2017 Local Bills Legislative Summary
The Howard County Delegation completed the 2017 Maryland General Assembly legislative session. The following Howard County local bills were passed in the 2017 Maryland General Assembly session:
- HB0572, CH0137 (Ho. Co. 9–17) Howard County – Property Tax Credit for Commercial Real Property – Flood Damage
- HB0566, CH0131 (Ho. Co. 10–17) Howard County – Property Tax – Exemption for Personal Property of Business Located in Historic District
- HB1299, CH0308 (Ho. Co. 11–17) Howard County Board of Education – Elected School Board
- HB1604, CH0148 (Ho. Co. 17–17) Howard County – Transfer Tax Exemption and Rate Reduction – Law Enforcement Officers
- HB0677, CH0307 (Ho. Co. 18–17) Howard County – Noise Control – Outdoor Concert Venues
- HB0797, CH0140 (Ho. Co. 19-17) Howard County – Alcoholic Beverages – Thresholds for Tasting
- HB1343, CH0309 (Ho. Co. 24–17) Howard County – Fire and Explosive Investigator – Authority
In addition, bond bill requests for local projects were funded (HB 0151, CH0022) as follows:
- Carrollton Hall Restoration, $125,000
- Chrysalis Pavilion in Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods, $150,000
- Harriet Tubman Community Center and Museum, $300,000
- ManneqART Museum and Maryland Fashion Institute, $50,000
- Tau Pi Mentoring Program, $25,000
- The Arc of Howard County HVAC System Replacement, $250,000
Proposed local bills for the 2017 regular session of the Maryland General Assembly
Short descriptions of the local bills are included below. (Click the title of the bill to view the full text of the original draft bill. Click the HBXXXX or SBXXXX number to see bills passed by the Delegation or CHXXXX for enacted legislation. To see the list and status of 2017 Delegation bills on the Maryland General Assembly website click here.)
Creation of a State Debt – Howard County – Chrysalis Pavilion in Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods, Ho. Co. 1–17 – PASSED BY THE DELEGATION AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (HB0678, SB0755, CH0022)
By: Chair, Howard County Delegation
FOR the purpose of authorizing the creation of a State Debt not to exceed $250,000, the proceeds to be used as a grant to the Board of Directors of Inner Arbor Trust, Inc. for certain development or improvement purposes; providing for disbursement of the loan proceeds, subject to a requirement that the grantee provide and expend a matching fund; establishing a deadline for the encumbrance or expenditure of the loan proceeds; and providing generally for the issuance and sale of bonds evidencing the loan.
Creation of a State Debt – Howard County – Carrollton Hall Restoration, Ho. Co. 2–17 – PASSED BY THE DELEGATION AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (HB0422, SB0330, CH0022)
By: Chair, Howard County Delegation
FOR the purpose of authorizing the creation of a State Debt not to exceed $500,000, the proceeds to be used as a grant to the Board of Directors of Carrollton Hall, Inc. for certain development or improvement purposes; providing for disbursement of the loan proceeds, subject to a requirement that the grantee provide and expend a matching fund; prohibiting the use of the loan proceeds or matching fund for sectarian religious purposes; establishing a deadline for the encumbrance or expenditure of the loan proceeds; and providing generally for the issuance and sale of bonds evidencing the loan.
Creation of a State Debt – Howard County – The Arc of Howard County HVAC System Replacement, Ho. Co. 3–17 – PASSED BY THE DELEGATION AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (HB0407, SB0329, CH0022)
By: Chair, Howard County Delegation
FOR the purpose of authorizing the creation of a State Debt not to exceed $300,000, the proceeds to be used as a grant to the Board of Directors of The Arc of Howard County, Inc. for certain development or improvement purposes; providing for disbursement of the loan proceeds, subject to a requirement that the grantee provide and expend a matching fund; establishing a deadline for the encumbrance or expenditure of the loan proceeds; and providing generally for the issuance and sale of bonds evidencing the loan.
Creation of a State Debt – Howard County – PHILLIPS School Commercial Kitchen, Ho. Co. 4–17 – PASSED BY THE DELEGATION AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (HB0421, SB0339, CH0022)
By: Chair, Howard County Delegation
FOR the purpose of authorizing the creation of a State Debt not to exceed $175,000, the proceeds to be used as a grant to the Board of Trustees of PHILLIPS Programs Incorporated for certain development or improvement purposes; providing for disbursement of the loan proceeds, subject to a requirement that the grantee provide and expend a matching fund; establishing a deadline for the encumbrance or expenditure of the loan proceeds; and providing generally for the issuance and sale of bonds evidencing the loan.
