COUNCIL ENACTS LEGISLATION BANNING BOATS PARKED ON PUBLIC ROADS
 
On Tuesday, April 8, the County Council unanimously voted to enact CB-002-2025, a bill introduced by Council Member Eric Olson (District 3), banning the parking of boats on public roads in the county. The new law gives violators a warning and 72 hours to move their boats. Then, they are subject to a $250 fine for a first offense, $500 fine for a second offense, and the towing and impounding of their boat for subsequent offenses. If a boat appears to be abandoned for more than 48 hours, or in disrepair, owners will be subject to fines, removal, and criminal charges for illegal dumping. Throughout the legislative process, neighbors from across the county expressed frustration about boats parked on their neighborhood streets, posing threats to drivers and pedestrians, and creating unsightly conditions.
“For years, boats parked on county streets have been a persistent concern,” Council Member Olson said during Tuesday’s Council meeting. “This is going to create safer, more accessible roads and less cluttered streets for everyone.”
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COUNCIL PASSES BILL REQUIRING IVF AND EGG FREEZING INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES
 Additionally, on Tuesday, the Council voted to enact Council Member Wanika Fisher’s (District 2) CB-007-2025, requiring the county to offer health insurance plans that contain IVF and egg freezing coverage options to its employees.
“I’m really excited that Prince George’s County, especially in this market, is going to be a place where women can be employed, follow their dreams, and also family plan,” Council Member Fisher said Tuesday. “I found it really unconscionable that a county that has so many young women, not only elected but in government service, in all of our agencies, cannot [under our current insurance] utilize egg freezing and egg storage, which is quite expensive. I think it’s unreasonable that the young women give their youth to serve the public and then can’t figure out how to form families later on.”
PHED MOVES FAVORABLY ON BILL PROTECTING RESIDENTS OF CONDEMNED RENTAL UNITS
On Monday, April 7, the Planning, Housing, and Economic Development Committee moved favorably on CB-17-2025, a bill proposed by Vice Chair Krystal Oriadha (District 7), aiming to protect residents of condemned rental units. The proposed legislation would require landlords to compensate tenants who are forced to move out of condemned properties. Residents who need to vacate their homes for more than 30 days would be owed three months’ rent, plus their returned security deposit, according to the bill. They would also be entitled to return to the property once it is deemed safe. Landlords would be forced to find a comparable rental unit for residents who are to be displaced fewer than 30 days while repairs are made to their home. The landlord would have to pay for moving expenses both to and from the new unit. There would be some exemptions to the bill, including condemnations caused by natural disasters and landlords who own five or fewer rental units.
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COUNCIL MEMBERS HELP BREAK GROUND ON LARGO CIVIC PLAZA
  On Wednesday, April 9, Council Chair Edward Burroughs III (District 8), Vice Chair Krystal Oriadha (District 7), and Council Members Wala Blegay (District 6) and Calvin Hawkins (At-Large) attended a groundbreaking and press conference for the new Civic Plaza set for construction adjacent to the Wayne K. Curry Administration Building in Largo. The new public space will be the first of several projects along the Blue Line Corridor in Prince George’s County, from Capitol Heights to Largo, aiming to create a vibrant, walkable community gathering place and business and entertainment district. The Civic Plaza is scheduled to open in November. You can learn more about the project and offer name suggestions here.
BUDGET WORK SESSIONS HEADLINE COMMITTEE MEETINGS
  With FY26 Budget season in full swing, several of the Council’s Committee meetings over the past week have been focused on budget worksessions with various departments and organizations funded by the county. Between Monday, April 7 and Thursday, April 10, the Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy, and Environment Committee; the Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee; and the Planning, Housing, and Economic Development Committee hosted a dozen budget work sessions with organizations including, WSSC Water, the Prince George’s County Redevelopment Authority, the Board of Elections, and the Office of Law. These meetings are a critical part in the budget process and afford Council Members the opportunity to discuss the policies and procedures, as well as the operating costs and future plans of each department and organization funded by the county.
COUNCIL ISSUES PROCLAMATIONS HONORING PAIR OF OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY MEMBERS
 On Tuesday, April 8, the Council issued two proclamations honoring members of the community who have made outstanding, life-saving contributions. Chair Edward Burroughs III (District 8) and Council Member Wala Blegay (District 6) presented the proclamations to Egypt Middleton, the school nurse at Kettering Middle School who received a top honor, and Rodney Cook, a retired US Marine who intervened following a near-fatal crash.
Egypt Middleton was named the 2025 School Nurse of the Year by the Maryland Association of School Health Nurses. She is the first Black nurse in the State of Maryland to receive this honor, as well as the first nurse from Prince George’s County Public Schools.
 Rodney Cook, a retired Marine, jumped into action to help save the life of a driver who crashed his car, due to a medical emergency, on Allentown Road, near Joint Base Andrews, in Morningside on January 24, 2025. Cook helped pull the man from his car, called 911, and rendered aid prior to the arrival of first responders. The driver spent two weeks in the hospital following the crash and said he believes Rodney Cook saved his life.
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