Delegate Teresa Riley, chair of the Harford County Delegation, opened the delegation's first meeting of the 2025 legislative session and led members through procedural business, including approval of prior minutes, guidance on how Harford County liquor bills must be introduced, and planning for the delegation’s annual scholar reception.

The delegation voted to approve minutes from its Feb. 15, 2024 meeting after a motion by Delegate Arkin; a second was recorded but the seconding member was not named in the transcript. The chair said the delegation intends to take up Harford County liquor bills first at next week’s meeting because the county must vote to endorse local liquor requests before they are filed at the Maryland General Assembly (MGA). Delegation members were also told elections for chair and vice chair will occur in the second week of session.

Why it matters: Harford’s delegation approval process controls whether municipal or county liquor‑license bills are filed with the General Assembly, and the delegation’s early calendar sets which items get priority during the tight 90‑day session.

County executive office representation and county concerns

Bob Casley, introduced at the start of the meeting, said his staff are available to support delegates with technical, engineering and legal questions and asked delegates to avoid shifting additional budget burdens to the county in response to a state budget shortfall. "Please, please do everything you can to keep the ultimate solution from being shifting increased burdens to the county," Casley said. Delegates were told they may contact Casley directly or route requests through Larry Richardson, who works with the county executive’s administration.

Liquor bills and municipal requests

Chair Riley emphasized that any Harford County liquor bills must be placed on the delegation agenda and approved as a Harford County delegation bill before being formally filed with the General Assembly. She asked delegates to contact the delegation secretary, Paige, to get bills placed on the agenda. When Delegate Susan McComas asked about a municipality‑level bill for the Town of Bel Air concerning historic‑district commission appeals, Riley said municipal bills are typically brought through the delegation and encouraged the sponsor to provide the text so it could be scheduled for the delegation’s consideration.

Scholar reception fundraising and logistics

The delegation discussed the annual scholar reception that honors top students from Harford County high schools at the end of session in May. Riley said the event raised and carried a modest balance for startup costs and that additional donor solicitations are needed. "I believe it's somewhere around $2,000 that we have," Riley said; she also noted the event has non‑zero costs and asked members to solicit local business donors and to have staff assist with event logistics. Delegate Steve Johnson asked for a current donor list; Riley said staff would provide one.

Other procedural items

Mackenzie Donaldson was introduced as new delegation staff. The delegation noted the presence of three senators who represent Harford County districts; senators do not vote in the delegation’s internal votes but often coordinate on cross‑filed bills. The chair closed the meeting with a motion to adjourn that was seconded by Delegate Steve Johnson and approved.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes from Feb. 15, 2024 — Motion: Approve minutes; Mover: Delegate Arkin; Second: not specified; Outcome: approved (vote tally not specified in transcript).
- Adjourn meeting — Motion: Adjourn; Mover: not specified; Second: Delegate Steve Johnson; Outcome: approved (vote tally not specified in transcript).

Sources and attribution

Quotes and attributions in this article come from meeting participants as recorded in the meeting transcript: Delegate Teresa Riley (chair), Delegate Arkin, Delegate Susan McComas (vice chair), Delegate Mike Griffith, Delegate Steve Johnson, Delegate Andre Johnson, Mackenzie Donaldson (delegation staff), Bob Casley (county executive office), and Larry Richardson (county executive administration).