Baltimore City Council

Mayor Brandon M. Scott has asked the Baltimore City Council to confirm Desiree Velazquez-Martinez for reappointment to the Hispanic Commission under the Baltimore City Charter. She is an unaffiliated employee engagement specialist with the Baltimore City Department of Human Resources and has previously served on the commission. If confirmed, her term would expire December 5, 2028. The appointment fills a mayoral-designated position and does not correspond to a Council district. The request begins the formal confirmation process, allowing the Council to review her qualifications and determine whether she may continue serving on the commission.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott asked the Baltimore City Council to confirm Erica J. Puentes as a mayoral appointee to the Hispanic Commission, under the Baltimore City Charter. Puentes, a Democrat and District 6 resident, is a faculty research assistant in the University of Maryland’s African American Studies Department. She has not previously served on the commission, and her term would expire December 5, 2028. The submission includes her resume and background information for review by the Legislative Investigations Committee and other authorized offices. The appointment would add a new member to the commission, which addresses issues affecting Baltimore’s Hispanic community, while demonstrating the council’s role in reviewing mayoral appointments.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott has asked the Baltimore City Council to confirm Ernesto Villasenor, Jr. as a mayoral appointee to the Hispanic Commission, under the authority of the Baltimore City Charter. If confirmed, Villasenor would serve through December 5, 2028, with no successor or prior term listed. He is a Democrat, resides in or is associated with Council District 11, and works as a Senior Manager of Nationwide Policy at the American Lung Association. His education includes Baltimore City Community College and the University of Baltimore. The request begins the formal Council confirmation process and provides background information for public and official review.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott has asked the Baltimore City Council to confirm Faviola Donato-Galindo’s reappointment as a mayoral representative on the Hispanic Commission, under the Baltimore City Charter. Her term would run through December 5, 2028, and she represents Council District 4. Donato-Galindo is a Democrat and works as a Large Accounts Manager at Baltimore Gas & Electric. She studied at the University of Puerto Rico and George Mason University. The appointment affects the commission responsible for advising or supporting the city on issues relevant to Baltimore’s Hispanic community. Council confirmation is required before she can continue serving, providing a public review of her qualifications and appointment.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott has asked the Baltimore City Council to confirm Giuliana Valencia-Banks for reappointment as a mayoral appointee to the Hispanic Commission, under the Baltimore City Charter. Valencia-Banks, a Democrat and District 7 resident, serves as Baltimore County’s Chief Immigration Affairs Officer and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Baltimore. If confirmed, her term would run through December 5, 2028. The appointment supports the commission’s role in representing and addressing issues affecting Baltimore’s Hispanic and Latino communities. The Council’s confirmation process will review the nominee’s qualifications and background.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott has asked the Baltimore City Council to confirm Dr. Jonathan Montalvo Roman as a mayoral appointee to the Hispanic Commission, under the Baltimore City Charter. If confirmed, he would serve through December 5, 2028; no successor or prior commission terms are listed. Roman is a Democrat and works as Coordinator for Latine Student Development at Towson University’s Center for Student Diversity. He holds degrees from Purdue University Northwest, Western Michigan University, and Michigan State University. The appointment affects the commission’s membership and requires Council review and confirmation, providing a formal public process for approving municipal officers.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott has asked the Baltimore City Council to confirm Luis A. Espinoza for reappointment to the Hispanic Commission, under the City Charter provisions governing municipal appointments. Espinoza, a Democrat and resident of Council District 4, serves as principal of the Academy for College and Career Exploration and holds degrees from the University of California, Davis, and Johns Hopkins University. If confirmed, his term would expire December 5, 2028. The appointment affects the commission’s membership and representation of Baltimore’s Hispanic community, while the Council’s confirmation process provides public oversight of mayoral appointments.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott has asked the Baltimore City Council to confirm Marly Cardona Moz for reappointment as a mayoral member of the Hispanic Commission. The request is made under Article IV, §§6(a) and (b) of the Baltimore City Charter. Her term would expire December 5, 2028, and she is listed as a Democrat associated with Council District 10. Cardona Moz previously served on the commission and is seeking another term. The submission includes her educational background at Washington University in St. Louis and refers to an attached résumé for additional employment, civic, and professional information. Confirmation would allow her continued participation in the commission’s municipal work.