Committee backs online reporting portal in Community Safe Spaces Act; Office of Law flags federal preemption risk

The committee voted 4-0 to move CB86-2026, which would expand the county’s Community Safe Spaces Act by allowing reports of unauthorized access or harmful conduct on county-controlled property to be submitted through an online portal designated by the county executive.

An Office of Law attorney cautioned the committee that "any bill that seeks to regulate or restrict what the federal government can do is highly susceptible to a legal challenge under the supremacy clause and the preemption doctrine under the US Constitution." The bill’s sponsor defended the measure: "This bill doesn't seek to limit anything that ICE does. It seeks to give our employees and our residents the ability to notify us whether we see violations of the law that we already passed," the sponsor said.

Sponsors said the portal is intended to make it easier for employees and residents to report violations and to provide guidance about the contents of a report. Committee members approved the measure by roll call with aye votes from Burrows, Adams, Ivy and Oriada.