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Dorchester County lays out 2025 legislative priorities, flags solar siting and local rule changes
Summary
County leaders met with state legislators Oct. 22 to discuss proposed 2025 bills including a change to Local Government Article §10-312(f) on lease advertisement notice, proposals to limit passing on highway shoulders, juvenile crime legislation, privatizing perc testing, alcohol and venue license adjustments, and concerns over solar project siting and decommissioning.
Dorchester County Council members met with state legislators and delegates on Oct. 22 to outline a slate of priorities for the 2025 Maryland General Assembly session, spanning local procedural changes, public-safety proposals, and energy siting issues.
Council members pressed to amend Maryland's Local Government Article §10-312(f) so the county could enter leases of five years or less without the existing three-week publication requirement. Legislators indicated they will re-submit that language in the 2025 session and said letters of support and early filing help the bill process.
Council and legislative delegates discussed traffic-safety legislation to address vehicles passing on the shoulder, citing accidents on MD16 since current law passed. Delegates also flagged juvenile crime measures and corrections facility issues (audio/video requirements for housing juveniles waived as adults) and said they would seek guidance from the state Correctional Commission.
Delegate Tom Hutchinson said he expects a bill to authorize a county pilot to privatize percolation (perc) testing and noted that alcohol-related bills have a separate hearing path; the group discussed new licensing options under the Alcohol Beverage & Cannabis Article, including arts & entertainment and venue licenses, and possible adjustments to beer and wine festival and tasting licenses. The council asked the Delegation to consider excluding certain venue or art licenses from proximity distance restrictions from schools or places of worship.
Delegate Christopher T. Adams raised concerns about solar development on rural land and said that if sufficient opposition exists, the Public Service Commission should deny a project; he and other delegates said the Eastern Shore Delegation will convene a meeting with the PSC, Maryland Energy Administration and Department of Agriculture to clarify how state siting, county planning and private property rights intersect. At the meeting delegates estimated roughly 30,000 acres may be needed to meet State energy goals and said about 25 projects are currently in the regional queue.
Legislators urged the County to supply letters of support where appropriate and to pre-file bills early to allow time for evaluation. The meeting concluded with thanks and no public comments recorded.
