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Rockville staff propose 2026 state legislative priorities; council adds public‑health and tenant‑transparency items
Summary
City staff presented proposed state legislative priorities and two candidate legislative bond initiatives for 2026; the Mayor and Council asked staff to add public‑health support for the state Medicaid safety net and vaccine access, algorithmic pricing oversight, and tenant transparency on recent rent increases.
City staff presented a proposed set of State Legislative Priorities and two candidate legislative bond initiatives for 2026 at the Sept. 15 meeting, and the Mayor and Council provided additional direction.
Linda Moran, staff lead on state legislative affairs, summarized the proposed priorities: modernization of municipal revenue structures (including potential changes to admissions and amusement tax and a local government revenues work group), support for youth‑services funding, strengthening tenant protections, expanding access to property tax credits for low‑income seniors and people with disabilities, support for Vision Zero and the Pedestrian Master Plan, educational funding needs, senior programming, and climate‑action measures.
Staff proposed two legislative bond initiative (LBI) options for delegation discussion: (1) pedestrian‑bridge replacement projects at Twinbrook Park and Dogwood Park (combined request presented at $570,000) and (2) a gender‑neutral restroom project (presented with a $150,000 state ask). Staff said they would share these options with District 17 legislators to solicit their feedback on likelihood of success.
During discussion, councilmembers suggested additions and clarifications. Councilmember Mark Valeri (sp.) proposed adding advocacy for the state healthcare safety net (including monitoring Medicaid and federal funding risks) and ensuring vaccine access; councilmembers also asked staff to track algorithmic pricing and to clarify tenant‑protection measures. Councilmembers discussed rent‑increase transparency as a tenant‑protection priority; several suggested a shorter disclosure window (two to three years) that would allow prospective and renewing tenants to see recent rent‑increase history before signing leases.
Councilmembers also asked staff to explore whether the state noise/stop‑sign monitoring pilot can accommodate direct municipal participation rather than county‑managed contracting, and to follow up with Delegate staff on the pilot’s contracting status.
Staff said a final resolution adopting Rockville’s 2026 legislative priorities would be prepared for Council adoption Oct. 6 and presented to the Montgomery County delegation at its Nov. 19 hearing. City state lobbyist and Rec & Parks staff participated remotely and were available for technical questions during the discussion.
