Marc Elrich, Will Jawando Propose ‘Snow Stabilization’ Bill to Limit Amount of Snowfall on Montgomery County

ROCKVILLE, MD – Citing the unfair burden that unregulated snowfall places on residents, County Executive Marc Elrich and Councilmember Will Jawando announced a bold new proposal this week that would cap how much snow is legally allowed to fall on Montgomery County in any given storm.

Dubbed the Snow Stabilization Act, the bill would limit snowfall to no more than three inches above the region’s historical average, with an absolute hard cap of six total inches per storm, regardless of what nature, God, or basic meteorology might demand.

“Montgomery County residents are struggling,” Elrich said at a press conference held in front of an uncleared sidewalk. “Every winter, snow just keeps falling – unchecked, unregulated, and completely indifferent to the fact that people have jobs, bad backs, and flimsy plastic shovels they bought at CVS at 11:47 p.m.”

Supporters of the bill argue that excessive snowfall disproportionately impacts renters, seniors, and anyone who lives in a single family home on a corner lot, which under county code apparently makes you personally responsible for half a mile of sidewalk.

“For too long, snowstorms have been allowed to raise accumulation year after year with no regard for working families,” Jawando said. “If your snowfall goes up 12 inches overnight, but your shovel capacity stays the same, that’s not sustainable. That’s gouging.”

The bill also includes strict penalties for residents who park in a space that has already been shoveled out by someone else, a practice the county classified as “theft of labor.” Under the proposal, offenders would be forced to re-bury their own car in snow and attend a restorative justice circle with the person whose labor they stole. 

County officials emphasized that the bill would not ban snow outright, only “excessive” snow. “We’re not anti-snow,” Jawando clarified. “We’re pro-responsible snowfall. No one needs a 12 inch storm. That’s luxury snow.”

Critics have raised concerns about enforcement, asking how exactly the county plans to fine a weather system. Officials responded that details are still being worked out, but confirmed the creation of the new Snow Accumulation Limitation Taskforce (SALT), staffed initially by three high-paid local “experts” and a retired meteorologist.

At press time, residents were already bracing for the next storm, unsure whether to shovel proactively or wait to see if the snow would be deemed illegal and forced to reduce itself voluntarily.