Montgomery County Council Legislative Session and Public Hearings – June 16, 2026

On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, the Montgomery County Council held Day #16 of its legislative session in Rockville, Maryland, beginning at 10:01 a.m., recessing at 11:49 a.m. for a Pride Month celebration, reconvening at 1:15 p.m., and adjourning at 4:51 p.m. The meeting included proclamations, bill introductions, a consent calendar, a Charter Review Commission briefing, and a series of public hearings and actions, including extensive testimony on proposed data center moratoriums.

Presentations and Proclamations

• World Refugee Day: Councilmember Stewart presented a proclamation recognizing June 20, 2026, as World Refugee Day. Testimony was offered by Amira Kamara (Asylum Works, a refugee from Sierra Leone), Amy Wang Rona (Homes Not Borders), Carrie Brody (Emma's Torch), and Katie Kennan (DHHS Lighthouse program). The 2026 UN theme was noted as "the promise of safety until everyone is safe."
• Juneteenth: Councilmembers Jawando, Evans, and Sayles joined County Executive Elrich in presenting a proclamation recognizing June 19, 2026, as Juneteenth, marking the 161st anniversary of General Order No. 3 and the contributions of more than 200,000 Black residents of Montgomery County. Community speakers included Letitia Gasaway Paul, Frederick Hawkins, and Reverend Jim Stowe.
• Pride Month: The Council held its eighth annual commemoration, showing a video themed "Exist. Resist. Have the Audacity," featuring Karen Holmes, Reverend Tim Carr, and Yael Astor.
• Elder Abuse Awareness Day: Councilmember Katz and County Executive Elrich presented a proclamation observed in the county on June 17, 2026. Speakers cited that 18% of county residents are 65 or older (nearly 200,000), 33% of Adult Protective Services investigations involve financial exploitation, and only about 4% of seniors report abuse.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of the May 4–8, 2026 Council sessions were approved without objection.
• The consent calendar was approved 10-0 (Councilmember Jawando was temporarily absent and later said he would have voted yes). It included receipt and release of OLO Report 2026-11 on MCPS chronic absenteeism and truancy; adoption of Resolution 20-1155 (FY27-32 Tax Supported Fiscal Plan Summary); Resolution 20-1156 (FY2027 MCPS categorical transfer, $3,944,701); and Resolutions 20-1157 through 20-1165 confirming County Executive appointments to various boards and commissions.

Legislative Session: Bill Introductions

• Bill 27-26, Unlawful Racing and Street Takeovers – Prohibited, introduced by Councilmember Friedson; Balcombe, Katz, and Luedtke requested co-sponsorship.
• Bill 28-26, IDD Commission membership amendments, introduced by Luedtke and Evans. It would raise IDD member seats from two to five, reduce parent/guardian seats from nine to five, and require three members to participate in self-directed services. Luedtke said she intends to name it the "Jake Dinsky Advocacy Act."
• Expedited Bill 29-26, Community Trust in County Employees Act, introduced by Mink, would bar hiring people employed by ICE or CBP after 2025, or those assigned to federal immigration enforcement for more than six months, into direct public-service county positions.
• Expedited Bill 30-26, Stormwater Management bond authorization ($125 million), introduced at the County Executive's request.
• Expedited Bill 31-26, VIVA White Oak Development District bond authorization ($420 million), introduced at the County Executive's request.
• ZTA 26-09, Rural Village Center Overlay Zone – Vehicle Repair – Limited Use, introduced by Vice President Balcombe.

All scheduled public hearings: July 14, 2026 (Bills 27-26, 28-26, 29-26, 31-26), July 21, 2026 (Bill 30-26 and ZTA 26-09).

Discussion Items

• 2026 Charter Review Commission Report: Chair Dean Michaels briefed the Council on the Commission's unanimous recommendations to oppose the citizen-petition charter amendment requiring all 11 Council votes for budget increases above inflation and instead to require an eight-vote (two-thirds) threshold. Council President Fani-González noted that a Council-initiated amendment must be approved by June 30, 2026. Councilmembers Glass and Luedtke said they would not support adding an alternative amendment this cycle due to voter confusion; Glass called for modernizing the state's 10,000-signature charter amendment requirement.

Public Comments and Testimony

Public testimony was received during hearings on the two data center moratorium bills and on other legislation. Speakers expressed a broad range of positions:

• Supporters of a two-year moratorium or stronger action included the Montgomery County Climate Coalition, Montgomery Countryside Alliance, Climate Mobilization of Montgomery County, Environmental Health Sciences, 350 Montgomery County, Nature Forward/Marylanders for Data Center Reform, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Montgomery County Civic Federation, Sierra Club, Sugarloaf Citizens Association, Sunrise, and many residents. Concerns included water consumption and pollution, noise and air emissions, PFAS and EMF exposure, electric grid strain and ratepayer costs, climate goals, environmental justice, and lack of transparency.
• Opponents included the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, Steamfitters Local 602, Taxpayers League, and several residents. They argued data centers provide tax revenue and construction jobs, a moratorium hurts competitiveness, and the ZTA process should proceed.
• Additional testimony on other bills: Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland President/CEO Jeffrey D. supported Bill 15-26, saying the tax credit would save $70,000–$80,000 per year. Katrina Emerson Kugel of SEC supported Expedited Bill 16-26, citing a 2021 DOJ estimate that people with disabilities are victims of violent crime at four times the rate of the general population. Earl Stoddard (County Executive's office) supported Bill 17-26, noting the high-injury network is 3% of roadways but accounts for 41% of serious/fatal crashes; Tom Drisler opposed it, describing fines as regressive. Planning Board and attorney Elizabeth Rogers supported ZTA 26-08.

Public Hearings and Actions: Appropriations and Budget Items

• Supplemental Appropriation #26-66 (Fire and Rescue State 508 Grant, $2,121,756): hearing held, record closed, Resolution 20-1166 adopted 11-0.
• Supplemental Appropriation #26-69 (Fire and Rescue personnel/operating, $16,137,612): hearing held, record closed, Resolution 20-1167 adopted 11-0.
• CIP amendment for Resurfacing: Residential/Rural Roads ($8,200,000): hearing held, record closed, Resolution 20-1168 adopted 11-0. Speaker Glenn Orling requested added pavement-condition transparency language; the Council President said the staff report included it.
• Supplemental Appropriation #26-81 (Snow Removal/Storm Cleanup, $38,925,247 for DOT and $5,472,923 for DGS): hearing held, record closed, Resolution 20-1169 adopted 11-0.

Public Hearings: Data Center Moratorium Bills

The Council heard combined testimony on Expedited Bill 19-26 (six-month moratorium) and Expedited Bill 24-26 (two-year moratorium). No vote was taken; an ECON Committee worksession will be scheduled. Note: the minutes for Bill 19-26 list the written comment deadline as June 9, 2026, while the agenda and transcript state June 26, 2026; this discrepancy was not resolved on the record.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the May 4–8, 2026 minutes and the consent calendar.
• Adopted Resolutions 20-1155 through 20-1165, 20-1166, 20-1167, 20-1168, and 20-1169.
• Introduced Bills 27-26, 28-26, 29-26, 30-26, 31-26, and ZTA 26-09.
• Enacted Expedited Bill 25-26 (Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center) and Expedited Bill 26-26 (North Bethesda Fire Station), each by an 11-0 roll call vote.
• Held public hearings and set records/worksession dates as noted above.
• No final action was taken on the Charter Review Commission recommendations or the data center moratorium bills.