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott has asked the Baltimore City Council to confirm Whitney Iridiana Visker for reappointment as a mayoral member of the Hispanic Commission. Under the Baltimore City Charter, City Council confirmation is required for certain municipal appointments. Visker is unaffiliated with any political party and currently works remotely as a Bank On Associate for the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. She has previously served on the commission and is seeking another term, which would expire December 5, 2028. The appointment affects the commission’s membership and its representation of Baltimore’s Hispanic community. The request and accompanying résumé will support the Council’s public confirmation process.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott has asked the Baltimore City Council to confirm Emma Jean Stokes as a municipal officer on the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board, under the Baltimore City Charter. Stokes, a retired professional and District 11 resident, would serve as one of seven mayoral appointees, with a term ending December 5, 2028. She is identified as a Democrat and holds degrees from the College of William and Mary, Boston University, and Brandeis University. The request begins the Council’s confirmation process and provides background information for review by authorized city offices.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott has asked the Baltimore City Council to confirm Franklin Lance as a municipal officer on the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board. Lance would serve as one of seven mayoral appointees, with a term ending December 5, 2028; he has not previously served on the board. A Democrat, Lance is president and CEO of the Parks and People Foundation in Baltimore. He holds degrees from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and Howard University School of Divinity. The Council’s confirmation process will review his qualifications and determine whether to approve the appointment, affecting the board that advises on city recreation and parks matters.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott has asked the Baltimore City Council to confirm Garfield S. Thompson as a municipal officer on the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board. Under the Baltimore City Charter, the Council reviews and confirms certain mayoral appointments. Thompson, an unaffiliated resident associated with Council District 2, would serve as one of seven mayoral appointees, with a term expiring December 5, 2028. He is executive director of the McKim Community Association, Inc., and attended Hampton University and McDaniel College. The appointment affects the city’s recreation and parks advisory structure and matters because Council confirmation provides public oversight of mayoral appointments to municipal boards.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott has asked the Baltimore City Council to confirm Jeffrey Oguamanam as a municipal officer on the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board. Under the Baltimore City Charter, the Council must approve certain mayoral appointments. Oguamanam would serve as one of seven mayoral appointees, with a term ending December 5, 2028. A District 12 resident and Democrat, he is Global Senior Lead for DEI, External Partnerships, and Community Engagement at Under Armour. The appointment would add him to the board that advises on Baltimore’s recreation and parks system. The Council’s confirmation process provides public review of the nominee’s qualifications and supports transparency in city government.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott has asked the Baltimore City Council to confirm Katie Long as a mayoral appointee to the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board, under the Baltimore City Charter. Long is the executive director of Friends of Patterson Park and would represent one of seven mayoral-appointed positions. Her term would expire December 5, 2028, and she has not previously served on the board. A Democrat and District 1 resident, Long holds degrees from Towson University and the University of Maryland. The Council’s confirmation process will determine whether she may serve as a municipal officer advising on Baltimore’s recreation and parks system.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott has asked the Baltimore City Council to confirm Talib Horne as a mayoral appointee to the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board, under the Baltimore City Charter. Horne would serve through December 5, 2028, as one of seven mayor-appointed members, representing Council District 6. He is listed as a Democrat and currently directs Baltimore Civic Site at the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The document also identifies his education and provides for review of his resume and civic affiliations during the confirmation process. Council confirmation is required before the appointment becomes effective, allowing elected representatives to assess the nominee’s qualifications for advising on Baltimore’s recreation and parks system.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott has asked the Baltimore City Council to confirm Tiffany Byrd as a municipal officer on the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board, under the Baltimore City Charter. Byrd would be one of seven mayoral appointees, serving through December 5, 2028. She is unaffiliated with any political party and is not a Baltimore City resident. Byrd works as a director/coordinator of athletics for Baltimore City Public Schools and holds degrees from Morgan State University and Goucher College. The appointment would add her professional and civic experience to the board’s advisory work on city recreation and parks. Council confirmation is required before she can serve.