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Record of Proceedings

Prince George's County PHED Committee: Sphere, Tenant Bills & Data Centers (Sept 21, 2026)

County Council & Boards — Monday, September 21, 2026
BodyPrince Georges County, Maryland
SessionCounty Council & Boards
DateMonday, September 21, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 4:54:43

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:01

Good morning, Colin.

0:03

Um, we are in session for planning housing and economic development committee on today, September 21st.

0:12

Uh, can we please call the roll?

Speaker 2

0:14

Chair Bougay.

0:16

Councilmember Adam Stafford.

0:19

Councilmember Denoga.

0:21

Councilmember Olson.

0:23

Councilmember Oriata.

0:24

Chair.

0:25

Okay, Vice Chair Oriana.

0:26

All members present at roll call.

Speaker 1

0:31

Thank you, everyone.

0:32

And I would just say to everyone today, we have a very lengthy agenda.

0:37

So please have patience with us today.

0:40

I'm going to start with moving things around on the agenda.

0:45

We do have very sad incident that uh occurred in the county yesterday.

0:52

And just because of that, we want to make sure we get some bills forward so that councilmember Hunter can make sure that she attends to her community.

1:01

So we're going to start with CB 113 2026 and acts concerning rental housing and tenant relocation rights disclosure and turning it over to Ms.

1:12

Hightower.

Speaker 3

1:14

Good morning.

1:15

Good morning.

1:16

Good morning, madam.

1:19

PAGED committee members and chair brigade.

1:23

Draft.

Speaker 1

1:24

Just want to make sure is the mic working.

1:28

Okay.

1:29

All right.

Unassigned speaker

1:30

That's

Speaker 3

1:30

weird.

1:30

Okay, thanks.

1:31

Again, good morning.

1:32

Thank you for your indulgence.

1:33

Draft one of this bill requires uh landlords to give tenants a plain language notice of relocation rights and directs county agencies to enforce these requirements and report regularly to the council.

1:46

Agencies do not, agencies that do not comply must uh submit corrective plans uh and may face oversight.

1:55

This bill and this summary are on pages 243 through 249.

1:59

There is a proposed draft two of the bill.

2:02

Ms.

2:02

Canning is here and can go over those amendments.

2:05

Uh our uh lovely, lovely intern.

2:10

Miss Rebecca Hyde uh provided a uh policy and fiscal uh impact statement, and she is here in the audience on the front row on the second row, actually.

2:22

Uh the planning staff um had previously provided comments, uh, and they're here as well.

2:28

They're on pages 256 through 259.

2:31

Thank you, madam chair.

2:32

This time um I'd like to defer to you and request the bill sponsor to speak.

2:39

Thank you.

2:39

Um

Speaker 1

2:40

turn it over to Councilmember Hunter.

Speaker 4

2:43

Good morning, every

Unassigned speaker

2:45

good

Speaker 4

2:45

morning, everyone, and good morning, Chair and colleagues.

2:49

Um I'll start with I have three bills.

2:51

I'll start with CB 113 2026, which is the rental housing tenant relocation um rights disclosure.

3:00

CB 113 2026 addresses a straightforward gap between having a right under the law and knowing the right exists when it matters.

3:11

Maryland has already already recognized the importance of providing tenants with understandable information.

3:17

State law requires landlords to attach the Maryland tenants' bill rights to its residential lease.

3:24

But Maryland DHCD express expressly described the document as a summary of federal and state protections rather than a complete statement of every tenant right, and it acknowledges that local jurisdictions may provide additional protections.

3:40

CB 113 addresses that local layer.

3:44

The distinction is particularly important because information provided only after a resident has begun navigating an emergency may arrive too late to be useful.

3:55

CB 113 therefore establishes two points of disclosure.

