Prince George’s County Council’s Committee of the Whole voted 9–0 on Oct. 21, 2025, to recommend CB 99, a bill to create a Critical Worker Housing Assistance Program in the Housing Investment Trust Fund to help teachers and public‑safety workers purchase homes in the communities they serve.

Why it matters: The bill would establish a county program to provide home‑buying assistance in the form of 0% interest or interest‑deferred loans, aiming to support recruitment and retention for hard‑to‑fill county positions and increase the ability of critical workers to live locally.

What the bill would do: According to staff, CB 99 would add a new program to the Housing Investment Trust Fund administered by the director of the Department of Housing and Community Development. The program’s assistance would be available to eligible critical workers and would include terms and criteria for eligibility, application approval, and administration by DHCD.

Amendments adopted in committee: The committee approved an amendment that:
- Explicitly adds a nurse employed full time in a medical office or a hospital located in Prince George’s County to the list of eligible critical workers; and
- Sets household income eligibility at not exceeding 120% of the Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, D.C.–VA–MD–WV Metropolitan Statistical Area median income.

Committee discussion and rationale: Staff described the program as intended to provide an additional recruitment and retention tool to keep teachers and public safety employees living in the communities they serve. The committee adopted the amendment clarifying eligible worker categories and the income limit before moving a favorable recommendation.

Vote and procedural notes: The motion to move CB 99 favorable as amended was recorded on the roll call as 9–0 in committee. The mover and seconder were recorded in the committee transcript as the Vice Chair (mover) and Council Member Watson (second). The bill as amended was forwarded to the full Council for consideration.

Implementation and next steps: If enacted by the full Council and signed where required, DHCD is assigned to administer the program. Committee discussion indicated the Director of DHCD would oversee program guidelines, intake, underwriting, closing support and post‑purchase follow up. The transcript notes staff indicated the Council “may provide additional funding for the program” subject to parameters set by the Council.

Provenance (evidence spans):
- Topic opening and bill overview: "CB 99 20 25... this bill would add a new critical worker housing assistance program within the Housing Investment Trust Fund to provide home buying assistance to teachers and public safety workers... 0 interest or interest deferred loans." (transcript excerpt s=221.72-e=289.14502)
- Amendment language and income cap: "The full amendment would read... have a whole household income not exceeding 120% of the median income for the Washington, Arlington, Alexandria, D.C., Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Metropolitan Statistical Area." (transcript excerpt s=357.33002-e=380.36)

Speakers (recorded in transcript):
- Chair Burrows — Committee Chair/Council Member (recorded presiding)
- Mr. Tutt — Staff/legislative analyst (presented bill overview)
- Vice Chair (mover of amendment and final motion) — Council Member (title recorded in transcript)
- Council Member Watson — Council Member (seconded motions; recorded in transcript)

Clarifying details extracted from the record:
- Eligibility income: household income not exceeding 120% of the Washington–Arlington–Alexandria MSA median income (specified in the adopted amendment).
- Assistance form: 0% interest or interest‑deferred loans (staff overview).
- Administrative lead: Director, Department of Housing and Community Development (authorized to administer the program per bill language).

Proper names: Housing Investment Trust Fund; Department of Housing and Community Development; Washington–Arlington–Alexandria Metropolitan Statistical Area; Prince George's County.

Ending: The committee recommendation advances CB 99 to the full County Council with amendments clarifying eligible workers and an income cap; if enacted, DHCD will develop program rules and administer assistance to qualifying critical workers.