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott has asked the Baltimore City Council to confirm Caroline A. Griffin as a municipal officer on the Mayor’s Anti-Animal Abuse Advisory Commission, under the authority of the Baltimore City Charter. Griffin, a Democrat and vice president of Show Your Soft Side, would represent an animal rescue or advocacy organization. A resident of Council District 5, she would serve through December 5, 2028, if confirmed. The submission provides her education and employment information for the Council’s confirmation process and was distributed to relevant city offices. The appointment would add an advocacy-sector representative to a city advisory body focused on animal abuse prevention and policy.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott has asked the Baltimore City Council to confirm Erika Kovacs as a municipal officer on the Mayor’s Anti-Animal Abuse Advisory Commission. The request is made under Article IV, §§6(a) and (b) of the Baltimore City Charter. Kovacs, a Democrat and an at-large mayoral appointee associated with Council District 14, works as an administrative assistant at IDEXX Laboratories, an animal care laboratory. If confirmed, she would serve through December 5, 2028. The appointment would add a member to the commission, which advises the city on animal-abuse issues. The Council’s confirmation process will review the information and résumé submitted by the Mayor’s Office.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott has asked the Baltimore City Council to confirm James Smith as an at-large municipal officer on the Mayor’s Anti-Animal Abuse Advisory Commission, under the Baltimore City Charter. Smith, an unaffiliated animal care supervisor at Georgetown University and a Mississippi State University graduate, has no prior terms listed. If confirmed, his appointment would run through December 5, 2028. The nomination affects the commission’s membership and requires Council review and approval. The submission provides background information for the confirmation process, supporting public and legislative oversight of a city advisory body addressing animal abuse.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott has asked the Baltimore City Council to confirm Jennifer Driban as a municipal officer on the Mayor’s Anti-Animal Abuse Advisory Commission, under the Baltimore City Charter. Driban, a Democrat and District 11 resident, is Interim President and CEO of the National Aquarium in Baltimore. The appointment fulfills the requirement for a representative of an animal rescue or advocacy organization. If confirmed, she would serve through December 5, 2028, with no previous term listed. The confirmation process allows the Council to review her qualifications and determine whether she may officially serve on the commission, which advises the city on animal-abuse prevention and related concerns.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott has asked the Baltimore City Council to confirm Lauren Sibel’s appointment as a municipal officer on the Mayor’s Anti-Animal Abuse Advisory Commission, under the authority of the Baltimore City Charter. Sibel, a behavioral health specialist at the University of Maryland Digestive Health Center and a Democrat, is the City Council President’s appointee for District 1. She has degrees from Tulane University and no prior terms on the commission. If confirmed, her term would expire December 5, 2028. The appointment matters because Council confirmation provides public oversight of mayoral appointments and adds a commission member focused on advising the city on animal-abuse prevention and related policy.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott has asked the Baltimore City Council to confirm Alyn Pearson as a municipal officer on the Board of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing. Pearson is an attorney with the Office of the Maryland Attorney General and holds degrees from Bard College and Seattle University School of Law. The appointment is recommended by the Mayor, is associated with Council District 14, and would run through December 5, 2028. Pearson has no previous terms listed and would not replace another member. Council confirmation is required under the Baltimore City Charter, allowing the Council to review mayoral appointments to city boards that oversee consumer protection and business licensing.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott asked the Baltimore City Council to confirm Katelyn Marie Brown as a municipal officer on the Inclusionary Housing Board, under the authority of the City Charter. Brown, a Democrat and District 14 resident, would serve through December 5, 2028, in a position designated for a representative at 60% of Area Median Income (AMI). She is an educator, author, artist, and designer, with degrees from the Fashion Institute of Technology and Maryland Institute College of Art. The appointment is subject to Council review and confirmation and would add a resident representative to the board responsible for inclusionary housing matters.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott asked the Baltimore City Council to confirm Christopher Douglas as a municipal officer on the Police Accountability Board, under the Baltimore City Charter. Douglas is the designated appointee of the District 11 councilmember and would serve through December 5, 2028. He is identified as a Democrat and works as a cybersecurity analyst for the U.S. Treasury Department. The submission, including his résumé and affiliations, was provided for the Council’s confirmation review. The appointment affects the city body responsible for police accountability and demonstrates the required mayoral-Council process for filling municipal positions.

