Mayor and Council Set 2027 State Legislative Priorities – Mocofeed

General Assembly Session to Run Jan. 13-April 12

Rockville’s Mayor and Council have established their legislative priorities for the 2027 Maryland General Assembly session, which opens Wednesday, Jan. 13, in Annapolis.

The priorities address property tax relief; education, youth and senior services; transportation safety; tenant protections; municipal funding; and climate action.

The session, the Maryland General Assembly’s 451st, concludes Monday, April 12.

The city will seek:

Expanded eligibility for the state Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit for low- and moderate-income homeowners, including seniors and people with disabilities, to help offset rising living costs and the pressures of inflation.

State support for school construction and operations, childcare and education from birth through community college. This includes a fair share for Montgomery County of Blueprint for Maryland’s Future funding, to help avoid larger classes, furloughs and layoffs.

Restored Youth Service Bureau funding, more out-of-school activities and services for young people involved in repeat offenses who lack access to restorative support.

Additional funding for senior transportation, recreation, wellness, neighborhood programs, aging in place, village initiatives and outreach.

Modernized municipal revenue structures, a Maryland Municipal League priority, and protection of Highway User Revenue and police aid that help fund Rockville’s infrastructure and public safety services.

Tenant protections requiring good cause for evictions and lease nonrenewals, disclosure of rental fees and annual rent history, and prohibitions on certain algorithmic tools used to set residential rents.

Legislation advancing the city’s Vision Zero and master plan efforts, including:

• Comparative negligence legislation allowing injured pedestrians to recover damages based on their share of fault. 
• State responsibility and dedicated funding for maintaining sidewalks, bicycle pathways and other transportation facilities along state roads, including streetlights at state intersections. 
• Authority for local stop sign monitoring in school zones and legislation allowing crosswalk monitoring systems. 

State action to reduce streetlight outages and the resulting need for police overtime.

“Don’t Block the Box” legislation preventing drivers from entering intersections they cannot clear.

Regional transportation authorities and additional Complete Streets improvements on Rockville Pike (MD 355), Veirs Mill Road and other state roads with high crash or fatality totals.

Rockville adopted its Vision Zero Action Plan in 2020 to work toward eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries and recently launched the “It’s Up to Us …” campaign calling on drivers, walkers, bikers and transit riders to actively pay attention, obey traffic laws and watch out for one another. Learn more at rockvillemd.gov/visionzero.

Climate legislation supporting the city’s goals to cut greenhouse gas emissions, advance equity and strengthen resilience.

Requirements for boards of education to consult municipalities and include municipal data in annual student residency and school zone reports. The city also supports authority to negotiate agreements with Montgomery County to direct school impact tax revenue to schools near the development generating it.

Consideration of paid-leave rules allowing municipalities to provide equivalent or better family and medical leave benefits through continued salary payments instead of the state insurance model.

Bond Initiatives

Two funding options will be shared with the District 17 delegation, which represents Rockville in the legislature, for guidance on their prospects for receiving state capital funding:

Playground equity improvements ($700,000): $350,000 to replace 25-year-old equipment at Lone Oak Park with an inclusive playground to meet accessibility requirements, and $350,000 to enhance playground accessibility at Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park.

Improvements to City Hall accessibility and security ($550,000): Restroom upgrades, including a gender-neutral restroom and adult-changing station, along with doorway improvements and security upgrades.

The Mayor and Council will also monitor legislation addressing native and invasive species, including spotted lanternfly control; tenant issues; local development review and planning and zoning authority; pedestrian, bicycle and transportation safety; financial empowerment; single-staircase buildings; and patio solar use.

The proposed priorities were considered by the Mayor and Council at a Sept. 14 work session. Find meeting materials at rockvillemd.gov/agendacenter, or contact Linda Moran at lmoran@rockvillemd.gov or 240-314-8115.

---

Read the original article at rockville