4:00

A lease signing when tenants can learn about their rights before a crisis occur, and when specified housing conditions make those rights potentially relevant.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Economic Development█████████████████████████████████33%
Procedural████████8%
Housing███████7%
Affordable Housing███████7%
Zoning And Land Use███████7%
Data Center Regulation██████6%
Development Review Process█████5%
Labor Agreements████4%
Environmental Protection████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Prince George's County Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee Meeting Summary – September 21, 2026

The Prince George's County Council's Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee, chaired by Wala Blegay, convened on September 21, 2026, for an extensive session lasting over eight hours. The committee deliberated the high-profile National Harbor Sphere project, passed a slate of tenant protection and housing development bills, and voted to indefinitely hold legislation aimed at regulating data centers. The meeting featured significant public testimony and intense debate regarding labor standards, MBE participation, and economic development priorities.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Sphere Entertainment (CB-111 / CR-090): Public testimony was sharply divided. Building trades unions (Baltimore-DC Building Trades, Unite Here, SEIU 32BJ) advocated for strong Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) and binding commitments for construction and operations. Conversely, local merit-shop contractors, including several Black-owned businesses and the Association of Builders and Contractors, urged the committee to reject a mandated PLA, arguing it would exclude local, non-union workers and firms. Community activists like Dr. Belinda Queen-Cunningham pressed for infrastructure investments and benefits for areas beyond National Harbor. Residents of South County spoke in favor of the project while urging the council to work out labor and traffic concerns.
  • Data Centers (CB-085): Public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed to the legislation. Farmers, residents, and environmental groups (Sierra Club, Food & Water Watch) cited risks to aquifers, noise pollution, PFAS contamination, grid strain, and the loss of prime agricultural land. The overwhelming sentiment was against allowing data centers in rural and agricultural zones.
  • Tenant Bills (CB-113, 115, 114): Aaron Kraut of the Apartment and Office Building Association (AOBA) expressed conditional support for CB-113 and CB-114, while opposing CB-115 as drafted for being too vague. Several other speakers voiced strong support for Councilmember Hunter's tenant rights package.

Discussion Items

  • National Harbor Sphere Project (CB-111-2026 / CR-090-2026): The committee received a detailed presentation from the County Executive's office and Sphere Entertainment on the $1.4 billion immersive venue. The financing involves issuing up to $215 million in special obligation bonds, including $130 million in new money for the project, paid for through a tax increment financing (TIF) district. County officials touted a $1.6 billion annual economic impact and a supplier diversity plan targeting 50% participation from county-based small businesses and 40% from MBEs.
    • Council Positions: Several committee members expressed strong dissatisfaction with the developer's current stance on labor and the depth of the community benefits agreement. Councilmember Blegay (Chair) sharply criticized the developer for refusing to commit to a PLA, the structure of the MBE goals (calling them a subset of the larger target rather than a percentage of the full contract value), and the lack of guaranteed local hiring minimums. She stated the process was "disrespectful to the residents of Prince George's County." Councilmember Oriadha demanded binding labor commitments, stating "We are at Union Town." Councilmember Dernoga questioned public safety costs and the total county obligation. Councilmember Adams-Stafford inquired about concrete plans for minority business participation.
  • Data Center Zoning (CB-085-2026): Sponsor Councilmember Fisher argued the bill was a necessary regulatory framework to responsibly manage an inevitable industry, asking the committee to release it without a recommendation. The committee leadership strongly opposed the bill. Councilmember Blegay cited a promise to South County residents. Councilmember Oriadha stated she would "support a full ban" and that the county should not be a "dumping ground." Councilmember Dernoga criticized the bill for including specific project exemptions and lacking clear environmental safeguards regarding aquifers and noise, ultimately deeming it unworkable in its current form.
  • Tenant Protection Package (Sponsored by Councilmember Hunter): Three bills were discussed as a package: CB-113 (Tenant Relocation Rights Disclosure), CB-115 (Expedited Health & Safety Enforcement), and CB-114 (Tenant Rights Education and Accessibility Act). Amendments to the bills generally shifted primary enforcement responsibilities to the Office of Homeland Security (OHS).
  • Economic Development and Housing Package (Sponsored by Councilmember Oriadha): Vice Chair Oriadha moved a comprehensive set of bills focused on housing affordability (Opportunity Sites, Small Provider Financing, Public Land First, Air Conditioning mandate, Rental Portal) and economic development efficiency (Development Ombudsman, Shovel-Ready Sites, Performance-based EDI Fund).

