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Calvert County adopts ordinance to implement state ethics law (House Bill 834)
Summary
The Board of County Commissioners adopted an ordinance to implement provisions of Chapter 370, Laws of Maryland (2024), commonly called House Bill 834, requiring public disclosure of certain Ethics Commission recommendations and enabling local removal processes.
The Calvert County Board of Commissioners voted Aug. 5 to adopt an ordinance implementing Chapter 370, Laws of Maryland (2024), commonly referenced in the meeting as House Bill 834. The ordinance amends Chapter 41 of the Calvert County Code to align local procedures with the state law changes.
Emily Shreve, constituent services specialist and staff liaison to the Calvert County Ethics Commission, read the commission’s memo and summarized the background: the county ethics commission had held a public hearing on July 15 and closed the record; no written comments were received during the advertised period. The commission recommended amendments to implement the state law requiring public disclosure of recommendations to expel a commissioner and authorizing local removal for conflict‑of‑interest violations.
Shreve said the Ethics Commission requested that the Board review and, if appropriate, adopt the ordinance to implement the 2024 law. The board voted by voice to adopt and enact the ordinance as presented.
The county attorney’s office coordinated the amendment language with the Ethics Commission, and staff stated there was no fiscal impact associated with the change. The meeting record shows the board adopted the ordinance by a voice vote; the motion carried.
The county will publish the adopted ordinance and apply the new public‑disclosure and removal procedures outlined by the state law moving forward.