Baltimore City Council Resolution 26-0055R, introduced June 15, 2026, would require city agencies to appear before the Council to explain the Building Backup Expedited Reimbursement Program and Sewage Onsite Support Program. These programs assist residents affected by qualifying sewage backups under the City’s 2017 EPA/MDE consent decree. The hearing would examine whether assistance could cover backups occurring in any weather when the sewer mainline contributed, barriers and projected costs, and the City’s related expenses. Agencies would also provide fiscal-year data on 311 requests, budgets, spending, eligible and ineligible incidents, approvals, denials, reasons, amounts, affected districts and months, and households informed. The resolution promotes public oversight and clearer access to program information.

Baltimore City Council Resolution 26-0056R, introduced June 15, 2026, calls an informational hearing on regional water governance. It invites the Comptroller, Department of Public Works, Mayor’s Office of Government Relations, Office of Equity and Civil Rights, and other agencies to brief the Council. The resolution seeks updates on recommendations from a state task force and the current workgroup, public participation, stormwater management, employment effects, water-bill affordability, intergovernmental agreements, and equity assessments. It does not establish a new policy or regional authority. The hearing addresses concerns about aging infrastructure and disparities between City and County water costs while seeking greater transparency and public input in future regional decisions.

Baltimore City Council Resolution 26-0057R, introduced and adopted June 15, 2026, recognizes June as Black Fatherhood Month. The resolution celebrates the contributions of Black fathers and father figures—including stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles, mentors, and others—to Baltimore’s children, families, and communities. It acknowledges their roles in caregiving, emotional support, education, cultural identity, and community strength, while noting the systemic obstacles many have overcome. The Council reaffirms its commitment to supporting and recognizing Black fatherhood and directs that copies be sent to relevant city offices, including the Office of African American Male Engagement and the Mayor’s Office of Children and Family Success. The measure is commemorative and does not create new legal requirements or funding.

Baltimore City Council Bill 26-0209 would condemn and permanently close portions of five streets and alleys in West Baltimore’s Midtown-Edmondson neighborhood, between W. Lafayette Avenue, N. Brice Street, W. Lanvale Street, N. Pulaski Street, Harlem Avenue, and Amtrak property. The parcels total about 35,287 square feet (0.811 acres) and are intended to support construction staging, access, and site consolidation for Amtrak’s Frederick Douglass Tunnel Program. The affected rights-of-way are surrounded by Amtrak land, serve no through traffic, and do not provide access to privately owned property. City and other utilities must be protected, relocated, or removed under specified conditions, while the City retains access for maintenance. Introduced June 15, 2026, the bill was recommended for approval with continued neighborhood coordination.

Baltimore City Council Bill 26-0210 authorizes the City Comptroller to sell, publicly or privately, two former street-right-of-way parcels in West Baltimore, within the area bounded by W. Lafayette Avenue, N. Brice Street, W. Lanvale Street, N. Pulaski Street, Harlem Avenue, and Amtrak property. The parcels, identified on Plat 316-C-6A, total about 30,733 square feet, or 0.706 acres, in Wards 16 and 17-related recorded blocks. The land is no longer needed for active public use and is associated with the Frederick Douglass Tunnel program area. The legislation enables transfer for potential redevelopment and investment, while requiring City Solicitor approval before any deed is issued. It was introduced June 15, 2026, at the Administration’s request and assigned to the Land Use and Transportation Committee.

Baltimore City Council Bill 26-0208 would repeal Ordinance 87-1040, which established the Sherwood Ford Planned Unit Development (PUD) for property around 5104 York Road in North Baltimore. Introduced at Loyola University Maryland’s request, the bill concerns a roughly 3.6-acre site now owned by Loyola and used for public safety, parking, transportation, and a community hub. The former dealership no longer operates, and the Planning Commission found that the PUD’s projects were completed and its special zoning flexibility is no longer needed because current C-2 zoning permits varied commercial uses. Repeal would take effect upon enactment; future development would follow underlying zoning and standard approvals. Agencies found no legal impediment, and the Planning Commission recommended approval.