Creation of a State Debt – Howard County – ManneqART Museum and Maryland Fashion Institute, Ho. Co. 5–17 – PASSED BY THE DELEGATION AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (HB0423, SB0333, CH0022)
By: Chair, Howard County Delegation
FOR the purpose of authorizing the creation of a State Debt not to exceed $333,000, the proceeds to be used as a grant to the Board of Directors of ManneqART, Inc. for certain development or improvement purposes; providing for disbursement of the loan proceeds, subject to a requirement that the grantee provide and expend a matching fund; establishing a deadline for the encumbrance or expenditure of the loan proceeds; and providing generally for the issuance and sale of bonds evidencing the loan.
Creation of a State Debt – Howard County – Harriet Tubman Community Center and Museum, Ho. Co. 6–17 – PASSED BY THE DELEGATION AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (HB0391, SB0331, CH0022)
By: Delegate Turner
FOR the purpose of authorizing the creation of a State Debt not to exceed $500,000, the proceeds to be used as a grant to the County Executive and County Council of Howard County for certain development or improvement purposes; providing for disbursement of the loan proceeds, subject to a requirement that the grantee provide and expend a matching fund; establishing a deadline for the encumbrance or expenditure of the loan proceeds; and providing generally for the issuance and sale of bonds evidencing the loan.
Creation of a State Debt – Howard County – Ellicott City Area Flood Mitigation, Ho. Co. 7–17 – PASSED BY THE DELEGATION (HB0419, SB0332)
By: Delegate Flanagan
FOR the purpose of authorizing the creation of a State Debt not to exceed $500,000, the proceeds to be used as a grant to the County Executive and County Council of Howard County for certain development or improvement purposes; providing for disbursement of the loan proceeds, subject to a requirement that the grantee provide and expend a matching fund; establishing a deadline for the encumbrance or expenditure of the loan proceeds; and providing generally for the issuance and sale of bonds evidencing the loan.
Howard County – Use of Transfer Tax Revenue – Storm Water, Ho. Co. 8-17 (FAILED DELEGATION VOTE 2/8/17)
By: Chair, Howard County Delegation
FOR the purpose of altering the distribution in Howard County of revenue from a certain local transfer tax to provide funding for certain stormwater and flood control projects; and generally providing for the distribution of certain tax revenue in Howard County.
Howard County – Property Tax Credit for Commercial Real Property – Flood Damage, Ho. Co. 9–17 – PASSED BY THE DELEGATION AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (HB0572, CH0137)
By: Chair, Howard County Delegation
FOR the purpose of authorizing the governing body of Howard County to grant, by law, a tax credit against the county property tax imposed on commercial real property that the governing body determines has suffered certain damage caused by flood conditions; authorizing the governing body of Howard County to specify the amount and duration of the credit and to provide for the implementation and administration of the credit; providing for the application of this Act; and generally relating to a property tax credit in Howard County for certain flood damage to commercial real property.
Howard County – Property Tax – Exemption for Personal Property of Business Located in Historic District, Ho. Co. 10–17 – PASSED BY THE DELEGATION AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (HB0566, CH0131)
By: Delegate Flanagan
FOR the purpose of authorizing the governing body of Howard County to exempt certain personal property from the Howard County property tax under certain circumstances; defining a certain term; providing for the application of this Act; and generally relating to a certain property tax exemption in Howard County.
Howard County Board of Education – Elected School Board, Ho. Co. 11–17 – PASSED BY THE DELEGATION AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (HB1299, CH0308)
By: Delegate Atterbeary
FOR the purpose of requiring that, beginning with a certain election, certain members of the Howard County Board of Education be elected by districts and certain members be elected at large; providing that a member elected to the county board from a certain geographic area but whose district boundaries are subsequently altered may remain as a member of the county board for a certain period; providing that in making an appointment to fill a vacancy on the county board the County Executive of Howard County shall endeavor to ensure that the county board reflects certain characteristics of the county population; providing for the termination of the terms of certain members of the county board; providing for the application of this Act; and generally relating to the election of the members of the Howard County Board of Education.
