Anne Arundel County Council Legislative Session — May 4, 2026

On May 4, 2026, the Anne Arundel County Council held its legislative session, presided over by Chair Hummer. The source material did not include an agenda or minutes. The Council approved prior minutes, introduced two resolutions, heard public testimony on several bills, passed supplementary appropriations and National Business Park North financial district measures, acted on multiple Region 5 rezoning amendments, and advanced a cannabis dispensary siting bill. Several bills were continued to May 18, 2026, and the Council adjourned to May 11, 2026, at 10 a.m. for FY27 budget department presentations.

Consent Calendar / Routine Approvals

• The Council approved, as read, the minutes of the April 20, 2026 legislative session and closed session, after a motion that partial reading constitutes reading of the whole.
• No bills were introduced. Resolutions 1026 and 1126 were introduced, endorsing Maryland Economic Development Assistance Fund financial assistance to Holly Poultry Incorporated and Intuitive Machines LLC, respectively.
• Councilmember Fiedler was added as cosponsor to Bill 1926.

Public Comments & Testimony

Open Invitation

• A resident referred to in the transcript as Mr. Namharn/Nimhard commended County Executive Pittman for publicly supporting Councilwoman Lisa Ryan’s bill to keep developer money out of politics, noted that bill was voted down 5-2, and argued the Pittman administration’s apology for slavery should be backed by action on Freetown residents’ concerns about developer exploitation. He cited preservation of 47 acres in Annapolis at the cost of 76 townhouses and said twice as many townhouses are proposed in half as much land in Freetown.
• Kurt Svenson of Arnold spoke about written testimony on impact fees, drawing on 25 years as the county government’s impact fee subject matter expert. He said an impact fee bill would be introduced as “a political gesture” and called on the Council to confront examples of government capture.
• Jan Randall was told her comments concerned the Region 5 agenda item and would be heard when the Council reached that item.

Region 5 Bills 1726 and 1826

• The joint public hearing on Bill 1726 and Bill 1826 received 2 online testimony pieces for Bill 1726 and 14 for Bill 1826. Councilmember Rodbyan asked testifiers to identify the property they were discussing.
• Jim Holman of Myers Station Road opposed additional Two Rivers homes, referencing 377 proposed additional homes on top of 2,060 already approved. He urged the Council to adopt the bills without developer-driven amendments and to follow the Region 5 advisory committee and Planning and Zoning recommendations.
• Laura Murray of Two Rivers said she is preparing an application concerning St. John’s AME Zion Baptist Church as a potential Underground Railroad and African American historical resource. She asked the Council to defer approval or impose binding conditions until historic/archaeological review, including a Phase I survey and traffic impact study, because the church is about 2.5 miles from the proposed development and shares an overburdened access road.
• Judy Wagner of Two Rivers supported the provision in Bill 1826 rezoning parcel O from R2 to open space in the Two Rivers PUD and urged the Council to consult the Office of Law on the county’s legal authority to reconcile the zoning map with the PUD.
• William Staffi and owner Don Ord, representing Aztec Electric/Colonial Electric at 697 Maryland Route 3 North, asked the Council to correct a tax-map error dating to a 1940s deed and retain C2 zoning; they said they were not requesting any upzoning.
• Jan Randall argued the county should enforce the contract she signed with the Two Rivers developers, saying they promised her home and open space in parcels N and O. She said 377 additional homes would be non-contiguous, conflict with rural agricultural zoning of one dwelling per 20 acres, and add traffic to a state-designated level two protected road.
• Mark Gast of Myers Station Road said Two Rivers builders had violated covenants and promises, and he cited traffic, police, fire, school capacity, power outages, and wastewater capacity concerns. He asked the Council to oppose the amendments.
• Sarah Matthews of 2401 Queen Mitchell Road supported Councilwoman Ledbetter’s amendment to rezone her property to C2 commercial office, asking for the same designation as the neighboring Goddard School property because Queen Mitchell Road has already become a commercial corridor.
• Regis Fale of Grace Ford Road said the developer’s past dishonesty did not warrant future approvals and described overbuilding, traffic on emergency roads, and disregard for covenants.
• Manisha Farake and Mehu Kareck, owners of the Goddard School at 2404 Queen Mitchell Road, requested full C2 zoning for their split-zoned lot. They said they had operated the school for 15 years, notified neighbors by letter, and received no opposition.
• A sixth-generation farmer at 575 Graceford Road, whose 100-acre farm is in a farm preserve, opposed the proposed density and asked council members to visit Route 3 and the surrounding area before approving more homes.
• Karen Eggloff supported Councilmember Fiedler’s amendment to keep the family property at 876 Maple Road at its existing C1 zoning instead of being downzoned to RLD. She said the family has owned the land for more than 100 years.
• Brenda Fernandez supported the OPZ and Planning Advisory Board recommendation for R1 zoning for 2419 Blooming Way and requested a survey before any higher density because the property’s feasibility report did not cover access, which she said is controlled by another owner and created fire and ambulance access risks.

