Baltimore, MD (Thursday, December 21, 2023) – Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott released his 2024 Legislative Priorities ahead of next year’s General Assembly, which will convene on January 10, 2024.

“Each year, the legislative session provides an opportunity to advocate for the residents of Baltimore alongside our state government partners and work together to help shape Baltimore’s future for the better,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “This year, our legislative priorities reflect the work my Administration has been doing since day one, with the overarching goal of working to overcome the decades of disinvestment that so many of Baltimore’s neighborhoods have endured. From building on my public safety strategy, through both reform to the home monitoring process and moving forward the effort to gain local control of the Baltimore Police Department to establishing support for my comprehensive vision to tackle Baltimore’s vacant housing crisis once-and-for-all and numerous other priorities in between – this legislative session will be critical to help us propel Baltimore’s renaissance and work to make our city the best version of itself.”

Mayor Scott’s legislative priorities document can be found here. 

The legislative priorities align with Mayor Scott’s core goals of building public safety, prioritizing Baltimore’s young people, and furthering efforts in equitable neighborhood development in all communities across the City. In addition to the legislative priorities included in this list, Mayor Scott will join other Baltimore-area local officials in support of various capital projects, as well as region-wide and city specific advocacy in budget discussions.

Highlights include:

• Building Public Safety
  • Home monitoring notification reform 
  • Local control of the Baltimore Police Department
  • Diminution credits reform
  • Supporting legislation for additional penalties for failure to register a vehicle in Maryland
• Equitable Neighborhood Development
  • Support for Mayor Scott’s recently-announced, comprehensive vacant housing strategy
  • Supporting legislation for authority to set special rates in Baltimore’s property tax code
  • Establishment of a Baltimore Convention and Tourism Redevelopment and Operating Authority Task Force
  • Liquor license modification and fee adjustment
  • Extension of consumer protections statute of limitations for local jurisdiction
• Prioritizing Baltimore’s Young People
  • Amendments to and expansion of the Youth Data Hub
  • Support of the Safe Infants Sleep Act