The Baltimore County Council held its first regular session of 2026 on January 6, 2026. The meeting began with a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance. The council unanimously re-elected Councilman Mike Urtell as Chair for 2026. The council also approved the journal, enrolled bills, introduced four new bills, approved three fiscal matters (contracts), and confirmed an appointment to the Community Reinvestment and Repair Commission. Public testimony addressed data centers, library staffing, animal services, and election accessibility.
Day one will now. Oh, good. Legislative day one will now come to order. Um I'd ask you to please pause for a moment of silent meditation and then we'll move on to the pledge. Thank you. Uh Councilman Patoka, could you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance tonight? Certainly. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, one God, individual with liberty and justice for all. I will now ask the secretary to conduct the election for the office of chair of county council for 2026. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh Mr. Chairman and members of the county council, pursuant to Section 302A of the County Charter, the Council at its first regular session of the calendar year is required to elect a chairperson from its membership by a majority vote, who shall preside at all meetings of the county council for this year. Ms. Richter. Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Uh it's my pleasure uh and honor to uh make a nomination to uh our current chair, Chair Urtel, uh to continue in his role. Uh when I appreciate the conversation that we've had since uh before the holiday and during uh over the last year, the council has endured a number of uh I'd say complicated issues that have been run smoothly by your leadership and your uh one ability to guide the council and build consensus between members. Uh I think that moving into the next year and into 2026, I appreciate your willingness to keep me as the chair of SAC and uh look forward to in one future councils that the continuity of this council's leadership in terms of you will provide an opportunity when the next council presents itself and comes in that they will look to you as the leader that you are, and giving credit where credit is due. I appreciate the opportunity to then nominate you to be as the chair for 2026. Thank you, Councilman Young. Thank you, Mr. Young. Uh is there a second to this nomination? Yes, um, I would like to second the nomination. Um this council has always been a model for bipartisanship. Um, and uh under the Chairman Urtell's leadership, uh we've continued to demonstrate, I think, uh a degree of collegiality and cooperation that uh you don't see in many other governments. Um I've appreciated how uh Chairman Urtell has always set the example. Uh he has been an outstanding chair this past year. I've also appreciated how he has um uh I think expanded our oversight role. Uh I think it's good that we have hearings on things like permits and economic development. And um, I thank him for that, and I hope we can continue that in the new year. So I I second the nomination. Thank you, Councilman Marks. I appreciate that. Thank you, Mr. Marks. Are there any additional comments from the council members? Mr. Chair. Council. It is my honor to uh uh I guess uh the nomination has been first and seconded, and now third. Uh either third one. Uh I think you've done a wonderful job, and uh really appreciate your leadership, and I look forward to continuing to work with you. Thank you, sir.