The 2025 General Assembly session ended this week with the typical Sine Die fervor. I visited Annapolis Monday to support our local lawmakers and thank them for the work they did over the last three months.
One thing Gov. Wes Moore made clear from the start was that this hole was not going to be filled by taxing the middle class and I support the progressivity that has been introduced into the tax structure. Creating two new income tax brackets for Marylanders who have the means to share more is the right way to approach tax collection. The governor’s full statement on Sine Die is available on his website.
While we are still unpacking the impacts of the legislation and decisions made by the General Assembly, we saw a lot of progress and good news for the residents of Maryland—such as improving public safety, health care access and lower prescription drug costs.
One of several public safety wins was a bill that better protects all of us on the road. In 2023, Montgomery County Police Department Sergeant Pat Kepp was out of his car on 270 trying to stop a speeding driver when he was targeted and hit by that vehicle. Sgt. Kepp was seriously injured in that incident but has worked hard and is already back on duty.
I was deeply disappointed to learn that the jury acquitted the man of the most serious charges of first- and second-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault. You can read my full statement on the verdict here.
Sgt. Kepp’s tireless advocacy for the State legislation was instrumental in its passage. I also appreciate the work of State Senator Nancy King and State Delegate Gregory Wims on the legislation.
The driver who hit him should not have been on the road that night because he was a repeat offender. Our police had on numerous occasions witnessed this person driving wildly and baiting them into a chase, but our police avoid high-speed chases because of larger public safety concerns. Sgt. Kepp’s story has been featured in many articles and videos, one of which is a deep conversation with his MCPD colleagues you can watch here.
And there was great news for Marylanders when it comes to improving health care. New legislation aims to lower prescription drug costs by expanding the authority of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board. This is a measure I have been behind for a long time. We have got to stop the prescription drug companies from putting our residents between a rock and a hard place. I am not the only person who knows people who are forced to sacrifice food for their families to keep up with out-of-control drug prices.
What makes this situation infuriating is when you realize that you could go to Canada, Mexico, Colombia or Europe and buy the same name-brand drugs for less than you would pay in the United States. There is no rational reason for the price disparities other than our Federal government’s refusal to protect us from price gouging.
The State also extended a successful health insurance subsidy program for young adults (HB 297/SB 5) and is preparing for potential federal health care changes by establishing a state subsidy program (HB 1082) and reinstating a commission to assess impacts (HB 718). Despite budget constraints, the legislature resisted major cuts to the vital Medicaid program.
My guest for this week’s media briefing was Vinny DeMarco, president of the Maryland Health Care for All coalition. This week, he published an op-ed in Maryland Matters called "A Tale of Two Governors," which I encourage you to read. In the commentary, Vinny highlighted the difference between the Moore and Hogan administrations in their approach and prioritization of health issues.
For more information about these new law changes and what it could mean for you, please visit Maryland Healthcare for All at https://healthcareforall.com/
Re-Open White’s Ferry!
This week, we announced a financial incentive package in partnership with the State of Maryland and the Town of Poolesville to get White’s Ferry back up and operating.
We are offering a $3 million incentive to the Maryland and Virginia landowners who have been unable to reach an agreement to restart the ferry since the Virginia property owner blocked the ferry's landing over four years ago.
Gov. Wes Moore recommended, and the General Assembly approved, $1.5 million of the $3 million. The rest of the money will come from the County capital improvement budget. I sent a budget amendment to the County Council for approval. The Town of Poolesville is also helping.
The money will only be distributed after Potomac Crossing, LLC, the Maryland property owner, and Rockland Farm, LLC, the Virginia owner, reach a binding agreement. A reopening date for the ferry must also be established before the $3 million dollars is given to the ferry partners through a grant agreement.
Our County and members of our Maryland delegation have worked hard for over four years to reach an agreement between these two parties. I want to specifically thank Del. David Fraser-Hidalgo for his work in this matter.
A final agreement will require both sides to come to the table with an open mind and a willingness to be flexible. You can read more about the proposal here .
Reopening the ferry will positively impact local businesses, provide economic stability and improve the quality of life for many residents. And it will save tens of thousands of miles of wasteful travel having to go down to the American Legion bridge or up to Point of Rocks to cross the Potomac.
