Legislation

The County Council is responsible for adopting the laws of the County.

The legislative process generally follows a monthly cycle:

• 1st Monday - New legislation is introduced;
  legislation from prior month is given final consideration
• 3rd Monday - Public hearing on legislation introduced that month
• 4th Monday - Legislative work session, if needed
• 1st Monday - New legislation is introduced;
  legislation from prior month is given final consideration

Council bills must be signed or vetoed by the County Executive within 10 days of the Council's presentation of passed legislation.

The Council does not meet in August or in November in an election year.

PROCEDURES FOR TESTIFYING

1. People may sign in to testify on the County Council's "Testify" website as soon as the hearing agenda is posted, usually the first Monday of the month. People may sign-up inside the hearing room beginning one-half hour before the hearing.
2. People who speak as individuals may speak for up to 3 minutes.
3. If only one person is speaking on behalf of a recognized group, that speaker may talk for up to 5 minutes. (See note below.)
4. Speakers may not cede time to another speaker.
5. Placards, balloons, and other displays that may impair visibility or detract from the formality of the occasion are not allowed in the hearing room.
6. People who testify are asked to bring seven copies of any written testimony and to give it to the Council’s Administrator for distribution to the Council and for the record.
7. Generally, people are called to testify on each bill in the order of the sign-in; however, the Chair has flexibility to take people or bills out of order.
8. When a speaker is called to the podium, he or she should first state his or her name and address so that it may be included in the record of testimony.
9. Written testimony will be accepted until the voting session on the bill; however, members are most likely to have time to read it if it is submitted by the week before the voting session. Testimony e-mailed to councilmail@howardcountymd.gov will be directed automatically to all council members and to the Administrator for the record.
10. Please turn off all cell phones, Blackberries, and other electronic equipment while in the hearing room. (It is not sufficient to put them on mute or vibrate. The signals sometimes interfere with the sound system, causing feedback and other problems.)
11. Food or drinks may be consumed in the lobby. Please do not bring them into the hearing room (including bottled water).

Note: If more than one person from a group wishes to speak, they should speak as individuals, for a maximum of 3 minutes each. They should not identify themselves as group members or representatives. A group may do either/or — have a group spokesman for 5 minutes OR speak as individuals (not representing the group) for 3 minutes each, but not both.

It often is more effective for a group to designate one speaker, who may ask the non-speaking members of the group to stand to indicate the number of people present who are represented by that speaker.

Designating a single speaker for a group tends to avoid repetition for the Council and allows the group to give a thorough, cohesive account. Such a presentation usually is more compelling than a larger number of individual speakers. Groups who have a single speaker may also submit written testimony or a petition of support from a number of individual members who elect not to speak.