* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: President Scott and Councilmember Clarke
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
Let Our Local Communities Act Locally
For the purpose of expressing the Baltimore City Council’s support for the goals of “LOCAL Maryland,” a coalition aimed at both preventing state pre-emption laws that serve primarily as a tool to reign in progressive local governments and protecting the rights of local governments to pass laws that support healthy families, a clean environment, and good jobs in our local jurisdictions and municipalities throughout Maryland.
body
Recitals
There is a movement afoot in Annapolis and in state capitals across the country, backed by monied special interest groups, to push state lawmakers to pass state legislation aimed at preventing local governments from passing laws that support healthy families, a clean environment, and good jobs. In Maryland, legislation is being drafted for this upcoming General Assembly session to pre-empt local legislative action on various health laws, the minimum wage, and other matters that local governments have historically been able to modify based on the needs of their constituents.
LOCAL Maryland is a group established to support and to protect local government’s ability to adequately respond to its constituents and to stop the encroachment of special interest groups looking to steer Maryland backwards. LOCAL Maryland is being supported by a broad coalition of local governments and activist groups, such as the Maryland State Conference of the NAACP, the Public Justice Center, and 1199SEIU.
There is no question that local government exists to nimbly respond to and address the needs of the citizens that live and work within its boundaries. As such, the Baltimore City Council believes that any movement to block any local government’s ability to pass progressive-minded legislation for healthy families, a clean environment, and good jobs would disproportionately hurt our City, especially women, children, and people of color. To that end, the Baltimore City Council stands ready to support LOCAL Maryland in any way necessary.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of Baltimore, That the Council expresses its support for the goals of “LOCAL Maryland,” a coalition aimed at both preventing state pre-emption laws that serve primarily as a tool to reign in progressive local governments and protecting the rights of local governments to pass laws that support healthy families, a clean environment, and good jobs in our local jurisdictions and municipalities throughout Maryland.
And be it further resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Honorable
Chairs and Members of the Baltimore City House and Senate Delegations to the Maryland
General Assembly, the President of the Maryland Senate, the Maryland House Speaker, the Mayor, and the Mayor’s Legislative Liaison to the City Council.