General Assembly & budget updates, citizenship clinics, and more - Newsletter from Council President Fani-González

Neighbors:

I want to share my appreciation for the Montgomery County Delegation for their tireless efforts during the 2026 legislative session. Thanks to their leadership, Montgomery County will be receiving more than $1.21 billion in state aid to bolster our schools, critical health and social services and economic initiatives. These investments will support the diverse needs of Montgomery County communities.

Our state delegation has delivered on high-priorities projects, including funding for the new 4th District Police Station in Glenmont, and key projects for Montgomery County Public Schools and Montgomery College to ensure safe, modern facilities for our students to learn and thrive.

I am also pleased that the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) has committed a total of $5 million additional funding for FY28 and FY29 which will go toward the North Bethesda Metro Station Northern Entrance project. These funds are in addition to $500,000 of state capital budget funds directly allocated by the legislature this year.

After years of advocacy, I’m proud that the General Assembly passed significant bills protecting the immigrant community: terminating 287 (g) agreements with ICE, prohibiting the use of face coverings by law enforcement officers, and passing the Data Privacy Act and Community Trust Act. These major pieces of legislation complement each other at aiming to protect immigrant community members and build trust with law enforcement. 

The General Assembly passed legislation that advances regulatory certainty for housing projects, juvenile justice reform, and lowers utility bills for Marylanders. 

Additionally, the legislature passed a bill expanding income eligibility thresholds for a property tax credit for disabled veterans and their families. As you know, back in 2024 I worked on the local bill to provide property tax credit for disabled veterans. I have been lobbying the Maryland General Assembly for the past two years alongside military veterans to allow us to increase the qualifying threshold, and it finally happened! Now the threshold is $150,000 for a single veteran filer and $300,000 for joint filers to qualify. 

We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the Montgomery County Delegation to support our County priorities and all our residents.

Citizenship Clinic

I was thrilled to team up with the Governor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, the County's Office of Community Partnerships, and the Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center to host a citizenship clinic providing pro bono legal services to eligible residents interested in becoming U.S. citizens. Having gone through this process myself, I know firsthand that it is long, complex, and costly, yet absolutely worth it. I was happy to have nearly 150 residents come out to learn more about the process and take advantage of the support provided by the amazing team of pro bono volunteers. We plan to host additional citizenship clinics throughout the County to meet the high demand for these services. We were grateful to have Lt. Governor Aruna Miller join us to support this important cause.

Worksessions Begin on $8 Billion Operating Budget

Thanks to the more than 200 speakers who came out to the Council’s public hearings last week alongside the numerous phone calls and hundreds of emails we continue to receive sharing their thoughts on the FY27 Operating Budget. Your views are essential to developing a final budget that balances community needs, county services, and the financial challenges facing taxpayers. Over the next several weeks, Council committees will take a deep dive into the budget data and make recommendations to fund education, public safety, safety net services, and maintain the County’s outstanding quality of life. All budgetary decisions, including the County Executive’s request to increase income and property taxes, will be made with great consideration and scrutiny. The Council takes final action on the budget at the end of May. Upcoming Council and committee meeting schedules can be found on the Council webpage.

Stronger Regulations Proposed for Data Centers

Following robust public feedback, I joined with Vice President Marilyn Balcombe and Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles to propose several amendments to strengthen regulations on data center development. The proposed amendments relate to ZTA 26-01, which would implement commonsense guardrails to guide data center development and protect neighborhoods. The amendments include requirements for data centers to purchase and produce 100% clean energy, a prohibition on using potable water for cooling systems, and a clarification that ensures the new zoning rules would apply to all current and future projects.

Montgomery County must participate in the economy of the future by supporting data centers; however, responsible rules for data center development that genuinely reflect community input are required. ZTA 26-01 with the proposed amendments does just that.

We welcome feedback on these proposed amendments as the zoning measure moves through the legislative process over the next few months. You can view the clean energy amendment here and the rest of the amendments here.

Happy Arab American Heritage Month

Last week, I led the Council in a proclamation honoring April as Arab American Heritage Month. This month offers us an important opportunity to honor the contributions of Arab Americans in our community and reaffirm our commitment to inclusion, equity, and respect for all. I recognize that this is a difficult time, as conflict in parts of the Middle East continues to impact families and communities here at home. To our neighbors who are hurting: we see you, we care about what you are going through, and we continue to hope for peace.

Celebrate Earth Day Across Montgomery County

Montgomery County celebrates Earth Day with events throughout the month designed to inspire collective action to protect our environment and public health. Join Montgomery County’s largest environmental festival, GreenFest, on April 25 at BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown. Plus, professionals in the commercial building sector are invited to register for the two-day Montgomery County Energy Summit. Yesterday, the Council presented a proclamation celebrating Earth Day. Thanks to all our great partners who joined us for the proclamation and who work tirelessly every day to build a greener, more resilient and sustainable community for all!

FY27 State Award Matching Cost Sharing Capital Grant Program - Stage One Application Now Open

Applications are now open for the County’s FY27 Cost Sharing Capital Grants (CSCG) Grant Program for qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofits seeking to implement projects that help provide access to resources, direct services, historical preservation, cultural enrichment, and/or other benefits to Montgomery County residents. The deadline to apply for Stage One funding is May 5, 2026. Learn more about this and other grant programs here.

Sincerely,

Natali Fani-González
Council President