Prince George's County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Prince George's County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Surveillance technology oversight (Flock cameras)
The department is switching to a body camera system with instant translation in 50 languages, automatic recording activation and report pre-population — aimed at cutting report times and speeding up investigations and discovery.
Treatment of deaf and hard-of-hearing residents by police
Rico Dancy of Black Lives Matter for the Deaf urged the council to ensure police comply with ADA requirements for certified interpreters instead of forcing family members to interpret, citing a deaf man's death in a Baltimore jail.
Dementia services capacity and coordination
A planned briefing from the Alzheimer's Association, Dementia Friendly Prince George's, and the Department of Family Services on dementia care capacity was rescheduled, delaying the Council's look at services for residents with dementia and their families.
Language access at public hearings
A Spanish-speaking neighbor didn't know she could request a translator and nearly couldn't participate in the Suco Wash case. The board paused the hearing to bring back its certified interpreter rather than let a bystander translate.
Autism Equity Initiative
The adopted resolution launches a countywide autism equity effort with inclusive public infrastructure, better data reporting and an advisory workgroup, backed by about $285,000 initially.
Seniors and Disability Affairs Ombudsman
The council created a dedicated ombudsman within the Department of Family Services to advocate for seniors and disabled residents navigating county services. Council Member Adams, who has a disability, called it a matter of safety and quality of life.
Housing code enforcement and unsafe conditions
A cluster of bills strengthens enforcement: administrative search warrants for vacant properties, electrical code penalties, increased building/zoning fines, transferring some enforcement to Homeland Security, and new rules on prohibited home businesses and unpaved-lot parking.
Prohibited home businesses and fine increases
A bill sponsored by Council Member Dernoga would impose civil fines, notices and possible tax liens on prohibited home businesses, alongside a separate fine-increase bill.
Electrical code enforcement and property transfers
The county's electrical code lacked real enforcement teeth. This bill adds citations, penalties, and blocks sale of properties with open violations — meaning safer rental and owned housing countywide.
Community Safe Spaces Act reporting violations
CB-86 adds an online portal so anyone — not just county employees — can report violations of the Safe Spaces Act, including harmful conduct tied to immigration enforcement. The Office of Law warned of federal legal risk; the committee recommended it anyway, 4-0.
Enforcement Function Transfers and Fine Increases
New bills presented at the county executive's request would move certain enforcement duties from DPIE to the Office of Homeland Security and raise fines for building code and zoning violations.
Residential security fence exemption in Clinton
A Clinton homeowner asked to exceed normal fence-height limits because of trespassing, suspected drug activity, illegal dumping, and safety hazards on her sloped corner lot. The board found the security needs justified the exception.
Emergency weather preparedness funding
The county created a $15 million Emergency Weather Operations Fund for snow, flooding and storm response. A resident warned it may not be enough, noting last winter's storms cost $27.3 million and left her grandfather displaced since March.
Snow Hill Manor noise and animal shelter conditions
Olson's bill would permanently ban people convicted of irresponsible animal ownership from getting pet licenses. The committee wants to add a steep fine for violators before moving the bill forward.
Women's health workplace protections
County employees and employees of county contractors dealing with severe menstrual or uterine fibroid symptoms get new workplace protections, including leave accommodations.
Increased penalties for non-residential property code violations
Commercial property owners who violate county housing and property standards can now be fined up to $5,000, up from lower prior penalties. Aimed at pushing owners of storefronts and commercial buildings to keep them up to code.
DPIE enforcement functions moved to Homeland Security
The county's code Enforcement Division is being moved from Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement into the Office of Homeland Security — a restructuring that changes who handles property enforcement.
Human trafficking awareness in hotels
Bill CB-040-2026 would require every hotel and motel room in the county to post a human trafficking awareness notice, aimed at helping victims and encouraging safe reporting.
Responsible Pet Ownership Act enacted
The committee advanced the pet ownership bill with amendments: dropping the 'custodian' licensing language at the request of Animal Services and authorizing the Animal Control Commission to fine violators $1,000 to $5,000.
Family access to impounded vehicles
When a driver is arrested or detained, family members not on the registration often can't get the car back. Modeled on a Montgomery County law, this emergency act lets household members and authorized agents redeem vehicles with ID and proof of relationship — an issue made sharper by ICE detentions.
Prohibiting detention facilities through the building permit process
CB-031-2026 would bar the county from issuing building permits or occupancy certificates for detention centers, including facilities housing people for civil immigration violations. It was introduced on second reading.
Cross-county foster placements disrupt family and community ties
CASA reported that of 44 youth on its waitlist, only 8 live in the county — Prince George's kids get placed across Maryland, cutting them off from family, school, and community. Members agreed the task force's charge stays focused on Prince George's youth.
Crackdown bills on dumping, vacant properties and illegal signs
A package of six new bills took their first reading: rapid-response cleanup crews for dumping corridors, a public transparency dashboard, steeper vacant-property fines, illegal sign enforcement, a report-a-violation reward program, and a special tax rate on vacant unfit properties. All head to committees.
Park safety, trails, and lighting requests
Residents asked for lighting and cameras at Chillum Park after a woman was attacked, more natural surface trails, and better snow removal on the Paint Branch Trail used by commuters.
Fence code violation appeal in Clinton
A Clinton couple's permitted fence was found by a county-commissioned survey to cross onto two neighbors' lots by inches. The family disputes the survey and says their own surveyor placed the fence inside their property, but the board upheld the violation notice requiring the fence to be moved.
Animal services funding crisis
The county animal shelter took in nearly 1,000 more animals last year and volunteers and a nonprofit director asked for increased funding: after-hours staffing, spay-neuter programs, safer play yards (remove hot rocks), and TNR for community cats.