Baltimore City Council Bill 26-0207 would repeal the provision ending the property tax credit for high-performance newly constructed dwellings. Current law bars owners who settle on qualifying homes after June 30, 2027, from applying for the credit. Removing that language would eliminate the scheduled expiration and allow the program to continue, subject to existing eligibility requirements. The measure affects owners and future buyers of qualifying newly built homes, as well as city tax administration and development agencies. The City Law Department states that Maryland law permits Baltimore to establish the credit’s duration and concludes the bill is legally sufficient. If enacted, it would take effect 30 days later.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott has asked the Baltimore City Council to confirm Leonor Tannhauser Blum as a mayoral appointee to the Hispanic Commission, under the Baltimore City Charter. Blum is a retired educator, founder of Adelante Latina!, and a Democrat, with degrees from Columbia University and Johns Hopkins School of International Studies. She would serve through December 5, 2028, representing the appointment associated with Council District 7. The document provides background information for the Council’s confirmation process, which determines whether the nominee may serve as a municipal officer and participate in the Commission’s work affecting Baltimore’s Hispanic community.

Baltimore City Council Bill 26-0211 would expand retirement eligibility for employees of the Baltimore Museum of Art and Walters Art Museum. As introduced, it would add museum employees to the City Employees’ Retirement System and require a study of prior-service credit, vesting for employees with at least 10 years of service, contribution rates, legal requirements, and funding. The study was due by March 1, 2027, but would not itself grant additional benefits. The Department of Finance opposed the bill, and the Law Department questioned whether reopening the closed Plan C complies with federal law. Later actuarial analysis considered placing 211 employees in open Class D plans, estimating annual employer costs of about $754,000 to $956,000, depending on plan elections. No committee vote occurred at the July 8, 2026 hearing.

Baltimore City Council Bill 26-0215 would require landlords to disclose when rent is set using pricing algorithms that analyze nonpublic competitor data, such as rents, occupancy, or lease dates. The bill applies to owners, agents, managers, and others receiving rental income for dwelling or rooming units. Prospective tenants would see the algorithm and provider named in rental advertisements. Current tenants would receive written, in-person notice at least 90 days before an algorithm-based rent change, with an initial disclosure within 30 days for existing tenancies. The Department of Housing and Community Development could issue regulations. Violations could bring civil fines of up to $1,000 per day per unit, without changing state or federal notice requirements.

Baltimore City Council Bill 26-0212 would update the Fair Election Fund, the public financing program for municipal campaigns. It expands eligible offices to include Register of Wills and Clerk of the Circuit Court, sets different matching formulas for major offices and other positions, and lowers the mayoral primary or general-election funding cap from $1.5 million to $1 million. Caps would be adjusted for inflation every four years. The bill allows partial funding in initially uncontested elections, requires more frequent Fund-adequacy reviews, and requires candidates who withdraw or endorse another candidate to repay public funds with interest. Candidates may retain up to 10% for post-election expenses if they continue participating in the next cycle. It also permits campaign affiliations under specified conditions and removes the ban on slates. The bill would affect candidates, campaign committees, election administrators, and voters by revising access to and accountability for public campaign financing.

Baltimore City Council Bill 26-0213 would add a 0.5% surcharge to the existing 20% parking tax on fees charged for parking, including hourly, daily, monthly, and longer-term parking. Parking lot and garage operators, along with facilitators, would be subject to the surcharge through the tax system. The Director of Finance would collect the revenue and deposit it into the City’s Special Fund for Fair Elections, which supports public campaign financing. The bill also removes an expired moratorium on increasing the parking tax. If enacted, it would take effect 30 days after enactment.

Baltimore City Council Bill 26-0217 would amend the zoning code to prohibit citywide any data center capable of using 5 megawatts or more of electricity. It defines a data center as a facility primarily used for remote storage, processing, and distribution of data, lowering the current threshold from 10 megawatts to 5 megawatts. The measure was introduced July 13, 2026, by Councilmember Parker, with cosponsors, and assigned to the Land Use and Transportation Committee. Several city agencies must review it. The bill is contingent on Ordinance 26-128 taking effect and would become effective 30 days after enactment. It could affect proposed and future large data-center developments and related zoning decisions citywide.

