduction in funding for the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, a regional organization that supports economic development and planning efforts across Southern Maryland.

While the proposal remains in the budget framework, Houser said he has not yet heard any indication it will be reversed.

Housing Legislation Could Affect Local Zoning Authority

Housing policy remains one of the most active topics in Annapolis this year, Houser said, with lawmakers considering several bills that could alter how local governments regulate residential development.

The proposals range widely, from encouraging affordable housing construction to potentially limiting local zoning authority.

“The General Assembly wants to do something,” Houser said. “They do not typically wade into matters of local zoning … but they are certainly expressing a lot of interest this year in wading into areas that are traditionally local areas of influence and control.”

Some earlier proposals that would have required local jurisdictions to treat townhomes the same as single-family homes for zoning purposes appear to be losing momentum due to public pushback.

However, Houser said other provisions may still move forward, including changes to when development applications “vest” under existing regulations and when impact fees may be collected.

More Legislative Activity Expected Soon

Although legislative activity remains relatively light at the moment, Houser told commissioners that the pace will likely accelerate in the coming weeks.

“Expecting to have a lot more activity and updates soon,” he said. “But we’re not quite there yet.”

The Maryland General Assembly’s crossover deadline — the point by which bills must pass their chamber of origin to ensure consideration in the other chamber — is set for March 23.

You can watch the legislative updates below at 1:09:35:

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