County Council seeks public input on competing data center moratorium bills

Plus: Friedson to introduce ban on street takeovers; Vote set on $44M fund transfer for snow removal costs

June 15, 2026 5:55 p.m.

The Montgomery County Council will hold public hearings Tuesday afternoon on competing proposals to temporarily pause data center development in the county — including one bill to implement a two-year moratorium and another that calls for a six-month pause.

Earlier on Tuesday, Councilmember Andrew Friedson (D-Dist. 1) will introduce a bill to ban vehicle racing and street takeovers in the county. The council is also expected to vote on a $44.4 million fund transfer to cover higher-than-expected snow removal costs this past winter.

The council will meet at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Stella Werner Council Office Building in Rockville for its weekly business meeting. Here’s what to expect:

Data center moratorium hearings

At approximately 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, members of the public will have an opportunity to weigh in on two competing data center moratorium bills.

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Councilmember Evan Glass (D-At-large) introduced a bill on May 6 to prevent the county’s permitting department from accepting, reviewing or issuing building or grading permits for data center projects for a period of six months.

About a week later, Councilmember Will Jawando (D-At-large) introduced a bill that would bar the county’s permitting department from issuing data center building permits for two years. The bill is co-sponsored by Councilmember Kristin Mink (D-Dist. 5).

Glass and Jawando, along with Friedson, are considered top contenders for county executive in the June 23 primary election. Data centers have emerged as a key issue in the race, which also features Democrats Mithun Banerjee and Peter James as well as Republicans Esther Wells and Shelly Skolnick.

County Executive Marc Elrich (D) is in the final months of his second four-year term as county executive. He cannot seek re-election this year due to term limits and is running for a council at-large seat instead.

Proposed street takeover ban

On Tuesday morning, Friedson plans to introduce a bill to ban illegal vehicle racing and street takeovers in the county.

Under Friedson’s bill, it would be a misdemeanor in Montgomery County to promote, organize or participate in an illegal takeover of a public roadway or highway. Any vehicles used in an illegal street takeover could also be towed.

According to a council staff report on Friedson’s bill, the Maryland General Assembly in 2024 passed legislation to prohibit street racing and exhibition driving, but there is no such law on the books in Montgomery County.

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Illegal car rallies and street takeovers are a growing issue across the Washington, D.C., region, Commander Jason Cokinos of the county police department’s Third District told Bethesda Today in early April.

According to the Maryland State Police, those arrested in connection with illegal car rallies and street takeovers often face charges including disorderly conduct, excessive speed and fleeing a traffic stop.

In some cases, illegal car rallies and street takeovers have led to more serious incidents. Montgomery County police on April 22 arrested three suspects in connection with a February illegal car rally and street takeover in Chevy Chase that damaged two county police cruisers.

Earlier in April, two people were shot during an illegal car rally in the parking garage of the Kensington Safeway. The victims took themselves to a local hospital, and county police arrested and charged a 19-year-old in connection with the shooting.

A public hearing on Friedson’s proposal is scheduled for July 14, according to the staff report.

Vote on snow removal money

Also around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, the council is expected to vote on a $44.4 million fund transfer to cover higher-than-expected snow removal costs for this past winter.

According to a council staff report, the fiscal year 2026 operating budget included $6.78 million that could be used for snow removal.

“Due to the unpredictability of snow and storm events, only a minimal amount is budgeted for response operations as a matter of practice,” the staff report says.

The actual cost of snow removal for fiscal year 2026, which ends July 1, exceeded $50 million. That’s due in large part to winter storm Fern, which brought several inches to a foot of winter precipitation to the county in January before an extended period of extreme cold.

As a result, the council will vote on a plan to move $38.9 million from the county’s general fund reserves to the Department of Transportation budget to cover leftover costs related to storm cleanup.

The council will also vote on a plan to move $5.5 million from reserves to the Department of General Services for the same purpose.

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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine