HB 691 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Tax Relief and State Personnel Equality for Service Members Act

HB 691, the Tax Relief and State Personnel Equality for Service Members Act, redefines "uniformed services" to include the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), extending veteran benefits to their members who meet federal veteran criteria. The bill amends Maryland's tax, pension, and personnel laws to apply the same rules to all uniformed services - not just the armed forces - ensuring equal access to state benefits like tax relief and retirement programs. It specifically updates definitions in the Maryland Code to include these service members in state programs previously limited to military veterans. This directly affects service members in non-military uniformed services and state agencies administering veteran benefits.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 24, 2025 Signed May 6, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Tax Relief and Pensions Equality for Service Members Act → Third - Tax Relief and State Personnel Equality for Service Members Act · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to change its title from 'Pensions Equality' to 'State Personnel Equality' and shift its primary focus from repealing existing pension-related statutes to adding new definitions and provisions. These changes indicate a strategic pivot to expand how the law defines and protects service members across state personnel systems rather than just pension benefits.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from primarily repealing and reenacting existing pension and tax statutes to adding new definitions and provisions to multiple articles, including Local Government, State Government, State Personnel and Pensions, and Tax articles.

SCOPE

Bill title changed from 'Tax Relief and Pensions Equality for Service Members Act' to 'Tax Relief and State Personnel Equality for Service Members Act', indicating a broader focus on personnel equality beyond just pensions.

REQUIREMENT

The bill now includes a favorable committee report and was adopted by the House, showing legislative progress through the committee stage.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'Active Duty', 'Active Service Member', 'Armed Forces', 'Reserve Component', 'Service Member', and 'Uniformed Services' to clarify their meanings under state law.

TECHNICAL

The bill's structure changed from repealing and reenacting existing statutes to adding new provisions to multiple articles, indicating a shift in legislative strategy.

The bill now includes underlining to indicate amendments, providing clearer visual guidance for readers about what has been changed.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 17, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 8, 2025

How they voted

46–0

Passed

Total votes 46

Mar 17, 2025

D Democratic33

33 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican13

13 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 6, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 257

executive

Apr 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Returned Passed

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Budget and Taxation

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Committee

Referred Budget and Taxation Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Appropriations

lower

Mar 8, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (136-0-3)

house of delegates

Jan 24, 2025

Committee

First Reading Appropriations and Ways and Means

lower

14 primary · 0 co-sponsors