Howard County Council Legislative Session – May 4, 2026

The Howard County Council held its hybrid legislative session on Monday, May 4, 2026, at 7:00 p.m., chaired by Opel Jones. The session included approval of prior minutes and journals, introduction of numerous new bills covering appointments, collective bargaining agreements, emergency appropriations, zoning amendments, and the FY2027 budget, followed by final consideration and votes on a slate of appointments, transfers, bond authorizations, and zoning measures. All votes were unanimous except for one zoning bill that passed 4–1.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Journal – Unanimously approved the journal of the April 6, 2026 legislative session.
• Approval of Minutes – Unanimously approved minutes from eight meetings: Monthly Meeting (April 13), Budget Public Hearing (Capital, April 13), Budget Work Session (Capital #1, April 15), Budget Presentation (April 20), Legislative Public Hearing (April 20), Budget Work Session (Capital #2, April 22), Budget Public Hearing (April 27), and Budget Work Session (Operating #1, April 29).

Introductions

• Appointments and Reappointments – Introduced 22 council resolutions (CR52‑CR73) and four reappointments (CR69‑CR72) to boards and commissions including the Adult Public Guardianship Review Board, Asian American and Pacific Islander Commission, Commission for Women, Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission, La Alianza Latina Commission, Recreation and Parks Board, and Multimodal Transportation Board.
• Financial (Non‑Budget) – Introduced CB26‑2026 (Police Officers Lodge 21 collective bargaining agreement), CB27‑2026 (Police Supervisors Lodge 143 agreement amendment), CB28‑2026 (Public Safety Dispatchers agreement), SAO1‑FY2026 (transfer of $1,000,000 from General Fund Contingency Reserve to Department of Public Works for snow removal), CB29‑2026 (emergency appropriations for snow removal, Corrections overtime, and SDAT billing), CB30‑2026 (emergency appropriation of $5,200,000 for Employee Benefits Self‑Insurance Fund due to medical claim increases), and CR74‑2026 (Board of Education FY2026 operating budget transfers of $3,635,000).
• General Legislation – Introduced CB25‑2026 (ZRA 224 – Age‑Restricted Adult Housing Cottage Clusters) and CB31‑2026 (S.M.A.R.T. Siting Act, temporarily prohibiting data center development approvals and creating a task force to study impacts).
• Budget Items – Introduced CR75‑2026 (FY2027 Retirement Incentive Program), CB32‑2026 (FY2027 Pay Plan), CB33‑2026 (FY2027 Budget and Appropriation Ordinance), CB34‑CB39‑2026 (various bond authorizations totaling approximately $365,340,969 for capital projects, road construction, water/sewer, water quality, watershed protection, and broadband), CR76‑CR99‑2026 (approving the Capital Program, budgets for Howard Community College, Library System, Board of Education, Health Department, and fee/resolution schedules).

Final Consideration

• Appointments (CR42‑CR48) – Unanimously approved seven appointments: Property Tax Assessment Appeal Board, two Animal Matters Hearing Board members, Public Works Board, LGBTQIA+ Commission, Board of Health, and Inspector General Advisory Board.
• Faulkner Ridge Center Early Learning Center (TAO2‑FY2026 and CB22‑2026) – Unanimously approved a transfer of $3,500,000 from various school capital projects to address a budget shortfall, and authorized bonds of $3,500,000 for the project.
• Maryland Transit Administration Grant (CR49‑2026) – Unanimously endorsed the County Executive’s application for federal and state transit grants.
• State Financing for Feast & Fettle (CR50‑2026) – Unanimously endorsed the project as consistent with the county’s economic development goals.
• Payment in Lieu of Taxes – Midway 32, LLC (CR51‑2026) – Unanimously approved a PILOT agreement for redevelopment of an office building into 623 housing units in a Transit Oriented Development District at 10010 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction. Councilmember Rigby noted the development will double the number of housing units available to residents with disabilities.
• ZRA 221 – Adaptive Reuse of Motel/Hotel Sites in Route 1 Corridor (CB23‑2026) – Unanimously approved, sponsored by Northeast Properties Developers, LLC.
• ZRA 222 – Optional Design Projects in Route 1 Corridor (CB24‑2026) – Passed 4–1 after adopting an amendment (Amendment One) clarifying criteria the Planning Board must consider, including conformance to purpose, enhancement of the community, and supporting documentation. Councilmember Jung voted no, stating the area has been ignored and the proposal lacks assurance of community benefits. Councilmember Rigby argued optional design provides meaningful change and more transparent community engagement.

Key Outcomes

• All introduced bills and resolutions were placed on the agenda for a public hearing on May 18, 2026, with a possible work session on May 26, 2026.
• Final consideration votes: All items passed unanimously except CB24‑2026 (ZRA 222), which passed 4–1 (Jung opposed).
• No public testimony was taken during this legislative session.