Also on Oct. 20: Council will vote on several bills, including legislation to prevent rent setting algorithms, expand consumer protections, authorize speed monitoring systems in certain school zones and highways identified as high-risk for crashes, prohibit participation in unlawful racing and street takeovers, expand survivor benefits for certain public safety employees killed in the line of duty and more
The Montgomery County Council will meet on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 9 a.m., and the meeting will begin with two proclamation presentations. The first, presented by Councilmembers Laurie-Anne Sayles, Kate Stewart and Council Vice President Marilyn Balcombe, will recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The second, presented by Councilmembers Stewart, Kristin Mink and Evan Glass, will recognize International Pronouns Day. At 1:15 p.m., Councilmember Andrew Friedson will present a proclamation recognizing National Arts and Humanities Month.
More detail on each agenda item is provided below.
Bill 51-26, Streets and Roads – Public Hearing Requirements, Amendments
Introduction: Lead sponsor Councilmember Glass will introduce Bill 51-26, Streets and Roads – Public Hearing Requirements, Amendments, which would modify public hearing requirements for a sidewalk or side path. Bill 51-26 would reduce the administrative public hearing requirement for sidewalk or side path construction but still retain a community-support mechanism. In addition, the bill would lower the number of property owners required to sign a petition to waive the public hearing, from a majority of property owners to at least 25 percent of property owners located on the proposed route of the sidewalk or path.
The legislation would further expedite the administrative approval process by allowing faster construction of noncontroversial sidewalks and hiker-biker paths that have substantial community support, are in the public right-of-way and don’t require detailed engineering design.
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Bill 8-26, Landlord-Tenant Relations – Prohibition Against Price Coordination and Rent-Setting Algorithms, which would prohibit the use of algorithmic devices to establish rents or rental terms in the County, prohibit price coordination regarding rents or rental terms, and provide enforcement measures. The purpose of Bill 8-26 is to prevent price fixing and collusion that may result in higher rents for County residents.
The lead sponsor of Bill 8-26 is Councilmember Jawando. Councilmembers Shebra Evans and Mink are cosponsors. The Planning, Housing, and Parks (PHP) Committee recommends enactment with amendments.
Expedited Bill 16-26, Consumer Protection – Amendments (Financial Exploitation Protection Act)
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Expedited Bill 16-26, Consumer Protection, Amendments, or the Financial Exploitation Protection Act, which intends to provide protection from financial exploitation for vulnerable adults and individuals who are at least 68 years old. Bill 16-26 would permit the Office of Consumer Protection to operate a voluntary mediation program; define the term vulnerable adult under the consumer protection law; prohibit, as a deceptive trade practice, the use of deception, intimidation, or undue influence to obtain money, property, or services from a vulnerable adult; and prohibit, as a deceptive trade practice, the use of deception, intimidation, or undue influence to obtain money, property, or services from an individual who is at least 68 years old.
The lead sponsor of Expedited Bill 16-26 is Councilmember Stewart. All other Councilmembers are cosponsors. The Public Safety (PS) Committee recommends passing the bill as introduced.
Bill 17-26, Motor Vehicles and Traffic – Speed Monitoring Systems Authorized – Amendments
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Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Bill 17-26, Motor Vehicles and Traffic – Speed Monitoring Systems Authorized, Amendments, which would authorize the use of speed monitoring systems within certain school zones and the use of speed monitoring systems on certain highways in the County. In 2025, the Maryland General Assembly enacted legislation to allow municipalities and Montgomery County to use the high crash risk corridors in their highway safety plans to study and place automated speed monitoring systems. The purpose of the bill is to amend the Montgomery County Code as authorized by state law.
The lead sponsor of Bill 17-26 is the Council President at the request of the County Executive. Councilmembers Dawn Luedtke and Jawando are cosponsors. The Transportation and Environment (TE) Committee recommends enactment with amendments.
