Howard County Council passes a narrowed nonprofit grant bill that now covers only grants to buy, build on or redevelop property
Amendments by Council Member Deb Jung struck the audit rule, the two-year service requirement, the online platform and the public database that nonprofits had opposed for every county grant. The final vote, on Oct. 30, was 3 to 2.
Ellicott City. The Howard County Council in Maryland voted 3 to 2 on Oct. 30 to pass a bill setting new conditions on county grants nonprofits use to buy, build on or redevelop property, after amendments removed the rules it would have placed on every county grant.
Council Bill 58-2026, by Council Member Deb Jung of District 4, was tabled Oct. 5, 4 to 1, and taken up again Oct. 30. Ms. Jung, Liz Walsh and David Yungmann voted for it; Opel Jones and Christiana Rigby voted against, the council's record shows. The same majority adopted two amendments by Ms. Jung.
What was dropped
As introduced Sept. 8, the bill would have required two years of experience in the funded service for any county grant, applications through one online platform, an independent audit from grantees with $500,000 or more in charitable contributions, and a public database of grant agreements and reports. The second amendment struck all of that, leaving the rules for service grants as they were.
At a Sept. 22 hearing, Rebuilding Together Howard County, Bridges to Housing Stability and the Association of Community Services of Howard County testified against the bill as written, citing the cost of audits and the two-year rule. WMAR-TV reported that the amendments came because of nonprofits' concerns.
What property grants now require
A nonprofit must have operated for at least two years to receive a county grant to buy, build on or redevelop real property. It must show experience completing similar projects and estimate total costs and sources of funds. For construction or redevelopment grants above $1.5 million, it must also file a statement of financial position and a business plan.
Grant agreements must set long-term use requirements and proof of insurance and bar spending on lobbying, political activities or campaign contributions. Construction grants above $1.5 million also need at least 25 percent of project costs from private or non-county sources, a performance bond or similar security, payment in installments against receipts and construction milestones, and repayment if the property is sold and put to another use within 10 years of the agreement.
Grantees must file annual reports with the financial review or audit they file with the state, or compiled statements if charitable contributions are under $400,000.
“Those particular types of grants in the past really lacked any guardrails.”
WMAR-TV reported that the bill was inspired by public criticism of a $25 million county grant to Columbia Community Concepts to build a community center.
The council also rejected, 3 to 2, Ms. Jung's Council Bill 69-2026, which would have made the inspector general a custodian of county records. The grant bill goes to County Executive Calvin Ball and takes effect 61 days after enactment.
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