[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6624625,"mediaKeyId","2765584-ee88af3e1038411777bdc284e0d5e09e","parentId",2765584,"title","Committee backs Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day legislation for Maryland public schools","audioSeconds",162,"startMs",4696000,"endMs",4858000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2765584-ee88af3e1038411777bdc284e0d5e09e&start=4696&end=4858","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2765584-ee88af3e1038411777bdc284e0d5e09e/thumbnail_4696000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6624625/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Committee-backs-Ruby-Bridges-Walk-to-School-Day-legislation-for-Maryland-public-schools","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6624625-2dad877d5e3fe8b19d62b118765e2024/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452877&Signature=dqlJFBAMzBpfTHV8nQiAdUFgStF~ZTL3~R1cEL3OUQrdh-FAmWuqFeMEZsXSFLubalaZJumrH4h57mrQIc8Y8wNvCutJ~x5shm5Oe9skMJU01QSwCECgFuCULui8gIfK3b7EpoGRSCKPFGVgBIKWAQOqK2u4Gvl5ma~dHKioJ~W-k5gQeU6apbaNdpMDIOEcQf~qjeHypiIRtXaQfeSO~NSuCRtCSb2VE4vjcAEEcTlYaU6Ozw9le0YipeHrOJ7KWZw3-Sg~jT~urw3hRu0K9GKoz~k-k2FdX5kpNMEa31QpfT8-~65aoPOIIGCWFh7g1WqeFDvxaADH5R14URGAgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Prince George","date","2025-03-25T00:00:00Z","article","The General Assembly Committee voted 3-0 to support House Bill 493 / Senate Bill 1003, which would designate November 14 as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day in Maryland public schools and require county boards of education to develop educational programming for the day.

Teresa Hessler of Ashlar Government Relations summarized the bill's provisions: each county board of education would be required to develop and implement instructional content and activities for the day that may include symbolic walks to school, curriculum on civil rights and school desegregation, student projects and partnerships with museums and civil-rights organizations. The Maryland State Department of Education would provide model lesson plans and resources to help local schools implement programming.

Why it matters: supporters said the commemorative day would foster student learning about civil rights history and school desegregation and that many schools already observe the day informally. The bill sponsor coalition includes Prince George's County delegates and senators; Hessler noted that the House bill had moved unanimously and a Senate hearing had taken place with the bill waiting for a vote list in the Senate.

Committee action: Council member (unnamed in transcript) moved and the committee voted to register a favorable position on the bill; the roll call recorded Chair Calvin Hawkins, Vice Chair Wanika Fisher and Council member Oriada voting aye.

Ending: Staff will record the committee\u0012s favorable position with the House and Senate sponsors and continue to monitor the bill's progress.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Prince George - General Assembly Committee - Mar 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee voted unanimously to support House Bill 493 / Senate Bill 1003 to designate November 14 as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day and asked staff to register a favorable position; the bill would require local boards to develop accompanying educational programming.","taxTitle","Prince George's County, Maryland","taxId",3378,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6624630,"Committee expresses concern after amendment would make county liable for critical-area tree violations",184,2866000,3050000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2765584-ee88af3e1038411777bdc284e0d5e09e&start=2866&end=3050","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2765584-ee88af3e1038411777bdc284e0d5e09e/thumbnail_2866000.jpg","/articles/6624630/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Committee-expresses-concern-after-amendment-would-make-county-liable-for-critical-area-tree-violations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6624630-1106264b6e6fd02c40351ce74500793d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452877&Signature=FTy7g-E2F2Yd5RnVEJPiDqdESWxntNIVZUoQOBBr7~NtpiScjndcrxckcz9DfyWVvrNhOz7aEx8lMuJTNMuUD3CX1DxfoNNW00-7~LERFCOMZM-ziAQRLc6ZKyzqp9BxLX~hWhdB2NkAj3cxDCXxKaz3iIeUaNlZUPyBwbSvvSO~JGn9NdDvDifhdera8SXyN5bvQiQFYoFLNK2pSiicd2rcAsq0wVJz1j-rDG4q~dPZFwcaOmOlNyhz4TBGzk30hC0AjDlr4xuSoG4D~KYmQByAaM5B1bDkrTIn0mf4poIpQ8mRNzX6G5KN1RKZZfFOIzUa6ILL1JjcIFgZDsZMzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Committee members asked county staff to draft a letter of concern about an amended Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area bill (referenced in discussion as House Bill 1477 / BG113) after staff said the latest amendment would allow the Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) to record a lien and make the county potentially responsible for reimbursing purchasers when a lien was not recorded.

