(a) (1) There are four classes of code counties, based on the geographic region of the State where the county is located. (2) The geographic regions of the State are: (i) Central Maryland, consisting of Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County; (ii) Eastern Shore, consisting […]
The county commissioners of each county may adopt code home rule subject to approval at referendum by the voters of the county.
(a) If the county commissioners decide to formally consider adopting code home rule, the county commissioners shall: (1) hold at least two public hearings in the county on the proposal; and (2) publish notice of the date, time, and place of each public hearing in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the county: (i) at least three […]
(a) Within 60 days after the last public hearing, the county commissioners shall decide whether to adopt code home rule. (b) To adopt code home rule, the county commissioners shall adopt a resolution by at least a two–thirds majority of all the individuals elected to the board of county commissioners. (c) The resolution shall state that, subject to […]
(a) The county board of elections shall submit the question of code home rule to the voters of the county for their adoption or rejection: (1) at the next regular congressional election; and (2) in accordance with the requirements of the Election Law Article as to time, notice, and form. (b) The ballot shall contain the words “For Adoption […]
A code county may return to its form of government before the adoption of code home rule by following the same procedure required by this subtitle for the adoption of code home rule.
Each code county shall proceed in accordance with this subtitle to exercise the powers to enact public local laws.
(a) By public local law, the county commissioners of a code county shall establish a specified number of days, not exceeding 45 days, in each year on which the county commissioners may meet to enact public local laws. (b) (1) Legislative days: (i) need not be consecutive; and (ii) may be designated by public local law. (2) If a legislative day […]
(a) Each public local law of a code county shall be passed by original bill. (b) The style of the enacting clause for each bill shall be “Be it enacted by …”. (c) Each public local law enacted shall embrace only one subject, which shall be described in the title of the bill. (d) A public local law may […]
(a) A county commissioner of a code county may introduce a bill on any legislative day. (b) (1) (i) Not later than the next day after the introduction of a bill, the presiding officer of the county commissioners shall schedule a public hearing on the bill. (ii) A bill may be rejected after its introduction without a hearing by a […]
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a public local law enacted by the county commissioners of a code county takes effect: (1) 45 days after it is enacted; or (2) at a later date specified in the public local law. (b) (1) A public local law takes effect on the date of its passage if it […]
(a) (1) The voters of a code county may submit to referendum, by petition, a public local law or a part of a public local law enacted under this subtitle. (2) The referendum shall be: (i) at the next regular congressional election unless the county commissioners, by resolution, schedule a special election; (ii) in accordance with the requirements of Title […]
(a) At the end of each calendar or fiscal year, each code county shall compile a complete set of all public local laws enacted by the code county during that year. (b) (1) Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, copies of the compilation shall be: (i) kept on permanent record at the office of the county commissioners; (ii) made […]
(a) (1) At the end of each calendar year, the Department of Legislative Services shall ask each code county whether the county has enacted any part of its public local laws during that calendar year or its latest fiscal year. (2) The code county promptly shall: (i) answer the inquiry; and (ii) verify that copies of the requested enactments of […]