Bill 1926

• One online testimony piece was received for Bill 1926, the daycare tax credit bill. No one spoke at the public hearing.

Bill 2926

• Six online testimony pieces were received for Bill 2926, the cannabis dispensary siting bill. Public speakers included:
  • Eddie Pounds, attorney and lobbyist for Vital Dispensary at 91 Ritchie Highway in Pasadena, said the dispensary is a social equity licensee, was purchased about four months earlier for $3 million, is making interior-only renovations, and is working with the nearby church. He cautioned the Council not to adopt a measurement standard that conflicts with state code provisions governing alcohol retail stores, which he said use entryway-to-entryway measurement.
  • Reverend John Knupp of Pasadena United Methodist Church supported the bill. He said the church has operated there since 1958, hosts the Pasadena Early Learning Center serving more than 60 children daily, and has a playground just under 300 feet from the proposed dispensary property. He noted state distance requirements for cannabis were cut in half from 1,000 feet for liquor stores to 500 feet.
  • Jeff Kubick of Dalesway Drive supported the bill and said it was harder to open a liquor store or plasma center than a cannabis dispensary. He noted the 2023 bill that reduced restrictions was unanimous.
  • Dr. Alexander Dix, clinical director for Vital Dispensary, presented scientific counterpoints, saying no lethal dose of cannabis has been established, cannabis dependence rates are lower than alcohol or tobacco, teen cannabis use has declined, and dispensaries verify IDs.
  • Jennifer Jackson of Pasadena said she has supported and visited licensed dispensaries, but opposed this site near schools and homes, agreed with the 100-foot residential buffer, and criticized Vital’s community outreach.
  • Steve Clark of Dalesway Drive supported the bill, argued security cameras showed a need for buffers, and said state law lacked a clear definition of how the 500-foot distance is measured.
  • Barbara Clark, a registered nurse, supported the bill and cited a December 1, 2025 Washington State Institute for Public Policy study concluding that people living near licensed marijuana stores were more likely to be diagnosed with cannabis use disorder, including a 13% higher likelihood for ages 12-20.
  • Brian Riley of Pasadena United Methodist Church raised concerns about public notice and the proximity of the proposed dispensary to a church-operated daycare, saying even perceived risk could affect families’ choices.
  • Lara Stumpfall expressed concerns about cannabis odor from an existing dispensary and exposure to children, youth, and people in addiction recovery near the proposed site.
  • Mike Stumfall said the Council should strengthen regulations to the full extent state law allows, not loosen them, and questioned whether an outright property purchase showed too much legal gray area.
  • Lee Augsberger, executive pastor of Severna Park Evangelical Presbyterian Church at 114 Ritchie Highway, supported the bill. He said his church has hundreds of weekend participants, child programs, a homeschool co-op, and a food pantry, and he stated the proposed site is 448 feet door-to-door from the church building.

Discussion Items

Bill 2626 — National Business Park North Special Taxing District Boundary Modification

• Administration representative Ethan Hunt said the bill adds newly acquired parcels to the tax increment financing district.
• Jacob Hoffner of Arnold raised concerns about COPT, describing it as a $3.6 billion corporation, noting large asset-manager ownership, and mentioning roughly $56 million in annual AWS payments to COPT. He framed the decision as part of broader wealth concentration.
• Councilmember Smith supported the bill, saying businesses in National Business Park North support Fort Meade, the National Security Agency, and U.S. Cyber Command.
• The bill passed 6-1, with Councilmember Rodbyan voting no.

Resolution 626 — National Business Park North Development District Boundary Amendment

• This companion resolution amended the development district boundaries. No public testimony was received, and the resolution was adopted 6-1, with Councilmember Rodbyan voting no.

Bill 2726 — National Business Park North Refunding Bonds

• Administration said the bond issuance recitals had to be amended because the tax district boundaries changed.
• Jacob Hoffner again spoke, asking for accountability and visibility rather than asking the Council to vote no.
• Councilmember Volkey noted the 24.5-acre addition tracks a project for two data storage centers and a parking garage and tied it to a prior resolution studying data and energy use.
• The bill passed 7-0.

Bill 2526 — Current Expense Budget Supplementary Appropriations

• The bill appropriated $10,515,000 from unappropriated fund balance and transferred $8,098,900 from CAO contingency, for a total of $18,613,900.
• Allocations included $10 million to the Self Insurance Fund, $515,000 to the Workforce Development Corporation, $1.22 million in personal services for public works, $5,520,400 in contractual services, $1,305,800 in supplies and materials, and $50,000 in personal services for the partnership for children, youth, and families.
• Councilmember Volkey confirmed that about $8 million related to emergency “ICE Mageddon” work by contractors and DPW.
• Susan Harold of Central Services said the Self Insurance Fund needed $10 million primarily because of rising workers’ compensation claims, including a 7% increase in claims and a 17% increase in cost, plus medical inflation, higher payroll, and Child Victims Act cases. She said five non-workers’ compensation claims, including a cyber incident, were above the typical two to three.
• The bill passed 7-0.

