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Council Passes Bill Providing Tax Incentive for Projects on WMATA Property
The County Council yesterday approved a bill that would exempt 100% of the property tax for a project built on property leased from WMATA at a Metro station in the county. Bill 29-20, the “More Housing at Metrorail Stations Act,” would apply to construction of new high-rise development that includes at least 50% rental housing…
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Council Approves Additional COVID-19 Funding, Amended Executive Order
The County Council yesterday unanimously passed additional targeted funding in response to COVID-19, as well as an amended executive order on county restrictions in response to the pandemic. The council approved a $3.3 million special appropriation to implement the African American Health Program Executive Committee program to provide a response to the impact of the…
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Council Passes Bill to Require Police Adopt Use of Force Policy
The County Council yesterday unanimously approved a bill that would require the Montgomery County police chief to adopt a use of force policy. Many of the provisions in the legislation are similar those in a new policy announced in June by County Executive Marc Elrich, Police Chief Marcus Jones and the Fraternal Order of Police.
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Council Votes to Limit Residential Rent Increases During COVID-19 Emergency
The County Council voted to limit residential rent increases during the COVID-19 health emergency and for 180 days after the emergency’s expiration. Expedited Bill 18-20, the COVID-19 Renter Relief Act, prohibits landlords from increasing rents on lease renewals more than the county’s Department of Housing and Community Affairs’ rent guidelines of 2.6 percent.
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Bill Would Prohibit Residential Rent Increases During COVID-19 Emergency
Landlords would not be permitted to increase residential rents during the COVID-19 emergency under the terms of a bill introduced yesterday by Councilmember Will Jawando (D-At Large). Expedited Bill 18-20, Landlord-Tenant Relations – Rent Stabilization During Emergencies (the COVID-18 Renter Relief Act) also would prevent rent increase notices for 30 days after the emergency ends.
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Council Passes Bill to Require Air Conditioning in Rental Units
All rental units in the county will be required to provide air conditioning under the terms of a bill passed unanimously yesterday by the County Council. The bill will require that individual air conditioning units, or a central air conditioning system, be maintained in good working condition to provide an inside temperature of 80 degrees…
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Council Introduces Bill to Make Bicycle Registration Voluntary
County residents would no longer be required to register their bicycles under terms of legislation introduced yesterday by the County Council. ill 2-20, Bicycles – Registration – Amendments would make registration voluntary for bicycles owned for personal use. It also would repeal county and park police authority to impound an unregistered bike.
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Council Passes Bill to Create Policing Advisory Commission
The Montgomery County Council yesterday unanimously adopted Bill 14-19 to create a Policing Advisory Commission. The commission’s goal is to improve council oversight of the county’s police department. In addition, it’s intended to increase the community’s trust in police by advising the council on certain police matters, including best practices, policies and programs.
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Council Votes to Prohibit Discrimination of Natural Hairstyles
Montgomery County became the first local jurisdiction to prohibit discrimination on the basis of natural hairstyles with the passage this week of the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act. The bill, which the County Council passed unanimously, would add a definition of race to the underlying anti-discrimination law to specify…