TOWSON, MD—Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski on Wednesday applauded a successful 2023 Maryland General Assembly Legislative Session highlighted by the passage of several key Baltimore County legislative priorities and vital capital improvement requests.

“Baltimore County residents were winners in this year’s legislative session, and I am thrilled that some of our most important priorities are now on Governor Moore’s desk,” said County Executive Olszewski. “I want to thank all state legislators, especially the Baltimore County Delegation led by Baltimore County’s own Speaker Adrienne Jones, and our partners for their tireless work on behalf of Baltimore County residents and making this session a resounding success.”

Baltimore County’s key legislative priorities passed during the Maryland General Assembly’s 2023 Legislative Session included:

Abortion Access
Allows voters in the 2024 general election to decide on a Constitutional amendment protecting “one’s right to an abortion,” reads a press releases from Olszewski’s office.

Baltimore Regional Water Governance Task Force
Establishes the Baltimore Regional Water Governance Task Force, which will be charged with making recommendations to modernize the governance of the region’s water and wastewater utilities — which currently operate under half-century old agreements — to help ensure residents receive high-quality water and sewerage services.

Baltimore Regional Transit Commission – Establishment
Creates a new transit oversight structure, the Baltimore Regional Transit Commission, which will incorporate local and regional perspectives in the planning, design and funding of transit services in the Baltimore region.

Fair Wage Act of 2023
Increases the state minimum wage to $15 per hour beginning in January 2024 and repeals the authority of the Board of Public Works to suspend an increase in the minimum wage rate.

Baltimore County Board of Education – Student Member – Voting and Training
Baltimore County Board of Education’s student member will now vote on capital and operating budget matters after newly designed budget training.

In addition, several targeted State capital investment requests were fully funded, including $12 million for a new Lansdowne branch of the Baltimore County Public Library, $9 million for a Sparrows Point Fire Academy, $5 million for continued site and infrastructure investments in and around the redevelopment of Security Square Mall.