Luedtke to propose MoCo gun law changes after Md. Supreme Court opinion
Plus: Jawando to introduce two-year moratorium on data centers; County Council to hold public hearing on fiscal year 2027 income tax rates
By
Ceoli JacobyMay 11, 2026 5:00 p.m.
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Montgomery County Councilmember Dawn Luedtke (D-Dist. 7) will introduce a bill on Tuesday with the goal of bringing an existing gun law into alignment with a recent Supreme Court of Maryland opinion on the limits of the county’s authority to regulate firearms.
Also on Tuesday morning, Councilmember Will Jawando (D-At-large) plans to introduce legislation to establish a two-year moratorium on building permits for data centers. In the afternoon, the council will hold a public hearing on income tax rates for next fiscal year.
The council will meet at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday in the Stella Werner Council Office Building in Rockville for its weekly business meeting. Here’s what’s on tap:
Proposed changes to gun law
Following the Supreme Court of Maryland’s finding that the county does not have the authority to prevent people from bringing guns within 100 yards of certain places of public assembly, the council on Tuesday will consider proposed changes to the existing law.
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In April 2021, the Montgomery County Council passed a law effectively banning ghost guns, which it defined as firearms that lack a serial number “engraved or cased in metal alloy on the frame or receiver by a licensed manufacturer, maker or importer.”
In November 2022, the council passed another law preventing people — including state wear-and-carry permit holders — from possessing, selling, transferring or transporting firearms generally within 100 yards of a “place of public assembly.”
The county is within its rights to restrict ghost guns, the state Supreme Court wrote in an April 28 opinion. However, those restrictions can’t apply to firearms made without a serial number that are later serialized by federally licensed firearms dealers.
The state Supreme Court also found that the county does not have the authority under state law to restrict guns in and around certain places such as hospitals, community health centers, long-term care facilities and child care facilities.
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A bill put forward by Luedtke, an attorney, would clarify that a previously unserialized firearm can be made lawful if a federally licensed firearms dealer adds a serial number in accordance with state law.
The bill would redefine a “place of public assembly” as a park, place of worship, school, library, recreational facility, multipurpose exhibition facility, polling place, courthouse or legislative assembly. The revised definition would also include a building that is “generally open to the public for the business of government,” according to a council staff report.
Finally, Luedtke’s bill would add an exemption for “the possession of a handgun by a person who has a permit to carry the handgun under State law while the person travels on public highways within 100 yards of a place of public assembly” — another issue that came up in the state Supreme Court’s opinion.
According to the state Supreme Court, whether an amended version of the county’s gun law could be considered constitutional “will depend on the scope of the amended law and evidence concerning its effects.”
A public hearing on Luedtke’s proposed changes is scheduled for June 9. Councilmember Kate Stewart (D-Dist. 4) is co-sponsoring the bill.
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Another data center moratorium bill
Jawando on Tuesday plans to introduce a bill establishing a two-year moratorium on building permits for data centers, a type of facility used to store computer servers and other information technology equipment.
Under Jawando’s bill, the county’s Department of Permitting would be barred from issuing data center building permits for two years after the moratorium takes effect, which would happen immediately if the bill becomes law.
Jawando is expected to discuss the details of his proposal at a Tuesday afternoon press conference. A public hearing on his bill is scheduled for June 16, according to a council staff report.
Jawando is one of several candidates, including fellow councilmembers Andrew Friedson (D-Dist. 1) and Evan Glass (D-At-large), who are seeking the Democratic nomination for county executive in the June 23 primary election.
Last week, Glass introduced a bill to implement a six-month moratorium on data center development. His proposed moratorium would prohibit the permitting department from issuing either grading or building permits for data centers.
A public hearing on Glass’ proposal is also scheduled for June 16. Friedson has not expressed support for a data center moratorium, but has called on data center developers to bring their own clean energy sources to power future facilities in the county.
Public hearing on income tax rates
At approximately 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, the council will hold a public hearing on the income tax rates for fiscal year 2027, which begins July 1.
Currently, the county has a uniform income tax rate of 3.2%. County Executive Marc Elrich (D) in March proposed increasing the rate to 3.3% — the maximum allowed under state law.
On Friday, a majority of the council tentatively approved a different, progressive tax structure that includes a 0.1% income tax rate hike for those making more than $150,001 annually. Anyone making less would pay a lower rate under the tentatively approved tax structure.
Those making up to $50,000 annually would see their income tax rate decrease from 3.2% to 2.7% under the proposal supported by the council majority on Friday. Those making between $50,001 and $150,000 would see their income tax rate decrease from 3.2% to 3%.
By adopting the progressive income tax structure, the county would be forgoing $56.5 million in potential revenue.
The council majority is seeking to offset that loss by eliminating the Income Tax Offset Credit — a $692 property tax credit for homeowners who claim their home as their principal residence — for one year. That change would save the county $139.7 million.
The council’s vote on Friday was not final, so the income tax rate for next fiscal year is still subject to change. The council has until June 1 to approve the county’s capital and operating budget plans for fiscal year 2027.
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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine