ACS has been advocating on behalf of Howard County’s nonprofit human and social service, cultural, environmental and faith-based organizations and the individuals and families that they serve since 1963. Our advocacy includes community wide education, bringing together decision makers to resolve issues, giving testimony before elected officials, and building partnerships to achieve advocacy goals. During election years, we host candidate forums, often in collaboration with the League of Women Voters, to build relationships with candidates and our members and educate them about our advocacy work.
The Public Policy Committee (PPC) is a key component of our advocacy work. PPC is made up of representatives our member community who serve as advisors to recommend advocacy priorities and actions to the ACS Board of Directors. All members are welcome to join the PPC. Email us at policy@acshoco.org to get involved with our advocacy work.
ACS Advocacy Priority
Our advocacy priority is to reshape systems and structures that impact the nonprofit sector and the people we serve so we can meet the growing needs of today and tomorrow. This includes:
Last updated: December 16, 2021
2022 Candidate Forum Roundtable Handouts
ACS Testimony
January 31: HoCo by Design - Comments on Draft Plan
February 1: Support - SB 59 - Maryland Health Benefit Exchange – Small Employers – Special Enrollment Period and Marketing
February 16: Support - HB 107 - Maryland Health Benefit Exchange - Small Employers - Special Enrollment Period and Marketing
March 13: Howard County FY 2024 Budget Testimony
January 25: Support - Ho.Co. 12-22 - Howard County - Disposable Bag Fees - Exemption
February 15th: State Budget
March 1: Support - HB 878 - Howard County - Department of Housing and Community Development - Housing
Opportunities Trust Fund Ho. Co. 5-22
March 2: Support w/ Amendments - SB 632 - Maryland Health Benefit Exchange - Small Business and Nonprofit Health Insurance Subsidies Program
March 14: County FY 2023 Budget Testimony
March 31: Crossover Testimony
- Support - SB 632 - Maryland Health Benefit Exchange - Small Business and Nonprofit Health Insurance Subsidies Program - Workgroup
- Support - HB 878 - Howard County - Department of Housing and Community Development - Housing Opportunities Trust Fund Ho. Co. 5-22
May 10: Howard County FY 2023 Budget Testimony
December 21: Howard County FY 2024 Budget Testimony
January 27: Oppose - Ho.Co. 12-21 - Prohibition Against Fee-in-Lieu
March 3: Racial Equity Task Force Public Hearing
May 4: FY 2022 Operating Budget
May 6: Racial Equity Task Force Draft Recommendations
September 22: Support - CR 144 and CR 145 - Roslyn Rise Apartments PILOT
November 15: Support - CB 82 - Minimum Wage Requirements
November 16: Support - Ho.Co. 5-22 - Howard County - Department of Housing and Community Development - Housing Opportunities Trust Fund
November 16: Support - Howard County - Disposable Bag Fees - Exemption
December 13: FY 2023 Budget
December 16: HCPSS Policy 6010 to Board of Education
January 23: Support - Ho.Co. 23-20 - School Data Collection
February 7: Oppose - Ho.Co. 11-20 - Prohibitions Against Fee-in-Lieu
February 10: Support - Ho.Co. 26-20 - Increase Transfer Tax Authorization
February 12: Operating Budget Special Education Funding
March 12: Operating Budget Pedestrian Plan Funding
April 13: Letter to Joint COVID-19 Response Legislative Workgroup
May 11: Support - CR 84-2020 - Increase Transfer Tax
May 11: Support - CR 85-2020 - Amends Recordation Tax
May 17: FY 2021 Operating Budget Testimony
August 18: Support with Amendments - HCPSS Educational Equity Policy 1080
September 21: Support - CR 142-2020 - Racial Equity Task Force
October 19: Support - New Cultural Center Funding
December 9: Residents' Budget Hearing
March 5: Funding priority requests presented to Howard County Administration at the FY 2020 Citizen's Budget Hearing
May 1: County Council, Operating Budget Testimony
June 18: Support for CR96-2019 Enterprise Homes PILOT
June 18: Support for CR 97-2019 Robinson Overlook PILOT
July 8: Support for CR 97-2019 Robinson Overlook PILOT (2nd Public Hearing)
September 16: Support for CR120 a resolution adopting the Howard County Complete Streets Policy and requiring the development of a Complete Streets Design Manual.
September 18: Opposition to CB42-2019, School Facilities Surcharge
September 18: Support for CR112-2019, Development of Implementation Plan to Integrate HCPSS
December 9: County Council, FY 2021 Operating Budget Testimony