County Council Work Session | September 15th, 2026

The Anne Arundel County Council held a work session on September 15, 2026, focusing on several procurement and budget-related matters. Key discussions included an emergency ordinance transferring $1.4 million in capital budget funds to expedite urgent culvert repairs on Hospital Drive, with plans to backfill the funds in a future budget. The council also reviewed personnel plan changes involving position reallocations within the health and police departments. Additionally, the council considered four resolutions supporting applications for agricultural land preservation easements, emphasizing the county's commitment to farmland preservation and the associated funding mechanisms. Several ethics reform bills were discussed, including codification of advisory opinions, campaign contribution disclosures, and enforcement provisions with potential civil penalties. The council debated a bill proposing grants for councilmanic districts, clarifying that the executive branch retains award authority. A significant portion of the session was devoted to a bill banning new data storage centers (data centers) in the county, with an administration-proposed amendment to establish a work group to study the issue and recommend future regulations. Other legislative items included workforce housing density adjustments, zoning changes related to BWI mixed-use overlay areas, and a bill addressing neighborhood preservation and environmental protection. The session concluded with discussion on repealing the paper and reusable bag fee requirement. Throughout, the council engaged in detailed policy and budget deliberations, with several votes and motions anticipated in upcoming sessions.