What the committee heard: committee consultants and county staff described the bill\u0012s recent amendment that requires a properly recorded lien on a property with an unpermitted clearing in the Chesapeake Bay critical area for a local jurisdiction to pursue remedies against a subsequent purchaser. County staff said the amendment would make the county liable to reimburse a new property owner who purchased in good faith if no lien had been recorded. \"This bill would make the county liable, to reimburse this property owner somewhere around a hundred thousand dollars to put the trees back in,\" a county representative said.

Why it matters: staff explained the amendment was aimed at a particular property and owner where trees had been cut on critical-area land prior to a sale; in that case DPIE had worked with the new owner and waived fees while they sought a permit. The committee expressed concern that the amendment could shift significant cost and liability to the county, and that county remedies against the prior owner should be preserved.

Committee action: Vice Chair Wanika Fisher moved that the county ask staff to prepare a letter of concern regarding the bill and its amended language; the motion passed 3-0 (Chair Calvin Hawkins, Vice Chair Wanika Fisher, Council member Oriada voting aye). The committee asked staff to engage the sponsor and both House and Senate delegation members to discuss the county's concerns.

Ending: County staff said they would draft and send a letter of concern to state lawmakers outlining the county's legal and fiscal concerns with the amendment.","Committee members asked staff to send a letter of concern after discussion of an amended Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area bill that could require the county to reimburse new property owners for restorations if a prior owner cut protected trees without a recorded lien.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6624634,"Committee backs amendment to Board of Appeals membership language, opts for flexibility (at least 3, up to 5)",1450,2250000,3700000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2765584-ee88af3e1038411777bdc284e0d5e09e&start=2250&end=3700","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2765584-ee88af3e1038411777bdc284e0d5e09e/thumbnail_2250000.jpg","/articles/6624634/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Committee-backs-amendment-to-Board-of-Appeals-membership-language-opts-for-flexibility-at-least-3-up-to-5","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6624634-f31475b3525b24d6d91c06088468d6d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452877&Signature=C9~trBTIAXhuiTCtTPaAanK~12vPi6l2jcsjHc2nCuiCF9qwsVvGhK5mQpv0qFHMuIm1scccNF1bk-OagSWCWx1oLHkXiB98rBft8IdZpvibANVlMB4y6pr4ON4B90pAhJupqwlO8~eS9PlX~PY2rWiSiieTsFvBytlA9DMufvsnlgbym5gEnXcQfJ6AwAdbzpT7e0fr3CIyYWMXsCswzJY4IgOeK6bTo7BntOEPqKzZlGjR5ity9RXV1i3U5K0L19eGKcmLCVxd3XP8P-Q545u3NUOkjqLV9LgVShnF~FvulZzoh92IRQc6jkZN2sba8fTF1x-ftuqfL8KCL6Yuag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Prince George's County's General Assembly Committee voted unanimously to support an amendment to House Bill 1065 (PG10625) that would clarify Board of Appeals membership as \"at least three and up to five\" members.

Background and why it matters: the bill would revise the county\u0012s Board of Appeals appointment language. Committee members and staff explained the county currently operates with three members and had previously considered five but encountered a state-law conflict. Deputy County Administrator Colette Gresham told the committee that the revised language would provide a cap while preserving necessary flexibility: \"The goal was to allow that flexibility... If you put the parameters at least 3 but no more than 5, that at least gives that the cap in there, but gives us a little flexibility for what we need to do,\" she said.