Bill 27-26, Motor Vehicles and Traffic – Unlawful Racing and Street Takeovers – Prohibited
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Bill 27-26, Motor Vehicles and Traffic – Unlawful Racing and Street Takeovers – Prohibited, which would prohibit participation in unlawful racing and street takeovers on public highways or roadways. In addition, Bill 27-26 would define certain terms related to unlawful racing and street takeovers and establish penalties for such violations.
In response to recent instances of racing, speed contests and exhibition driving, the Maryland General Assembly enacted legislation to increase penalties for participation in racing or speed contests and prohibited exhibition driving, all in certain circumstances as defined under state law. Bill 27-26 would create County law to prohibit unlawful speed contests, exhibition driving, stunt driving or race contests.
The lead sponsor of Bill 27-26 is Councilmember Friedson. Council Vice President Balcombe and Councilmembers Sidney Katz and Luedtke are cosponsors. The PS Committee recommends enactment with amendments.
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Expedited Bill 32-26, Employees’ Retirement System – Survivor Benefits – Death During Line of Duty – Expanded Eligibility to Groups E and J. The legislation would increase death benefits to spouses, domestic partners and children of deputy sheriffs, correctional officers and certain emergency communications center personnel, who are killed in the line of duty.
The lead sponsors of Expedited Bill 32-26 are Councilmembers Luedtke, Glass and Katz. All other Councilmembers are cosponsors. The Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee recommends enactment with an amendment.
Bill 33-26, Cable Communications – Community Media Organizations -Requirements
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Bill 33-26, Cable Communications – Community Media Organizations, Requirement, which, as introduced, would require a community media organization that contracts with the County to adopt a racial equity and social justice statement. In addition, Bill 33-26 would require a community media organization that contracts with the County to include certain membership on the organization’s board of directors and require the community media organization to follow certain standards of public ethics and public access. The purpose of Bill 33-26 is to improve the governance structure of community media organizations in the County.
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The lead sponsor of Bill 33-26 is Councilmember Stewart. Council Vice President Balcombe and Councilmembers Katz and Evans are cosponsors. The GO Committee recommends enactment with amendments.
Bill 36-26, Fire and Emergency Services Commission – Duties and Responsibilities
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Bill 36-26, Fire and Emergency Services Commission – Duties and Responsibilities, which would revise the duties, responsibilities and authorities of the Fire and Emergency Services Commission. In addition, Bill 37-26 would establish a deadline for the commission’s annual report and mandatory meetings. The purpose of Bill 36-26 is to clarify the responsibilities and functions of the County’s existing Fire and Emergency Services Commission.
The lead sponsor of Bill 36-26 is Councilmember Luedtke. The PS Committee recommends enactment.
Each item on the Council’s Consent Calendar can be found on the Council agenda for Tuesday, Oct. 20, which is available on the Council website.
Unless otherwise noted, the Council will hold the following hybrid public hearings at 1:30 p.m. Residents can visit the Council website to learn about the multiple ways to provide testimony.
Public hearing and vote expected: The Council will hold a public hearing and is expected to vote on a $1.65 million supplemental appropriation for the Economic Development Fund Grant and Loan Program. This appropriation is needed to fulfill an economic development commitment to a private employer for its relocation to Montgomery County.
Resolution to approve the 2026-2035 Comprehensive Water Supply and Sewerage Systems Plan Update
Review and straw vote expected: The Council will review and is expected to hold a preliminary vote on a resolution to approve the 2026-2035 Comprehensive Water Supply and Sewerage Systems Plan for Montgomery County. The plan contains policy and technical updates on the County’s public water supply and sewerage systems that have changed since the 2022 comprehensive update of the plan.
The Transportation and Environment (TE) Committee recommends approval of the Executive’s 2026-2035 Comprehensive Water Supply and Sewerage Systems Plan with a series of changes. Additional details are available in the Council staff report.
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.
Council and committee meetings are streamed live on the Council’s web page via YouTube and on Facebook Live and can be watched on County Cable Montgomery on Xfinity/RCN 6 HD 996/1056, Fios 30, and on the CCM live stream.
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