Howard County Board of Education – Independent Redistricting Commission, Ho. Co. 12–17 (WITHDRAWN 2/8/17)
By: Senator Bates
FOR the purpose of requiring that, beginning with a certain election, the members of the Howard County Board of Education be elected by districts; providing that a member elected to the county board from a certain geographic area but whose district boundaries are subsequently altered may remain as a member of the county board for a certain period; prohibiting a member of the county board from being a candidate for another elected public office while serving as a member of the county board; providing that in making an appointment to the county board the County Executive of Howard County shall endeavor to ensure that the county board reflects certain characteristics of the county population; establishing the Howard County Board of Education Redistricting Commission; providing for the membership of the Commission and the filling of a vacancy on the Commission; authorizing certain organizations to appoint certain members of the Commission; specifying certain qualifications and limitations concerning the members of the Commission; specifying certain standards and requirements to which the Commission must adhere when establishing districts for the election of the members of the county board; requiring the Commission to produce certain maps and reports, to hold certain hearings, and to allow for certain public participation and review during its proceedings; requiring the County Council of Howard County, the Howard County Public School System, and the Howard County Board of Elections to provide certain assistance to the Commission; requiring the Commission to establish the districts for the election of the members of the county board by a certain date; providing for the termination of the terms of certain members of the county board; providing for the application of this Act; defining certain terms; and generally relating to the election of the members of the Howard County Board of Education by districts.
Howard County – Elected School Board and Districting Commission, Ho. Co. 13–17 (WITHDRAWN 2/1/17)
By: Delegate Flanagan
FOR the purpose of requiring that, beginning with a certain election, certain members of the Howard County Board of Education be elected by districts; providing that a member elected to the county board from a certain geographic area but whose district boundaries are subsequently altered may remain as a member of the county board for a certain period; providing for the termination of the terms of certain members of the county board; establishing an independent Board of Education Districting Commission to draw the districts for the election of the members of the county board; specifying the membership, qualifications, duties, and term of the Commission; requiring the County Executive of Howard County to conduct a certain lottery to choose the members of the Commission; specifying the conditions under which the lottery must be conducted; specifying the qualifications an individual must meet to be entered into the lottery; providing that a nonaffiliated voter is not required to meet a certain qualification; specifying that a member of the Commission is subject to certain public ethics laws and entitled to certain reimbursement; requiring the Commission to adopt rules and procedures to govern its activities; requiring the County Executive to provide funds in the county budget for the Commission; requiring the Howard County Office of Law to provide certain assistance to the Commission; providing for the application of this Act; submitting this Act to a referendum of the qualified voters of Howard County for their adoption or rejection; defining certain terms; repealing obsolete provisions; and generally relating to the election of the members of the Howard County Board of Education.
Howard County – Court Offices – Nonpartisan Election, Ho. Co. 14–17 (WITHDRAWN 1/24/17)
By: Delegate Flanagan
FOR the purpose of establishing a method of election for certain court offices in Howard County on a nonpartisan basis, without regard to political party affiliation; establishing a primary election for candidates for nomination for certain court offices in Howard County to be administered in a certain manner; authorizing any registered voter, with or without any political party affiliation, to participate in such a primary; prohibiting candidates from appearing on primary ballots under certain circumstances; establishing that candidates for certain court offices in Howard County may not be nominated by petition or by a political party that is not required to nominate its candidates by party primary; making a conforming change; and generally relating to a nonpartisan nomination and election for court offices in Howard County.
Howard County Board of Education – Sole Source Procurement – Limitation, Ho. Co. 15–17 (WITHDRAWN 2/8/17)
By: Delegate W. Miller
FOR the purpose of prohibiting the Howard County Board of Education from entering into a sole source procurement that costs more than a certain amount; defining a term; and generally relating to sole source procurement by the Howard County Board of Education.
Howard County – Board of Education Fund Transfers – Approval Process, Ho. Co. 16–17 – PASSED BY THE DELEGATION (HB0850)
By: Chair, Howard County Delegation
FOR the purpose of altering the number of days by which the Howard County Council may act on a written request for budget transfers by the Howard County Board of Education; authorizing the Howard County Council to approve or disapprove a written request for budget transfer in whole or in part; and generally relating to Howard County Board of Education funds.
Howard County – Transfer Tax Exemption and Rate Reduction – Law Enforcement Officers, Ho. Co. 17–17 – PASSED BY THE DELEGATION AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (HB1604, CH0148)
By: Senator Bates
FOR the purpose of exempting from the Howard County transfer tax the sale of residential real property to certain law enforcement officers under certain circumstances; establishing the maximum Howard County transfer tax rate applied to the sale of residential real property to certain law enforcement officers under certain circumstances; establishing certain qualifications for the transfer tax exemption or rate reduction; providing for the recapture of the transfer tax exempted or reduced under this Act under certain circumstances; defining a certain term; and generally relating to the transfer tax in Howard County.
Howard County – Noise Control – Outdoor Concert Venues, Ho. Co. 18–17 – PASSED BY THE DELEGATION AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (HB0677, CH0307)
By: Delegate Hill
FOR the purpose of clarifying a certain limitation concerning the electronic amplification of sound at an outdoor concert venue with a certain capacity in Howard County; specifying the point from which certain measurements should be taken concerning the electronic amplification of sound at the venue; specifying that certain limitations concerning the electronic amplification of sound at the venue apply even if a satellite stage is used for an event at the venue; and generally relating to noise control at a certain outdoor concert venue in Howard County.