Committee action: The committee first passed a motion to support up to five appointments, then reconsidered and approved the amended language, \"at least 3 and up to 5,\" in a motion the vice chair moved to reconsider. The final motion passed 3-0 (Chair Calvin Hawkins, Vice Chair Wanika Fisher, Council member Oriada voting aye).

Implementation note: Committee staff will offer the amended language at the bill's hearing (April 1) and follow up with the sponsor and Senate committee as needed.

Ending: The action reflects a procedural amendment aimed at reconciling county practice with state law while preserving appointment flexibility for the Board of Appeals.","The committee voted to ask the Senate to adopt amendment language for House Bill 1065 (Prince George's County Board of Appeals) changing the county's appointment language to \"at least three and up to five\" members.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6624638,"County committee raises concerns, sends letter of concern on transit-oriented development bill",247,3723000,3970000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2765584-ee88af3e1038411777bdc284e0d5e09e&start=3723&end=3970","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2765584-ee88af3e1038411777bdc284e0d5e09e/thumbnail_3723000.jpg","/articles/6624638/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/County-committee-raises-concerns-sends-letter-of-concern-on-transit-oriented-development-bill","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6624638-4317cc509fa42dfe8333755a895a967e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452877&Signature=ApUL3Nx-RP~uUJhr9CUJSOwlHBUV8-DENs~PvBvNWrlddqEV5ApcPvhcPROMuiQCr8q~ZUeZf2GGKwaBVyAzjDDxZL~vidQdNRWxoAxlaZESwr5OzDHAK4srQkCRLRHQcDUAeiPj9KKzHqNkGHoWejjdE1L25MzMpWxsjRymT3maQlNbubjHjPqWZd~HVUUo6kAGrfl4JVJXixKZ~YviE4LcGuv3T2mC-vQ9lTkMKTg3Yp6S-NqduPdFi1f9c9WWV6pnvTPcJoeOaRAU8W8-CRY9uASVVik00M6kwBOZM5YuH-UAvxtmWamSbD-sHCr7mIkSC6Q~XtCy7iyxGCDx3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Prince George's County's General Assembly Committee voted to send a letter of concern about House Bill 80/Senate Bill 190, legislation that would alter local land-use authority in areas near rail transit stations and impose specific requirements on parking, mixed-use zoning and permit processing.

The committee heard a presentation from Lorenzo Bellamy of Bellamy Gen Group, who described the bill as \"an attack on local authority and local control\" and outlined the bill's key provisions. Consultants and county staff told the committee the bill had been amended recently and that the county executive's office opposed the bill in its current form.

Why it matters: the bill would restrict a local legislative body or agency with land-use authority from imposing minimum off-street parking requirements for residential development within 0.25 miles of certain rail transit stations and would require local zoning to allow mixed-use development within 0.5 miles of rail transit stations that meet specified service thresholds. It would also limit the number of public hearings required for a project and prioritize permit processing for designated transit-oriented development sites.

Committee action and rationale: Council member Oriada moved that the committee send a letter of concern clarifying county issues rather than take a simple support/oppose stance. Her amended motion asked staff to highlight the county's unique zoning context, the need for local flexibility on parking and mixed-use conversions, and to propose alternative language that would allow counties with approved transit-oriented plans or locally tailored zoning to meet the bill's objectives without losing local control. The motion passed 3-0 (Chair Calvin Hawkins, Vice Chair Wanika Fisher, Council member Oriada voting aye).

The committee asked staff to request alternative language that would allow a county to use an approved transit-oriented plan or program in place of the bill's blanket mile-based triggers. County staff also emphasized that Prince George's County has existing town-center and transit-area zoning tools already designed to encourage transit-oriented development but that the bill's one-size-fits-all distances could override local tailoring.

