Howard County delegation approves amended community-college governance bill and theater liquor-license clarification

The Howard County delegation voted Wednesday, March 5, 2025, to approve amendments and pass two local bills: HOCO 1, which alters governance and training rules for the Howard County Board of Community College Trustees, and HOCO 20, which clarifies the county liquor board’s authority to set hours, fees and other conditions for liquor licenses at movie theaters.

The votes came at the start of the delegation’s March 5 meeting so members with other obligations could attend later committees. Delegation counsel explained the substantive changes before members debated and recorded their votes.

Mister Moriarty, counsel to the delegation, described the HOCO 1 amendment as establishing “that 5 members of the Board of Community College Trustees by Howard County constitutes a quorum,” and said it also “alters the training requirements” and removes language related to renewal of the college president’s contract. He told the delegation the amended bill would require the board to provide ongoing governance training at least every two years and would change a six‑month reporting requirement on the faculty union contract so an update is no longer required “once the faculty union contract has been finalized.”

Several delegates expressed misgivings about state interference in the community college’s internal operations but voted for the amended bill after negotiated changes. Delegate Atterberry said he found it “really unfortunate that we are voting on this” and that the delegation should not be in a position “to regulate the community college,” but added he supported the amendment after removal of the contract‑renewal language. Delegate Hill and Delegate Fadwick echoed concerns about prescribing quorum rules and said they would continue to press for changes as the bill moves through the General Assembly. Despite reservations, the amendment and the bill as amended passed on recorded assent.

HOCO 20 originally authorized liquor licenses at movie theaters; the amendment clarified scope of the county liquor board’s power. As explained by counsel and by Delegate Feldmark (who introduced the amendment), the bill originally stated the board “may set the hours and days of sale for the license and the annual license fee.” The amendment inserts language expressly allowing the board to impose “any additional limitations and requirements for the license that they may deem necessary,” resolving differing interpretations between the bill drafters and the county office of law. Delegates voted to adopt the amendment and then approved the bill as amended.

Votes at a glance - HOCO 1 (amended): Motion to approve amendment moved and seconded; amendment approved; motion to pass HOCO 1 as amended approved. Several delegates explicitly recorded “yes” votes during roll call, including Chair Wu, Delegate Atterberry, Delegate Fadwick, Delegate Cassoni, Delegate Hill and Delegate Watson; the chair announced the amendment and the bill as amended passed. (Transcript roll call: multiple delegates voiced assent; full audio roll-call list in meeting record.) - HOCO 20 (amended): Motion to approve amendment moved and seconded; amendment approved; motion to pass HOCO 20 as amended approved. Roll call recorded multiple “yes” votes and the chair announced the bill as amended passed.

What the bills change and next steps - HOCO 1 (Board of Community College Trustees): Sets a quorum threshold (five members), mandates governance training at least every two years, removes specified language about public procedures for the college president’s contract renewal, and alters a six‑month faculty‑contract reporting requirement so updates are no longer required once the faculty union contract is finalized. Counsel described the removal of the contract‑renewal provisions as the key negotiated change that persuaded several delegates to support the bill. The bill will proceed through the General Assembly process as the delegation’s approved local position. - HOCO 20 (movie‑theater liquor licenses): Clarifies that the county liquor board may set hours, license fees and any other limitations or conditions it deems necessary for theater liquor licenses. The amendment was framed as aligning statutory text with the original legislative intent and to avoid conflicting interpretations by the county office of law.

Delegation members said they would continue discussions with the affected institutions — notably the community college for HOCO 1 — as both measures move forward in Annapolis. The record shows recorded assent but also multiple members urging continued engagement with the college’s leadership and the county office of law.

Formal actions taken at the meeting are reflected in the delegation’s minutes and recorded roll-call audio; members who spoke during debate are identified in the meeting transcript.