When it was operational, the ferry carried nearly 800 daily users between Maryland and Virginia, and its history goes back to 1786. In 2021, a White’s Ferry Operations Alternative Study was released containing further details about the ferry’s history and impact.
I urge the private parties to meet soon and for both to have an open mind and to be flexible.
This offer is about giving the private parties one last opportunity to find a workable solution. We cannot force an agreement, but we are putting real money on the table to help make one possible. If this doesn’t get resolved now, it won’t be for lack of effort from the County, the State or the Town of Poolesville.
Speaking Out
People turned out to express tremendous concern about President Donald Trump and Elon Musk's ongoing actions. Last week was one of the worst weeks in this County’s history, with more than 2,200 jobs lost through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The President’s tariff plan then threw financial markets around the world into chaos, which left many people worried about the security of their retirement.
Saturday’s protests were important as they allowed people to speak up in defense of democracy and due process. They show that there are many people like us who are outraged over these reckless and chaotic policies.
Energy Summit 2025
Earlier this week, more than 300 building owners, property managers, developers, energy contractors and sustainability professionals attended the 12th Annual Energy Summit in Silver Spring.
Our County’s Energy Summit gave both newcomers and experienced leaders in the commercial building sector a chance to explore the latest advancements in energy efficiency, sustainable practices and emerging technologies.
This year, the Energy Summit was sold out, highlighting the importance of helping company leaders enhance their buildings' energy future and meet compliance requirements. I want to thank our Department of Environmental Protection, headed by Jon Monger, and our Climate Action Teams, led by Climate Change Officer, Sarah Kogel Smucker.
The theme of this year’s energy summit was “Beyond Benchmarking: Navigating Energy Performance.” The gathering focused largely on our Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) legislation and regulations, and on implementing them with our business and nonprofit communities.
This week, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation clarifying that building owners in Montgomery County only need to comply with the County BEPS program.
Buildings are one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases. BEPS is an important tool to make meaningful changes to reduce carbon pollution from our buildings.
Beyond our buildings, we are committed to helping businesses and residents be more sustainable in their waste practices. Last week we announced the expansion of our curbside recycling program to include electronics and batteries. Residents will soon be receiving a mailer on when the program will begin in your neighborhood.
We have a lot more Earth Month events and activities in the upcoming weeks, concluding with our 10th-anniversary celebration of Tree Montgomery on Friday, April 25, and our annual GreenFest gathering at the Marian Fryer Plaza in Wheaton on Saturday, April 26. GreenFest is free to the public and gives you and your family a chance to celebrate and learn more about sustainable practices in our community. Please watch this Montgomery Municipal Cable video previewing the event. I hope you have visited our Climate Smart page and discovered how to turn small actions into big changes.
We are living in a time when our current federal government is undermining efforts to slow climate change and instead is promoting fossil fuel development.
This is bonkers.
At least here, we understand science. Last month, when we presented our Climate Action Plan update at Walt Whitman High School, I was inspired by the conversations and questions from the young adults. The work we do in this climate, energy and environmental space is about them.
The war on climate change is just another part of the current war on science—a threat to our existence that too many people are deliberately ignoring.
Food Waste Prevention Week
Another way to improve sustainability at home or at work is to limit what we throw away. Food Waste Prevention Week is recognized to help spread awareness and help residents identify ways to limit the amount of trash disposed of and collected.
Leaders in food waste prevention use this week to celebrate local leaders, nonprofit partners and community advocates who work on our behalf to educate the public. They are behind many of the activities that promote environmental sustainability. I am encouraged by the number of community partners who share our mission to reduce, recover and recycle wasted food.
Here are some tips you can use to reduce food waste:
- Plan your meals to avoid over-preparing.
- Use durable, reusable dishware not disposable plates and cutlery.
- Recycle all bottles, jars, cans and containers.
- Mind the time of year: food waste tends to spike around holidays.
- Consider composting food scraps.
I will be at the Bethesda Central Farmer’s Market on Sunday, April 13, to highlight the Food Scraps Recycling Drop-Off program. By offering food scraps recycling at local farmers’ markets, we are making it easier for people to reduce waste and contribute to our work toward a greener, more sustainable future. The locations are listed on the DEP website.
