Commissioners enact compensation-review commission; three bills introduced, including ag preservation fund tied to solar projects

Caroline County Commissioners completed a short legislative session on Sept. 23 that included final enactment of a compensation-review commission and the official introduction of two additional local bills.

Enactment: Legislative Bill 2025‑009, “An Act to create the Caroline County Compensation Review Commission,” was enacted after third reading. The law repeals and reenacts section 18‑5 of the county code to confirm current rates and allowances for county commissioners and to establish a compensation review commission charged with studying commissioner compensation and reporting back. County staff said the legislation will take effect 45 days after enactment and that the commission must report back by Dec. 15 (dates cited in the presentation). The board recorded the vote as “ayes” on the motion to enact.

Introductions: The board accepted the official introduction and set the public‑hearing schedule for two bills: - Legislative Bill 2025‑010 (Chapter 149, Right to Farm): the bill proposes to change the required composition of the Caroline County Agricultural Reconciliation Committee by removing specified seat requirements (for example the requirement that two members be from the agricultural community and at least one be from a municipality) and replacing them with a requirement that all members be county residents. Public hearing notice was scheduled for Oct. 4, second reading and public hearing for Oct. 7, and third reading for Oct. 14; an effective date of Nov. 29 was noted in the introduction. - Legislative Bill 2025‑011 (Chapter 166, Taxation): the bill would create a Caroline County Agricultural Land Preservation Fund to receive compensatory preservation contributions when solar-energy generating stations or energy-storage devices are developed on land classified by the USDA as prime or statewide‑importance farmland. The proposed language ties use of the fund to the purchase of development rights through agricultural easements (including MALPF easements) and specifies that funds may be used only with written approval of the county commissioners. The bill was scheduled similarly for notice and hearings; commissioners discussed moving the new fund’s location in the code to the existing Ag Land Preservation chapter (Chapter 74) for clarity.

Votes at a glance: - Bill 2025‑009 (Compensation Review Commission): motion to enact; voice vote recorded as ayes; effective date noted as Nov. 8 (45 days after enactment) and commission report due Dec. 15. - Bill 2025‑010 (Right to Farm committee composition): motion to accept introduction and calendar; unanimous voice vote to introduce and proceed to scheduled hearings. - Bill 2025‑011 (Agricultural Land Preservation Fund / compensatory preservation contribution): motion to accept introduction and calendar; board approved introduction and directed staff to investigate placing related language in Chapter 74 (Ag Land Preservation) and to refine appraisal/valuation approach before public hearings.

Why it matters: Bill 2025‑011 would create a local funding mechanism intended to offset the loss of prime farmland when utility-scale solar or energy-storage projects are sited on agricultural land; commissioners discussed appraisal methods, potential percentages of appraised value for contributions and whether to coordinate with the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF) or local land‑conservation entities. Commissioners also debated where in the county code the new fund should be located to preserve flexibility and resist potential preemption or challenge.

Next steps: Staff will refine the draft language on appraisal and valuation (county‑approved appraisers and a two‑appraiser average were discussed) and continue the legislative calendar through the posted public‑hearing dates.