Montgomery County Council to Hold Public Hearings on July 8, 15 and 22, 2025

For Immediate Release: Friday, June 20, 2025

The County Council will hold public hearings to receive testimony on new items introduced to the Council as follows:

July 8, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.
Deadline to sign up to speak is July 7 at 2 p.m.

Expedited Bill 16-25, Personnel – Employees’ Retirement System – Membership Requirements and Membership Group , would make certain emergency communications managers eligible for retirement group E, and generally amend the law regarding the employees’ retirement system.
Bill 17-25, Contracts and Procurement – General Provisions – Exemptions – Internet Access Service , would exempt the acquisition of Internet access service from procurement law.
Bill 18-25, Forest Conservation – Trees , would define a solar photovoltaic facility and remove afforestation requirements for such facilities, add new categories to the priorities of forest retention, reinstate forest mitigation banks that protect existing forests, remove significant trees from Tree Save Plan requirements, and generally amend the law governing Forest Conservation.
Expedited Bill 20-25, Economic Development Corporation – Economic Development Strategic Plan – Deadlines , would alter due dates associated with the preparation of an economic development strategic plan, and generally amend the law regarding the economic development corporation and the economic development strategic plan.
Bill 22-25, Labor Peace Agreements – Hotel Development Projects , would require certain employers, as a condition of the County’s economic participation in hotel development projects, to enter into labor peace agreements with labor organizations, establish minimum requirements for labor peace agreements, and generally amend the law regarding economic participation by the County in hotel development projects and labor peace agreements.
Bill 24-25, Transportation Demand Management – Repeal , would repeal Article II of Chapter 42A of the Montgomery County Code, and amend the law governing transportation demand management in the County.
Bill 21-25, Taxation – Day Care and Child Care Property Tax Credit , would increase eligibility for the daycare and childcare property tax credit, increase the amount of the tax credit, update terminology in accordance with state law, and generally amend the law regarding property tax credits in the County.
Bill 25-25, Taxation – Payments in Lieu of Taxes – Public Housing Authorities , would define housing authority, expand the automatic payment in lieu of taxes for public housing authorities of qualifying housing developments, modify the procedural method for executive regulations, make technical and stylistic changes, and generally amend the law governing a payment in lieu of real property taxes.

July 15, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.
Deadline to sign up to speak is July 14 at 2 p.m.

Expedited Bill 19-25, Noise Control – Leaf Removal Equipment – Seasonal Exemption , would provide an exemption for landscape professionals to use gas-powered leaf blower equipment during certain months of the year, set a sunset date for the seasonal exemption, and generally amend the law regarding noise control.
Expedited Bill 23-25, Early Care and Education Coordinating Entity , would specify the duties of the Early Care and Education Coordinating Entity, clarify the membership of the Board of the Early Care and Education Coordinating Entity, alter reporting requirements of the Entity, and generally amend the law regarding early care and education in the County.

July 22, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.
Deadline to sign up to speak is July 21 at 2 p.m.

Bill 26-25, Vegetation – Invasive Plants , would regulate weeds and invasive bamboo in the County, exempt native species from the requirements for weed removal, prohibit and provide penalties for selling invasive bamboo, and generally amend the laws regarding vegetation in the County.
Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 25-09, Funeral and Interment Services – Alkaline Hydrolysis , would allow alkaline hydrolysis as an accessory use in Funeral Home, Undertaker, allow alkaline hydrolysis in a Crematory, and generally amend the Funeral and Interment Services uses.
Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 25-10, Landscaping Requirements – Native Plants , would require native plants in landscaping, and generally amend the landscaping requirements.

A full list of upcoming public hearings is available on the Council Calendar . Review the public hearing frequently asked questions for additional information.

To testify in-person or remotely during a live public hearing at the Council Office Building, residents need to preregister on the Council’s web page . Residents may also choose to provide pre-recorded testimony in written, audio or video formats or submit testimony by mail.

Send testimony by mail to County Council, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD 20850; or residents may sign up to testify remotely by phone (call 240-777-7803 for information). To express an opinion call 240-777-7900.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Montgomery County Council provides reasonable accommodations to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to testify at public hearings. Email [email protected] or call the public hearing line (240-777-7803) at least five business days prior to the public hearing date to request an ADA accommodation (MD Relay – Dial 711 or 800-201-7165).

The Council meeting schedule may change from time to time. View the current Council and Committee agendas, Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review on the Council website.

Public hearings will be televised live by County Cable Montgomery (CCM) on Xfinity channels 6 and 996, RCN channels 6 and 1056; and FiOS channel 30. Also available live via streaming through the Council website , Facebook Live ( @MontgomeryCountyMdCouncil or @ConcejodelCondadodeMontgomery ), or YouTube ( @MoCoCouncilMD ).

How to Sign Up for Public Hearings

The Stay Council Connected video series is a step-by-step guide to navigating the Montgomery County Council that offers instructions for residents.

Release ID: 25-216
Media Contact: Sara Tenenbaum

For updates and link to press release, see here: http://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail.aspx?Item_ID=47242

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