A new bill enforcing the county’s human trafficking prohibition and a vote on water service prices are on the Montgomery County Council’s agenda this week.
The council will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the Stella Werner Council Office Building in Rockville for its regular weekly business meeting. Here’s what to expect:
Council to introduce bill enforcing human trafficking prohibition
A new bill to be introduced Tuesday would require companies contracted by the county government for goods and services to be compliant with the county’s human trafficking laws.
The legislation, sponsored by councilmember Dawn Luedkte (D-Dist. 7) and co-sponsored by President Andrew Friedson (D-Dist. 1) and Vice President Kate Stewart (D-Dist. 4) will require any company that is contracted by the county to disclose whether any of their employees have been found in violation of the human trafficking laws. It would also require the companies to include certificates of compliance with human trafficking laws as part of their bids or proposals to provide goods or services to the county government.
If a contractor is found in violation, its contract with the county could be terminated or the company could be debarred, losing their license to contract within Montgomery County.
Vote on water prices
The council will take a vote on future spending control limits for Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) water services.
According to council documents, WSSC’s proposed spending limits for fiscal year 2026, which begins July 1, 2025, could result in a quarterly bill increase of 12.2% , which would be more than $32 per average customer household.
The council’s Transportation and Environment Committee is recommending a lower increase of 10.2%, which would be about $27 added to the average quarterly customer household bill.
Public hearings on grants for MCPS
The council will hear from the public on a proposal to transmit two federal grants to Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).
A $500,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund would be used to both help manage stormwater runoff at MCPS properties and provide environmental education opportunities to MCPS students.
MCPS would use the funds to create hubs at between six to eight schools or other school system facilities so students could engage in stormwater runoff prevention efforts. A $367,500 grant from the federal government’s Improving Adolescent Health and Well-Being Through School-Based Surveillance and the What Works in School Program would go toward collecting data in schools to improve student mental and physical health. The grant is renewable for five years and would be used for both personnel