I have heard the compliments thanking Montgomery County's leadership for addressing wasted food and food insecurity, but it is not our credit to take. I thank the people who have helped execute the plan and wisely use the limited resources we can share to ensure we are creating a greener future today.
Council Passes Bill to Give Away Tax Dollars to Some Developers
I was disappointed in the Council’s vote on Tuesday on Expedited Bill 2-25, which would automatically eliminate 100% of property taxes for 20 years for certain commercial properties that convert half-vacant (or half-full) buildings to residential or demolish. I had urged them to take more time to consider the issues and, at the very least, to delay final passage. You can read my letter here. The fiscal impact analysis estimated that Bill 2-25E would cost the County hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenues. Those revenues are crucial to addressing the County’s many needs, including good schools, parks, recreation and public safety. The racial equity and social justice analysis advised that the bill would have a negative impact. You can read the analysis here.
As I laid out in my letter to the County Council, the bill was not fair to residents and it was not fair to some developers. It was also a process that was too rushed – it went from introduction on February 4 (along with a number of other bills), before the Planning Board on March 4, a public hearing on March 11, one joint committee session on March 27 and one Council session – with a final vote – on April 8. This was too important to rush.
The Council also passed Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 25-03 that expedited the approval process for these conversions/demolitions.
I have no problem with the ZTA. We should make the process as simple and direct as possible. The County has already approved office-to-residential projects, even without legislation. One project in Silver Spring created 178 new housing units and added five stories. And they did that without any tax giveaway, which is proof that these projects can be done without subsidies.
The County already has the authority to negotiate payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) and uses them to get more affordable units than are currently required. Making the PILOT (which means exempting from property taxes) automatic takes away negotiating room and, in this case, delivers very few additional affordable units. And it does not require proof that the money is needed to make a deal feasible. The foregone revenue could have subsidized many more affordable units through negotiations than will be built with this legislation.
I appreciated the efforts by Councilmember Will Jawando and Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles to attempt to improve the legislation; I am sorry the bill was not improved at the full Council. The legislation gives away County revenues and gets nothing in return, which is why I will be vetoing it. I will have further commentary at that time. So stay tuned for that.
National Public Health Week
Public health workers were recognized for their work and dedication during the first Dr. Ulder J. Tillman National Public Health Week Symposium earlier this week. The late Dr. Tillman was a County Health Officer that I worked with when I was on the County Council. (Photos)
The gathering was meant to spotlight the vital role of public health professionals, particularly their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, and highlight the 2025 theme, "Success in Community. It Starts Here." That theme reminds us to work together to help everyone understand the importance of preventative measures.
The 2025 County Health Rankings found that Montgomery County is one of the healthiest places to live in the State and nation. We should acknowledge that we do have areas that we can improve, but our County health officials, hospitals, community-based nonprofit health providers and other stakeholders continue to prioritize improving health outcomes.
Too often, the work done by our health professionals goes under the radar. During the pandemic, one positive aspect of such a dismal time was seeing our community rally behind these hard-working professionals who were up to the task despite high stress levels, uncertain conditions and watching so many people die. I hope you realize that our community would have been far worse off had it not been for their dedication to the community’s health.
Montgomery County is committed to health equity—ensuring everyone has access to the same level of care regardless of their economic status or religious beliefs. We have several community initiatives that focus on reaching out to specific segments of our population, such as the African American Health Program, the Asian American Health Initiative and the Latino Health Initiative.
We also acknowledged the County’s health team at the County Council on Tuesday for their tireless work to help our community and protect it from communicable diseases and chronic ailments. They help seniors, expectant mothers, families in need and people lacking health care coverage. Their work helps lift our community, and I couldn’t be prouder of what they accomplish on behalf of Montgomery County residents.
Library Workers Week
I also want to acknowledge the hard work done by Montgomery County Public Libraries during Library Workers Week. Our dedicated library media specialists encourage a love of reading and help transform lives to strengthen our communities.
Libraries offer something for everyone, and that is reflected in a new campaign we asked the public to participate in. Our workers are getting some love in the form of video messages from the community detailing why they love the library. I shared a video as well, and I hope it reflects how much I appreciate what they do, including their work on early learning, continuing education and engaging our community.
I encourage everyone to visit montgmoerycountymd.gov/library to explore our resources, learn about our community events or participate in reading challenges.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
County Executive