Ending: The committee directed staff to send a letter of concern and suggested amendments to the bill sponsor and to the Senate Budget and Tax Committee for the bill's upcoming hearing.","The General Assembly Committee decided to send a letter of concern on House Bill 80/Senate Bill 190 (transit-oriented development alterations), citing threats to local control, parking rules and zoning flexibility.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6624643,"Prince George's County consultants flag state budget changes that could shift costs to counties",54,296000,350000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2765584-ee88af3e1038411777bdc284e0d5e09e&start=296&end=350","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2765584-ee88af3e1038411777bdc284e0d5e09e/thumbnail_296000.jpg","/articles/6624643/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Prince-Georges-County-consultants-flag-state-budget-changes-that-could-shift-costs-to-counties","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6624643-949c80babb2f5f48898393208096c1a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452877&Signature=o-z36dU7h-JlK7GfINVmz4vJ5gwwrKoikW2QHq5jaekRMAHwd0qRg3fV7h8bYVWXC0HBj8f7XTuiJS60NcsS5AkWQVshkEMlZ4I8uR0LyVEb1lOtcjEU0CQ7gRFyX5ReN0CNa-nFAuB6BjmioMS1Zd4IXJcVot-D6eiOKwW695ecw~dB4DpugHGTbknTcCXtyDl-q7x2pue1fCKXUDGIx2tqkSl5GB-emnThEyTQwpgnvCzlrP1YKYRhb8FhVGSyULzzXrblMRh7bbvfRv5VPFyObwALBUl00-PPmoZ0s1RlvnstgbD3f~zMIDzy-7-FdDGedDgqAhTCIkYX6jpOCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Prince George's County consultants told the county\u0012s General Assembly Committee on March (transcript) that negotiations on Maryland\u0012s budget framework and the implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland\u0012s Future remain fluid and could increase costs for counties.

The county\u0012s representatives summarized that the House and Senate had agreed to a broad framework but still differed on several items, and that the final budget likely would not be clear until close to sine die. \"We probably won't get the final budget until close to sine die,\" said one consultant, adding that the House had restored some Blueprint cuts the Senate proposed to delay.

Why it matters: the committee heard that several changes under discussion would shift costs to counties, including changes to pension funding shares, higher county shares for State Department of Assessment and Taxation (SDAT) funding, and potential phase-outs of teacher retirement supplemental grants. The consultants said counties might be given the option to raise the local income tax rate from 3.2% to 3.3%, and that other revenue proposals under consideration could affect state and local revenue streams.

Committee members and consultants listed revenue-raising proposals under debate in Annapolis, as presented to the committee: a proposed 3% tax on data and IT services, a 2% capital gains tax on gains above $250,000, higher rates for very high earners (6.25% and 6.5% tiers mentioned in the presentation), increases to sports wagering and short-term car-rental taxes, higher vehicle excise and titling fees, and other adjustments. Consultants emphasized those figures were part of a moving negotiation and might change: \"There's still $1,000,000,000 in revenue additions, $2,500,000,000 in budget cuts, that we still have to monitor,\" one said.

Discussion points raised by committee members included whether debates would occur publicly or in conference committees, and whether the county should seek more in-person access to state delegation meetings. County staff said they had been meeting with members of the Prince George's County delegation and would continue outreach.

What was not decided: consultants repeatedly warned that the precise fiscal impact on Prince George's County would not be known until a final budget is enacted. They said some items (for example, a proposed shift to a 90/10 county/state share for certain costs) could materially change county obligations, but they did not report any enacted changes at the time of the briefing.

The committee requested continued briefings and written materials on budget developments as negotiations proceed.

Ending: County staff and consultants said they will continue monitoring the negotiations in Annapolis and provide updates to the committee as the House and Senate reconcile differences ahead of sine die.","County consultants told the General Assembly Committee that ongoing negotiations on Maryland\u0012s state budget and the \"Blueprint for Maryland\u0012s Future\" could increase county costs for pensions, school programs and corrections, and that final impacts likely won\u0012t be known until close to sine die.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee backs Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day legislation for Maryland public schools

Committee expresses concern after amendment would make county liable for critical-area tree violations

Committee backs amendment to Board of Appeals membership language, opts for flexibility (at least 3, up to 5)

County committee raises concerns, sends letter of concern on transit-oriented development bill

Prince George's County consultants flag state budget changes that could shift costs to counties