Frederick County Council Confirms 2025 Legislative Package

It contains four  bills proposed by the County Executive.‘Frederick, Md (KM) The Frederick County Council on Tuesday confirmed the County’s 2025 Legislative Package. It contains four bills proposed by the County Executive, including one that calls on the General Assembly to approve stronger safety standards for corrugated stainless steel tubing which is used to deliver fuel such as propane and methane.”Unfortunately, it has been connected some malfunctions that have caused deadly fires, including two here in Frederick County,” says Victoria Veneble, the County’s Director of Government Relations. “One, of course, resulted in the loss of our Battalion Chief Josh Laird,”Laird died fighting a two-alarm house fire in August, 2022 in Ijamsville. While battling the fire, Laird fell through the first floor of the home and  into the basement.Another piece legislation would expand the Family Connects program statewide says. Veneble says it was established by Frederick Health Hospital in 2023 using American Rescue Plan Act funding. “Offers families with newborns either by adoption, foster or through traditional birth home visits by as a registered nurse at no cost,” says Veneble.There’s also a bill to let the county set special property tax rates. The additional revenue would be used for school construction, transportation improvements and infrastructure needs. “Right now, we don’t have the authority to do anything between residential and commercial. So we raise one, we have raise them both. We lower one, we lower them both. I think what the ultimate goal would be  to right size that,” Veneble says.The County Executive’s Office says the county cannot set up subclasses for residential and commercial property tax. rates. But Veneble says this is not an effort to raise property taxes in the county. “Commercial versus residential using infrastructure, it  makes  sense for commercial for maybe to pay a little bit more. We would have to take whatever proposal is to this body. This is enabling legislation. That would give us the ability to set something up. But I’m confident the County Executive would want to discuss it  with you all in more details,”; says Veneble.One other bill would streamline the process of checking the criminal history of persons being considered for county government work,The package also contains a bill previously approved  by the Council. It would allow Frederick County residents to use their credit cards to pay for gaming at local non-profits such as tip jars and bingo cards. It was proposed by Councilman Mason Carter.There are also three position statements in the County Executive’s Legislative Package. One calls on the General Assembly to increase funding in the State Capital Improvements Program for public school construction. “As always, the County Executive is putting this position statement to increase the funding to our schools statewide but especially in Frederick County,” says Sarah Price, the County’s Associate for State Level Government Relations, “The County Executive understands we’re facing a capacity issue in all our schools, and urging the state to increase funding is one of the ways that we can try to deal with it.”Another position statement calls for supporting the Maryland Association of Counties legislative priorities. They include more flexibility with local revenue structures; restore “strong and equitable” local transportation funding;  align the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future with current implementation realties and economic conditions; and advance solar siting with a balanced approach. “For the local transportation funding, we have a priority of US 15 and we will continue to push that priority with the state in concert with the local delegation,” says Price.A third position statement calls for legislation to allow trained municipal personnel as well as law enforcement officers to approve or deny speed camera citations. .The 2025 Maryland General Assembly begins its 90-day session on January 8th.By Kevin McManus