County Commissioners Talk Local and State Legislation

DENTON – The Caroline County Commissioners held their own legislative session and took positions on several state-level bills at their February 10 meeting.

County Legislative Session

During the session, three zoning-related legislative bills were introduced for a first reading. Commissioners agreed to advance all three measures to a second reading and a public hearing at their next meeting on February 17.

The first, Legislative Bill 2026-001, would give the county’s zoning administrator the ability to correct or update “minor, technical, or clerical errors” in Caroline’s zoning maps. Officials said the need for this authority came after incorrect translations were discovered during the ongoing process of selling the Day Springs townhomes, and those discrepancies most likely happened when old paper zoning maps were digitized.

Legislative Bill 2026-002 would create permissions for warehouse mini-storage facilities to operate in areas classified as “Village Centers.” These are communities such as Harmony, Bethlehem, Hobbs, West Denton, and Bridgetown, areas outside the limits of Caroline’s incorporated towns but still relatively populated and home to some businesses. Director of Planning and Codes Crystal Dadds said the county has received feedback from residents of these villages that mini storage facilities would be beneficial, especially for small business owners who struggle to find or afford commercial storage space on the Shore.

The third bill, Legislative Bill 2026-003, would re-establish the county’s R-3 multiple family residential district, with the addition of townhouse regulations. The R-3 district was removed in 2014 because there were no properties that fit that zoning category at the time.

In addition to the new zoning bills, commissioners also passed Legislative Bill 2025-015, an act to amend the compensation of the County Commissioners of Caroline County. The vote followed an extensive review process in which a committee compared commissioner pay with job requirements and salaries in similar counties.

The committee’s original recommendation was to gradually raise commissioner salaries to around $30,000 and $31,000. However, the commissioners opted instead for one larger increase to $24,000 for commissioners and $25,000 for the commission president, followed by a smaller jump after the first year to $26,000 and $27,000. The current commissioners emphasized that the pay changes will not affect the current board, they will only apply only to the incoming commission after the next election cycle this year.

This marks the first time since 2009 that commissioner salaries have been reviewed. Commissioner Larry Porter, who has served in the role since 2010, attested that the role and responsibilities of the job have changed significantly in the years since, and he was “comfortable” with the increase.

Maryland Legislative Session County Impacts

Porter provided an update on the ongoing 2026 Maryland legislative session in Annapolis, explaining that he meets multiple times a week with representatives from the Maryland Association of Counties (MACO) to review legislation proposed at the state level. Porter said it is the goal of the Caroline County Commissioners to support what he called “enabling” legislation – bills that give individual counties authority over how they implement state laws.

“As bills are introduced, we review these bills with the organization that we belong with, the Maryland Association of Counties,” Porter said. He explained that he meets every Monday night via Zoom with MACO, focusing specifically on legislation impacting rural counties. On Wednesday mornings, the MACO legislative committee, which is made up of members from each county and Baltimore City, reconvenes to review all proposed bills and decide whether to support, oppose, take no position, or support or oppose with amendments to the bill. Porter also noted that commissioners meet regularly with state representatives and lobbyists throughout the legislative session.

“We certainly don’t always agree,” Porter added. He said one of the main concerns during these meetings is reviewing legislation that could impose “unfunded mandates” on counties, meaning bills that require local governments to implement programs or policies that would cost the county taxpayer dollars.

Senate Bill 255, Voting Rights Act of 2026

Among the bills discussed was Senate Bill 255, the Voting Rights Act of 2026. Porter described the bill as an effort “trying to control how we vote.” He explained that Caroline County is an at-large county, meaning all three commissioners represent the entire county, rather than having separate districts.

The idea of expanding to five commissioners and creating districts has been floated in the past, Porter said, but “we have decided over the years that three is enough” for a county of roughly 34,000 residents. Porter said he planned to suggest that the commissioners send a letter of opposition to Senate Bill 255.

“This is a bill that has been introduced by a senator from Prince George’s County, and I think a senator from Baltimore City or Baltimore County…what they want to be involved in our election for, I couldn’t tell you,” Porter said.

The County Commissioners voted to send a letter opposing the bill. Commission President Breeding expressed concerns with expanding the commission, saying, “I think we need some choice, we need some competitiveness…if we go to five, it will be that much more difficult.” “What I want to do is make sure we have the best, highest qualified people in these three seats,” he added.

House Bill 190 Constitutional Amendment - Form of County Government - Requirement to Adopt Charter Home Rule

Porter also discussed House Bill 190, which would create a mandatory charter government structure for all Maryland counties. Under charter government, counties would elect a County Executive who would run the county. “To be perfectly honest, I’m not sure what it is the commissioners do” in a charter government, Porter said.

Caroline County currently operates as a code home rule county, meaning commissioners are elected by residents to set policies, establish tax rates, and oversee county government. The commissioners then hire the county administrators, and “They work for us,” Porter said. “We will oppose this bill, I think MACO will oppose this bill.”

House Bill 163, Fairness in Girls Sports Act

The commissioners also reviewed House Bill 163, the Fairness in Girls Sports Act, which Porter summarized as stating that male students cannot play female sports or use female locker rooms. Breeding made a motion to send a letter of support for the bill, which passed.

House Bill 203 Labor and Employment - Training Repayment Agreements - Prohibition

Another measure discussed was House Bill 203, which would ban training repayment agreements in Maryland for both public agencies and private employers. Porter explained that, as it relates to the county, such agreements are sometimes used when they pay for employee training or certifications, like that of truck drivers, paramedics, EMTs, etc. Under Caroline County policy, “They have an obligation to come back and work for the county for a certain amount of time,” Porter said.

Currently, employees must work for the county for 24 months. If they leave early, they are responsible for repaying the cost of training based on how many months remain in that 24 month period. So, if someone leaves after one year, they would have to pay back 50% of the tuition the county covered. Porter said he was unsure whether MACO had taken a position on the bill yet, but Commissioner Breeding made a motion for Caroline County to send a letter of opposition to House Bill 203, which passed.

Porter said that, generally, “We want enabling bills so that if a bill is passed we can decide if we want it to apply to Caroline County or not…I don’t like the word ‘prohibit’, I don’t want to make Cecil County do anything that is not in their best interest.”

In addition to the bills discussed at the meeting, Caroline’s commissioners have also sent letters of support for three other legislative measures related to dog licensing, liquor licensing inspections, and the restoration of highway user revenue, respectively. 

Porter said residents interested in reviewing proposed legislation can find bills online, and the commissioners will continue tracking and taking positions on bills as they are introduced in Annapolis.