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County attorney briefs commissioners on state budget progress; board sends letters on opioid and MAT bills
Summary
The county attorney updated commissioners on local bills in Annapolis and the evolving state budget framework; the board authorized a letter supporting amendments to a medication-assisted-treatment bill and a letter opposing expanded uses of opioid restitution funds.
County Attorney staff briefed commissioners Tuesday on the status of local legislation in Annapolis and on evolving state budget proposals that could affect county finances.
Attorney John Hauser reported that many local bills had cleared committee assignment but remained in process. He sought direction on whether to revise the county’s previous letter on the St. Mary’s County public facilities bond bill; the board took no further action. Hauser also advised commissioners that several local bills remain on a tight schedule as the General Assembly approaches the end of its session.
Hauser reviewed two requested positions that the county acted on at the meeting: • The board authorized a letter of support (with amendments as recommended by a coalition of counties and treatment advocates) for HB1084/SB942 regarding medication-assisted treatment funding to ensure opioid settlement funds are directed to local treatment costs as intended. • The board authorized a letter of opposition to HB728/SB495, a bill that would expand authorized uses of opioid restitution funds to finance state enforcement actions; county staff and regional partners opposed broadening the fund’s purposes because it could deplete funds intended for community restitution and treatment.
Hauser also summarized the high-level budget framework being debated in Annapolis, including the proposed state pickup of a portion of teacher pension contributions and several revenue changes in the House’s draft amendments. He cautioned that the budget remains in flux: the House was preparing debate and a vote the week of the meeting, and the Senate’s comparative language had not yet been posted. The draft budget elements Hauser highlighted included differing proposals on teacher retirement funding, changes to individual income tax brackets and surtaxes, adjustments to standardized deductions and proposed transportation-related revenue actions (vehicle excise and titling fees), all of which could affect county revenue projections.
Commissioners asked staff to continue monitoring the bills and the state budget and to return with recommended language as needed.