Bills 1726 and 1826 — Region 5 General Development Plan and Comprehensive Zoning

• Administration said these bills adopt the Region 5 plan and comprehensive rezoning, the last of nine regions rezoned over about two and a half years.
• The Council considered six amendments to each bill. The following amendments were adopted:
  • Amendments 3 and 6 (876 Maple Road) retained commercial land use and C1 zoning rather than the recommended RLD; adopted 7-0 each.
  • Amendments 4 and 7 (814 Maryland Route 3 South) changed planned land use from mixed use to commercial and zoning from MXD to C3/C4, removing the mixed-use development policy area overlay; adopted 7-0 each.
  • Amendments 5 and 8 (697 Maryland Route 3 North) corrected the Aztec Electric property’s planned land use to commercial and zoning to C2; adopted 7-0 each.
  • Amendments 6 and 9 (2404 Queen Mitchell Road) changed planned land use to commercial and zoning to C2 for the Goddard School property; adopted 7-0 each.
  • Amendment 7 to Bill 1726, which would have changed the Meyer Station Road parcel’s land use from rural to low-density residential and its development policy area to neighborhood preservation, was defeated 0-7. OPZ objected, citing Plan 2040 goals, rural character, traffic and flooding concerns, and water-quality protections. Councilmember Volkey suggested keeping the rural land-use designation while allowing a narrower zoning change.
  • Amendment 10 to Bill 1826 then changed part of the same Meyer Station Road parcel from RA to R1 while leaving the rural land-use designation in place; it was adopted 6-1, with Councilmember Smith voting no. OPZ reiterated its objection.
  • Amendments 8 and 11 (2401 Queen Mitchell Road) changed planned land use to commercial and zoning to C2; adopted 7-0 each.
• Bills 1726 and 1826, as amended, were continued to May 18, 2026.

Bill 1926 — Real Property Tax Credit for Daycare Centers

• The sponsor said the bill supports child and adult daycare businesses by providing a real property tax credit of up to $4,000 over 10 years in Anne Arundel County, citing the state Comptroller’s State of the Economy series on challenges facing the child care industry.
• Administration expressed support. All councilmembers became cosponsors. The bill passed 7-0.

Bill 2826 — C4 Accessory Apartment Dwelling Units

• Councilmember Volkey said the bill adds as a permitted use in the C4 zoning district an accessory apartment dwelling unit, which is already permitted in C1, C2, and C3, provided the entrance is separate from the commercial use.
• Administration said it was comfortable with the bill. No public testimony was received. The bill passed 7-0.

Bill 2926 — Cannabis Dispensary Conditional Use Requirements

• Councilmember Volkey said the bill was community-driven and would add county setback requirements for licensed dispensaries, growers, and processors of cannabis: 500 feet from schools, playgrounds, recreation centers, libraries, public parks, places of worship, licensed child care centers, and registered family child care homes; 100 feet from residential-use properties; and separation from other dispensaries.
• The Office of Law raised a legal concern about the proposed half-mile dispensary-to-dispensary separation, so Councilmember Volkey offered Amendment 1 to change it to 1,000 feet.
• Administration opposed the bill. Jansen Evelyn and others argued it was a countywide response to one Pasadena siting conflict, departed from the framework unanimously adopted in 2023 under Bill 5623, and that lot-line-to-lot-line measurements or a 100-foot residential buffer would reduce available sites and create a checkerboard effect in mixed-use areas. Administration preferred lot-line-to-entryway measurement and said 10 licensed dispensaries currently operate in the county.
• Amendment 1 was adopted 7-0. Bill 2926 as amended was continued to May 18, 2026.

Resolution 926 — Selection of Independent Auditor

• The resolution selected SC&H Group as the independent certified public accountants to perform the financial audit for fiscal year 2026.
• No public testimony was received. The resolution was adopted by voice vote.

Key Outcomes

• Passed/adopted: Bill 2626 (6-1), Resolution 626 (6-1), Bill 2726 (7-0), Bill 2526 (7-0), Bill 1926 (7-0), Bill 2826 (7-0), and Resolution 926 (voice vote).
• Defeated: Amendment 7 to Bill 1726 (0-7).
• Continued to May 18, 2026: Bills 1726 and 1826 as amended, and Bill 2926 as amended.
• The Council adjourned to May 11, 2026, at 10 a.m. for FY27 budget department presentations.