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Bel Air staff to file fiscal impact as commissioners weigh response to Senate Bill 47
Summary
Commissioner Angela briefed the board on Maryland Senate Bill 47, which would remove the requirement that municipalities provide a resolution for certain DHCD neighborhood business loans; staff will submit a fiscal‑impact statement and commissioners signaled opposition to losing local input.
Commissioner Angela raised Senate Bill 47 during the Jan. 27 Bel Air work session and asked staff to prepare a fiscal‑impact statement for the bill's committee hearing on Feb. 4.
She described the bill as drafted to "repeal the requirement that applications for the Neighborhood Business Development Program through the Department of Housing and Community Development would need a resolution from the local municipality." Angela and staff agreed the draft appears to remove local resolution authority while still providing written notice in some form; she said staff spoke with a DHCD contact to confirm the change would not affect unrelated grant programs such as Community Legacy or strategic demolition funds.
Several commissioners expressed concern that the bill would weaken local oversight. One commissioner said he opposed the bill because it "whittles away a little bit of local control," and others asked staff to submit a fiscal‑impact statement and, if warranted, a negative position or testimony before the Feb. 4 hearing. Staff confirmed they would file the fiscal impact and follow up on whether the town should submit formal opposition or testimony.
The hearing is scheduled for Feb. 4 at 2 p.m.; commissioners asked staff to report back quickly given the near term timeline.
