Prince George’s County General Assembly Committee advances local bills, orders safety study for Routes 202 and 704

Prince George’s County’s General Assembly Committee on Sept. 16 voted to advance six local measures and asked county staff to pursue legal clarifications and implementation steps on several items, including a traffic-safety study for the high‑incident corridors on Routes 202 and 704 and a clarification of where revenue from a new vacant-and-abandoned property tax subclass would be deposited.

The committee, chaired by Chair Fisher, met to review bills held from last week and one new proposal. Committee members voted in favor of a pilot to allow beer and wine sales at grocery stores in areas identified as food deserts; advanced a high‑incident network corridor assessment for Routes 202 and 704; approved bills to unify procurement practices between county agencies and between bi‑county agencies; moved to clarify that revenue from a new vacant-and-abandoned property subclass could be directed to the county general fund; and approved a property tax credit concept aimed at economic development (originally framed as a restaurant tax credit) with an amendment to broaden it to “economic development.”

Why it matters: The measures create new tools for local economic development and public‑safety responses and require follow‑up work by the county executive’s office and the Office of Law. The vacancy/abandonment revenue question also prompted a request for clearer legal guidance from the Attorney General’s office and a coordinated response from the county attorney.

Most important votes and directions

- Pilot program to allow beer and wine sales in grocery stores located in designated food deserts: The committee voted to move the pilot forward. The roll call recorded Chair Fisher, Vice Chair Orianna and council members Burrows and Adam Stafford voting aye; Council member Ivy recorded an abstention. Motion carries, 4–0–1. The committee noted the county executive’s office is supportive of exploring a pilot. (Transcript timestamps: first discussion begins 71.8; vote roll called at 153.82–166.74.)

- High‑incident network corridor assessment (Routes 202 and 704): The committee voted unanimously to move the bill that would require a traffic study focused on high‑incident corridors, specifically Routes 202 and 704. Council member Adam Stafford and others emphasized recent multi‑vehicle crashes and higher county traffic‑fatality totals. The county executive’s office indicated support for the legislation and said it has communicated with the State Highway Administration about the corridors. Motion carries, 5–0. (Discussion begins ~201.7; motion and roll call ~450.6–480.9.)

- Unification of business procurement practices (county agencies and bi‑county agencies including Park and Planning and WSSC): Two related bills to unify procurement practices were advanced. The administration indicated willingness to work with the council to draft statewide enabling language where necessary; committee members stressed these bills will require substantial executive‑branch leadership to implement. Both motions carried, each 5–0. (Discussion begins ~486.2 and ~639.0 respectively; votes recorded ~624.0–638.96 and ~726.0–736.66.)

- Clarification that revenue from a vacant and abandoned property subclass goes to the county general fund: The committee voted 5–0 to move the measure and additionally asked the county executive’s legislative director and deputy chief of staff to work with the Office of Law to prepare a written response to an Attorney General opinion for further clarification. The county executive’s office said it supports the concept and is considering expanding definitions to include blighted properties, owner‑occupied but dilapidated parcels, and commercial properties not meeting standards. Committee members debated whether state law or the county charter limits use of such revenue; several members asked the county attorney to seek a clarification from the Maryland Attorney General’s office. The motion includes three directives: (1) favorable position on clarifying revenue for vacant and abandoned housing; (2) county executive’s legislative director and deputy chief of staff will follow up with the Office of Law to send a written response to the Attorney General requesting clarification; (3) the county executive will proceed with implementation efforts while legal questions are resolved. Motion carries, 5–0. (Discussion begins ~738.9; motion and roll ~1664.55–1691.99.)

- Property tax credit for restaurants (amended to economic development): The committee considered a new proposal intended as an economic development tool to encourage restaurants and other businesses to locate inside the Capital Beltway. The administration said it was supportive of the concept but asked for time to review and refine language. Committee members agreed to broaden the measure’s language from a restaurant‑only credit to a more general economic development tax credit. Motion carries, recorded 4–0 with amendment. The administration committed to work with the sponsoring council member on bill language. (Discussion begins ~1702.7; motion and roll ~1978.33–2008.99.)

Other discussion and follow up

- Traffic‑safety context: Council member Adam Stafford described sustained meetings with the State Highway Administration and said Prince George’s County had experienced a higher number of traffic fatalities in 2025 compared with neighboring counties, citing a figure of 34 traffic fatalities as of May 15, 2025. Stafford said the proposed study will help identify targeted improvements and budgeting priorities for problem corridors. (Stafford comments ~229.75–336.48.)

- Vacant/abandoned and blight enforcement: County staff described the strike force and enforcement efforts to address blighted and abandoned properties, and noted a backlog of 20,000–30,000 tickets the strike force is addressing. Staff noted some abatement costs have been large — an example figure cited in the meeting was about $60,000 to abate certain properties — and argued that using a specialized tax subclass could create revenue flexibility to address cleanup and maintenance costs. Council members asked for a presentation at a future Committee of the Whole meeting on strike‑force operations, starting points and progress on backlog reduction. (Discussion ~831.73–1361.17; request for presentation ~1405.41–1439.80.)

- Foreclosures: A committee member raised foreclosures as a county crisis and requested the committee consider a resolution asking the General Assembly to impose a statute of limitations on foreclosure filings and to ask the Attorney General to review mortgage‑lending practices affecting the county. Committee leadership said statewide priorities will be the focus of next month’s meeting and that foreclosure measures will be included on the list of statewide priorities for further action. (Discussion ~2022.30–2154.99.)

What the committee asked of the administration

- Prepare language and partner with council sponsors to craft state enabling legislation or local measures where needed (procurement unification, economic development tax credits). - County executive’s legislative director and deputy chief of staff to work with Office of Law to send a written request to the Maryland Attorney General to clarify whether revenue from the vacant/abandoned property subclass can be deposited to the county general fund and to clarify related charter limits. - Continue strike‑force enforcement work and provide a Committee of the Whole briefing on strike‑force origins, current backlog and next steps.

Next steps

Several of the measures advanced to the full council for consideration and the committee directed the executive branch to help craft language, pursue legal clarification, and be prepared to implement pilots if authorized.

Sources: Prince George’s County General Assembly Committee meeting transcript, Sept. 16, 2025. Direct quotes and attributions are taken from presenters and council members recorded in the meeting transcript.