Baltimore City Council Bill 26-0214 would require the Departments of Housing and Community Development, Planning, and Finance to submit a report within one year of enactment on non-owner-occupied dwelling units. The report would identify units by Council District, registration and rental-license status, expired or missing licenses, licensed vacant properties, required owner and manager contact information, and code-violation citations. It would also show whether owners live in Baltimore, elsewhere in Maryland, or outside the state. The measure is intended to give officials and the public clearer information about housing conditions, compliance, ownership, and renter protections. It takes effect 30 days after enactment.

Baltimore City Council Bill 26-0219, introduced July 13, 2026, is a resolution supporting State designation of a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) around and including the Rogers Avenue Metro Station. The area, identified in attached maps and specified blocks and lots, may include public and private parking, housing, commercial buildings, and related facilities within or near the station. The plan is intended to encourage transit, walking, and bicycling. Under Maryland law, the City’s designation is required for State approval. State TOD designation could improve eligibility for funding, financing, tax credits, State facilities, and agency assistance. The resolution takes effect upon enactment.

Baltimore City Council Bill 26-0218, introduced July 13, 2026, is a resolution supporting State designation of a Downtown Baltimore Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). The area includes property around the Lexington Market, Charles Center, and Shot Tower Metro stations; several Light Rail stations; and the Camden Yards MARC Station, as detailed in attached maps and parcel lists. The proposed district covers public and private parking, commercial and residential development, and related facilities within or near transit stations, planned to encourage transit use, walking, and bicycling. The designation could improve eligibility for State funding, financing, tax credits, resources, and agency support. It affects property owners, developers, residents, workers, transit users, and City agencies. The resolution takes effect upon enactment and was approved by the Law Department for legal sufficiency.

Baltimore City Council Resolution 26-0059R calls for an informational hearing on the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and ongoing annual reporting. The Department of Housing and Community Development, the Fund’s Commission, and relevant stakeholders would report on housing units created, residents assisted, household income levels, spending, outcomes, and other information required by the City Charter, funding ordinance, or requested by the Council. Established by a 2016 ballot measure, the Fund receives a fluctuating transfer and recordation tax on transactions above $1 million, plus approximately $6.5–$7 million annually from the capital budget. At least 50% must serve households earning no more than 30% of area median income, with the remainder serving those earning up to 50%. The resolution responds to the lack of a formal hearing since 2021 and publicly posted annual reports since 2022, aiming to improve oversight and access to information.

Baltimore City Council Resolution 26-0062R requires an informational hearing on whether to adopt a split-rate property tax system, commonly associated with land value taxation. The proposal would tax land at a higher rate and buildings or other improvements at a lower rate. It directs several city agencies—including Housing and Community Development, Finance, Small and Minority Business Advocacy and Development, and Planning—to participate, while inviting state officials and other stakeholders. The hearing would examine effects on absentee ownership, speculation, vacant properties, homeowner taxes, business investment, and housing construction. The resolution does not change tax law; it seeks information to guide future policy.

Baltimore City Council Resolution 26-0061R, introduced July 13, 2026, would require the Health Department, Department of Public Works, and Office of Emergency Management to appear at an informational hearing on electrical brownouts. The resolution also invites the Maryland Public Service Commission, Baltimore Gas and Electric, energy experts, and other stakeholders. The hearing would examine brownouts’ effects on public health, safety, infrastructure, and the economy, as well as the City’s emergency preparedness. It highlights risks such as traffic-light failures, damaged equipment, disrupted digital systems, and loss of heating or cooling. The resolution emphasizes potentially greater impacts on communities facing environmental and infrastructure inequities, amid rising electricity demand, data-center growth, and severe weather.

Baltimore City Council Resolution 26-0060R, introduced July 13, 2026, would hold an informational hearing on cannabis licensing in Baltimore. City Health Department, Planning Department, and Zoning Administration representatives would be required to participate; the Maryland Cannabis Administration, Office of Social Equity, and stakeholders would be invited. The hearing would examine the approval process, the City’s responsibilities under State law, and the experiences of cannabis businesses, including social equity licensees. The resolution discusses State rules limiting dispensaries near other dispensaries and sensitive locations, as well as eligibility for social equity licenses intended to expand opportunities for people from communities disproportionately affected by cannabis possession enforcement. It creates no new licensing rules but seeks public information and coordination among agencies.

