Zero Fare

Montgomery County Department of Transportation will implement a zero fare policy on all Ride On, Ride On extRa, Ride On Flex and Flash buses beginning Sunday, June 29, 2025. This policy expands upon existing programs that already offer free rides to youth, seniors, persons with disabilities, and Montgomery College students. The zero fare policy is part of a broader effort to improve transit accessibility and encourage more residents to use public transportation.

Minimum Wage Increase

On July 1, 2025, the minimum wage rate for large employers (with 51 or more employees) will increase by 50 cents to $17.65 per hour, while the rate for mid-sized employers (with 11-50 employees) will increase by 50 cents to $16 per hour. The rate for small employers (10 or fewer employees) will increase by 50 cents to $15.50 per hour.

Hate-Bias Incident Form

A new online portal is now available to report hate-bias incidents in Montgomery County. The Montgomery County Police Department's (MCPD) Community Engagement Division address the increase in hate and bias-motivated threats, harassment, graffiti and violence in the community. If you are the victim or witness a Hate-Bias event, MCPD encourages you to report the incident. You may also call 311 to submit a report. A bias-related incident may be motivated by the same reasons as a hate crime but is different because the initial action did not rise to the level of a criminal offense.

• MontgomeryCountyMD.gov/report-hate

Strategies for Addressing Health Challenges

Montgomery County will host two virtual community meetings to gather input from residents on strategies to address the County’s most pressing health challenges. The meetings will take place on Tuesday, July 9, and Wednesday, July 10, from 6-8 p.m. Both sessions will be held via Zoom, with Spanish interpretation available. Read more from the press release.