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Centreville lobbyist reports halfway point of legislative session, flags budget deficit and bills that could affect municipalities
Summary
Ashley Bagwell of Harris Jones & Malone briefed the council on the state legislative session’s halfway mark, citing a $2 billion budget deficit, bills on speed cameras and local food/beverage taxes, accessory dwelling unit proposals and ongoing monitoring of highway user revenues and Bay restoration grant applications.
Ashley Bagwell of Harris Jones & Malone told the Centreville Town Council on Feb. 20 that the state legislative session had reached the halfway point and that two major themes — the state budget and energy/transmission issues — are consuming much of lawmakers’ time.
Bagwell, the town's contract lobbyist, said the governor's budget proposal includes a roughly $2,000,000,000 shortfall and that lawmakers are considering a separate budget reconciliation and financing bill with revenue proposals. “Tomorrow marks the halfway point,” Bagwell said, adding the session is unusually challenging because of the budget situation.
Bills Bagwell highlighted that could affect municipalities include a speed‑camera bill that would allow jurisdictions without a police department to operate speed cameras (the Senate version had passed and retained momentum), and a proposal to permit a 3% local food and beverage tax through admissions and amusement taxation — the future of which was uncertain at the time of the briefing. Bagwell said the Maryland Municipal League and Maryland Association of Counties are tracking and engaging on an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) bill; both organizations have concerns and are soliciting local testimony.
Bagwell also said Centreville staff submitted two Bay restoration fund applications — one to maintain previously awarded funding and a second new application — and that the lobbying team is working with congressional staff on potential federal funding opportunities. She advised council members that the town is watching highway user revenues closely and that a special session in the fall remains possible depending on federal revenue estimates scheduled for mid‑March.
Council members asked clarifying questions about specific bills, including the speed threshold that triggers speed‑camera violations. Bagwell said she would verify technical details such as whether the trigger is 10 or 12 miles per hour over the posted limit and follow up with staff.
Provenance: Bagwell’s presentation and council Q&A are recorded in the legislative update segment of the meeting transcript.