Howard County – Alcoholic Beverages – Thresholds for Tasting, Ho. Co. 19-17 – PASSED BY THE DELEGATION AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (HB0797, CH0140)
By: Delegate W. Miller
FOR the purpose of altering certain thresholds for the amount of alcoholic beverages that a holder of a beer and wine tasting license in Howard County may serve for on–premises consumption; altering certain thresholds for the amount of alcoholic beverages that a holder of a beer, wine, and liquor tasting license in Howard County may serve for on–premises consumption; and generally relating to alcoholic beverages licenses in Howard County.
Howard County – Alcoholic Beverages – Class BD–BWL License, Ho. Co. 20–17
By: Senator Guzzone
FOR the purpose of establishing a Class BD–BWL alcoholic beverages license in Howard County; providing that the license authorizes the sale of beer and wine for on– or off–premises consumption and the sale of liquor for on–premises consumption; requiring an applicant for the license to attest to a certain proportion of future food and alcoholic beverages sales during certain hours, based on gross receipts, as a prerequisite to obtaining the license; requiring an applicant for the license to attest to a certain proportion of food and alcoholic beverages sales during certain hours, based on gross receipts from sales during a certain time, as a prerequisite to renewing the license; requiring the Board to adopt certain regulations providing for the inspection of certain premises; authorizing the Board to revoke the license under certain circumstances; authorizing the Board to require a license holder to provide certain supporting data relating to the ratio of gross receipts from the sale of food to those from the sale of food and alcoholic beverages; authorizing a license holder to hold a certain number of certain licenses; specifying the hours of sale; setting an annual license fee; and generally relating to Class BD–BWL licenses in Howard County.
Howard County – Archery Hunting – Safety Zone, Ho. Co. 21–17 (WITHDRAWN 2/1/17)
By: Delegate W. Miller
FOR the purpose of establishing for archery hunters in Howard County a safety zone of a certain size within which archery hunting may not take place except under certain circumstances; and generally relating to archery hunting in Howard County.
Howard County – Archery Hunting – Safety Zone, Ho. Co. 22–17 (FAILED DELEGATION VOTE 2/1/17)
By: Delegate Flanagan
FOR the purpose of establishing for archery hunters in Howard County a safety zone of a certain size within which archery hunting may not take place except under certain circumstances; and generally relating to archery hunting in Howard County.
Howard County – Deer Bow Hunting – Sundays, Ho. Co. 23–17 (WITHDRAWN 2/15/17)
By: Delegate Flanagan
FOR the purpose of authorizing the Department of Natural Resources to allow a person to hunt deer on private property in Howard County on Sundays during the deer bow hunting season; making certain conforming changes; and generally relating to deer bow hunting on Sundays in Howard County.
Howard County – Fire Investigator – Qualifications, Ho. Co. 24–17 – PASSED BY THE DELEGATION AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (HB1343, CH0309)
By: Chair, Howard County Delegation
FOR the purpose of providing that under certain circumstances, a Howard County fire investigator operating in Howard County has the same authority as the State Fire Marshal and a full–time investigative and inspection assistant in the Office of the State Fire Marshal to make arrests without a warrant and exercise certain powers of arrest; authorizing a Howard County fire investigator to exercise certain authority while operating outside Howard County under certain circumstances; authorizing the Howard County Fire Chief to limit certain authority of a fire investigator and to express the limitation in writing; excluding a Howard County fire investigator from the definition of “law enforcement officer” under the law relating to the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights; including a Howard County fire investigator in the definition of “police officer” in connection with provisions of law relating to the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission and in the definition of “law enforcement official” in connection with the authorized carrying of a handgun by a person engaged in law enforcement; defining certain terms; requiring the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission to certify certain fire and explosive investigators as police officers by a certain date under certain circumstances; and generally relating to the authority of the Howard County fire investigators.
Creation of a State Debt – Howard County – Tau Pi Mentoring Program, Ho. Co. 25–17 – PASSED BY THE DELEGATION AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (HB1630, SB1170, CH0022)
Sponsored by: Delegate Hill
FOR the purpose of authorizing the creation of a State Debt not to exceed $25,000, the proceeds to be used as a grant to the Board of Directors of The Howard County Uplift Foundation Inc. for certain development or improvement purposes; providing for disbursement of the loan proceeds, subject to a requirement that the grantee provide and expend a matching fund; establishing a deadline for the encumbrance or expenditure of the loan proceeds; and providing generally for the issuance and sale of bonds evidencing the loan.