Baltimore City Council Resolution 26-0063R, introduced July 13, 2026, would require the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) to appear before the Council’s Public Safety Committee. BPD must provide records and summaries of all active memoranda of understanding involving mutual aid, concurrent jurisdiction, and other law-enforcement coordination, including amendments, renewals, and replacement agreements. The Department must also describe supporting materials, implementation schedules, process updates, and its procedures for reviewing, revising, publishing, and implementing these agreements. The resolution affects BPD, the Mayor’s Office, the City Council, and outside law-enforcement partners. It matters by promoting public and legislative access to information about interagency policing arrangements, their implementation, and any delays or barriers.

Baltimore City Council Bill 26-0216 revises rules for towing vehicles from private lots and parking facilities. It requires towing companies to be licensed, bans patrol towing and “spotters,” and requires documented authorization, photographic evidence, city notification, and delivery to posted storage locations. Property owners must display detailed signs showing towing conditions, fees, reclaim hours, and contact information. The bill establishes maximum fees, including limits of $250, $585, or $845 based on vehicle weight, a release fee capped at 25% of the towing charge, and storage fees capped at $50 per day after 12 hours. Operators must accept major credit cards, provide detailed receipts, maintain tow logs for two years, and allow prompt vehicle recovery. Violations may result in license sanctions, a $500 misdemeanor fine, or both. The measure would take effect 30 days after enactment.

The Baltimore City Council's Public Health & Environment Committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing on August 5, 2026, regarding legislation identified as LO25-0007, which focuses on behavioral health. The legislation aims to assess and enhance the city's capacity to address rising behavioral health challenges. Key areas of review include the staffing of the Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD), the evaluation and reporting of behavioral health data, the coordination of city-funded non-profit organizations, and the promotion of pro-behavioral health initiatives. Sponsored by Councilmember Phylicia Porter, this legislation is significant as it seeks to improve community health responses and ensure effective use of resources in Baltimore, ultimately impacting residents' access to mental health services and support systems

The Baltimore City Council's Housing & Economic Development Committee is set to meet on August 18, 2026, to discuss several key legislative items. Among them is Bill 26-0147, which seeks to designate St. Peter’s Cemetery as a historical landmark, thereby preserving its exterior for future generations. Additionally, Bill 26-0163 proposes the establishment of a Healthy Foods Grant Program aimed at improving access to nutritious food in the community. Two legislative orders, LO25-0029 and LO25-0032, call for a review of the city’s strategies regarding vacant and abandoned properties, emphasizing the need for interagency cooperation and public accountability in redevelopment efforts. These discussions are significant for residents, as they impact community resources, historical preservation

The City of Baltimore's Public Health & Environment Committee held a meeting on August 19, 2026, to discuss key legislation impacting environmental sustainability. One significant item on the agenda is LO25-0017, which focuses on the city's progress towards its Zero Waste goals as outlined in the Baltimore Sustainability Plan. This legislation aims to evaluate the effectiveness of current waste reduction, recycling, and composting programs, identify challenges in their implementation, and explore opportunities for enhancing sustainable waste management infrastructure. Additionally, the committee considered Bill 26-0161, which proposes amendments to the Forest and Tree Conservation provisions to align with new state requirements. This legislation affects environmental policies and practices in Baltimore, emphasizing the city’s commitment to sustainability and compliance with state standards. The

The Baltimore City Council is focused on enhancing the quality of life for residents through effective governance and collaboration. The recent agenda for their luncheon on July 13, 2026, outlines key discussions that impact city legislation. Notable items include presentations from the Maryland Association of Counties and a specific initiative aimed at cleaning up the city, termed the Charm City Clean Up Initiative. The meeting will also cover agenda items for future council meetings, including introductions, co-sponsorships of legislation, and items that will be double-read for consideration. This framework of oversight and advocacy is essential for ensuring that city services are delivered equitably and sustainably, ultimately influencing the well-being of all Baltimoreans.