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City lobbyist summarizes Maryland General Assembly session and funding wins for College Park
Summary
The city’s lobbyist reviewed the recent Maryland legislative session, outlining state laws and budget provisions that could affect College Park, including authority expansions for municipalities, tax-credit options for large family childcare homes and state funding earmarks for local projects.
College Park’s lobbyist briefed the City Council Monday on the 2025 Maryland General Assembly session, outlining enacted legislation, municipal priorities that advanced and state budget items that could provide funding for local projects.
The lobbyist said the 2025 budget closed with roughly a $3 billion shortfall statewide that was addressed by $2 billion in cuts and $1 billion in revenue increases, but municipalities generally fared better than counties. He said municipalities coordinated through the Maryland Municipal League and made progress on municipal land-use authority discussions, although a county-level change stalled further action this year.
During his report the lobbyist highlighted several enacted or pending items with direct municipal relevance: a statute expanding municipal tax-credit authority for childcare operators to include large family child‑care homes (localities must opt in and the state caps the credit at $10,000 per provider); statutory recognition and encouragement of accessory dwelling units for local planning; expanded certification options for speed‑camera program staff (allowing certified technicians rather than only sworn officers, an option of interest to cities without municipal police); and legislation to increase potential civil fines available to municipalities for serious ordinance violations (the bill was sent to the governor’s desk). He also noted a major prescription-drug affordability bill that establishes upper payment limits and may lower costs for the city’s employee health plan.
The lobbyist reviewed FY26 budget items that include College Park‑specific or locally relevant allocations: funds for redevelopment projects in the Discovery District and related sites, funding associated with University of Maryland campus projects, support toward College Park Airport property activities, $26 million budgeted for the North College Park Community Center (with prior city commitment of up to $1.5 million to leverage the work) and state funds for fire suppression work at the Attic Towers and a memorial-style meditation garden tied to youth services. He encouraged the council to consider state grant requests tied to the student presentation earlier in the meeting.
Councilmembers asked procedural questions about timing and implementation. Councilmember Whitney asked whether the childcare tax-credit would funnel directly to municipalities; the lobbyist said cities can choose whether to adopt the credit and the statutory cap is $10,000. Councilmembers discussed preparing early submissions of legislative priorities for next year’s Maryland Municipal League process and coordinating with the city’s delegation and the incoming county executive on municipal land-use authority.
The lobbyist warned of the potential for a federal shift of Medicaid costs to states and a likely special state legislative session in the fall to address any mid‑year shortfalls; he said that scenario would place many state funding streams “on the line” and could affect municipal funding sources.
Councilmembers thanked the lobbyist and staff for the summary and requested earlier coordination on next year’s legislative agenda.