Key Outcomes

  • National Harbor Sphere (CB-111 / CR-090): No action taken. The committee did not vote on the legislation. Chair Blegay stated the matter would return to committee pending further negotiation on labor, MBE participation, local hiring minimums, and a strengthened community benefits agreement.
  • Data Center Zoning (CB-085-2026): Held indefinitely in committee (4-0).
  • Tenant Bills (Sponsored by Councilmember Hunter):
    • CB-113 (Relocation Rights): Favorably recommended to the County Council with amendments (5-0).
    • CB-115 (Expedited Health & Safety): Favorably recommended to the County Council with amendments (5-0).
    • CB-114 (Tenant Rights Guide): Favorably recommended with amendments. Note: The transcript and minutes contain a discrepancy on the final vote tally for CB-114. The transcript records a vote of 5-0 on the amendments and 4-0 on final passage, while the final written minutes record votes of 4-0 for both actions.
  • Oriadha Economic Development and Housing Package:
    • CB-091 (Development Ombudsman): Favorably recommended with amendments (4-0).
    • CB-097 (Affordable Housing Sites): Favorably recommended with amendments (4-0).
    • CB-099 (Small Housing Provider Financing): Favorably recommended with amendments (4-0).
    • CB-107 (Shovel-Ready Sites): Favorably recommended with amendments (4-0).
    • CB-108 (Public Land First): Favorably recommended with amendments (4-0).
    • CB-118 (A/C in Rentals): Favorably recommended (4-0).
    • CB-121 (Rental Housing Portal): Favorably recommended (4-0).
    • CB-088 (Concurrent Development Review): Favorably recommended with amendments (4-0).
    • CB-106 (Performance-Based EDI Fund): Favorably recommended with amendments (4-0).
    • CB-109 (Public Land Affordability Req.): Favorably recommended with amendments (4-0).
  • Zoning and Other Legislation:
    • CB-081 (Sustainable Inclusive Mixed-Use): Favorably recommended with amendments (5-0).
    • CB-076 (Comm. Reinvestment Projects): Favorably recommended with amendments (4-0).
    • CB-075 (Quiet & Clean Landscaping): Favorably recommended with amendments (4-0, 1 recused).
    • CB-065 (Senior Co-Housing): Favorably recommended with amendments (4-0, 1 abstained).
    • CB-079 (Vacant Attached Property): Favorably recommended with amendments (4-0).

Meeting Transcript

Good morning, Colin. Um, we are in session for planning housing and economic development committee on today, September 21st. Uh, can we please call the roll? Chair Bougay. Councilmember Adam Stafford. Councilmember Denoga. Councilmember Olson. Councilmember Oriata. Chair. Okay, Vice Chair Oriana. All members present at roll call. Thank you, everyone. And I would just say to everyone today, we have a very lengthy agenda. So please have patience with us today. I'm going to start with moving things around on the agenda. We do have very sad incident that uh occurred in the county yesterday. And just because of that, we want to make sure we get some bills forward so that councilmember Hunter can make sure that she attends to her community. So we're going to start with CB 113 2026 and acts concerning rental housing and tenant relocation rights disclosure and turning it over to Ms. Hightower. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning, madam. PAGED committee members and chair brigade. Draft. Just want to make sure is the mic working. Okay. All right. That's weird. Okay, thanks. Again, good morning. Thank you for your indulgence. Draft one of this bill requires uh landlords to give tenants a plain language notice of relocation rights and directs county agencies to enforce these requirements and report regularly to the council. Agencies do not, agencies that do not comply must uh submit corrective plans uh and may face oversight. This bill and this summary are on pages 243 through 249. There is a proposed draft two of the bill. Ms. Canning is here and can go over those amendments. Uh our uh lovely, lovely intern. Miss Rebecca Hyde uh provided a uh policy and fiscal uh impact statement, and she is here in the audience on the front row on the second row, actually. Uh the planning staff um had previously provided comments, uh, and they're here as well. They're on pages 256 through 259. Thank you, madam chair. This time um I'd like to defer to you and request the bill sponsor to speak. Thank you. Um turn it over to Councilmember Hunter. Good morning, every good morning, everyone, and good morning, Chair and colleagues.

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