County attorney outlines 10 state‑legislation requests; commissioners approve most items

County Attorney John Norris reviewed a set of 10 proposed requests for state legislation that the county would ask its Annapolis delegation to file on Calvert County’s behalf. The list included seeking bond authority for community infrastructure, incentives to attract tech investment and job growth, codification of the compensation review board recommendations, a dedicated emergency‑services tax to fund volunteer fire and rescue, LOSAP (Length of Service Award Program) benefit changes, a hospital name change request, longer contract terms for certain public‑works infrastructure and excise‑tax relief for accessory dwelling units.

"As a form of government being the county commissioners, still being county commissioners, you only have the power and authority that Annapolis gives you," John Norris told the board as he described how enabling legislation and committee hearings work in Annapolis. After clarifying questions, the board moved and approved submission of requests 1–4 and 6–10 with bond authority amounts to be set during the budget process; request 5 — making certain historic tobacco barns eligible for a local tax credit — was discussed separately and later approved as enabling legislation with stated state caveats. Two commissioners publicly recused themselves from the request‑5 vote because of potential conflicts.