SB 247 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit - Conversion to Grant Program

SB 247 converts Maryland's Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit into a direct grant program administered by the Department of Commerce. It replaces tax credits with cash grants for qualifying biotechnology companies engaged in research, development, or commercialization of biological technologies. The bill requires the Department to disburse grants within a specified timeframe and allows recipients to deduct these grants from their Maryland income tax for the same year. This change shifts the incentive from tax savings to immediate funding, directly affecting eligible biotech firms in Maryland.

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 16, 2026 Last action Apr 13, 2026

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What changed between versions

First - Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit - Conversion to Grant Program → Third - Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit - Conversion to Grant Program · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to expand the list of sponsors and add committee approval status. The core policy change involves reorganizing the Biotechnology Investment Incentive program from a tax credit system to a grant program. This is achieved by transferring existing tax credit sections into a new grant subtitle and removing the biotechnology credit from the list of included tax credits.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from providing tax credits to offering grants, changing the financial incentive mechanism for biotechnology companies.

FISCAL

The program was converted from a tax credit system to a grant program, altering how companies receive financial support.

DEFINITION

The biotechnology investment incentive credit was removed from the list of tax credits administered by the Department.

TECHNICAL

Additional sponsors were added to the bill, and committee report status was included.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 12, 2026 · House of Delegates Apr 2, 2026

How they voted

44–0

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 49

Feb 12, 2026

D Democratic36

32 Yea 4

88% Yea

R Republican13

12 Yea 1

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 13, 2026

Introduced

Floor Amendment {

lower

Apr 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Apr 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means

lower

Apr 2, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (112-20-10)

house of delegates

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

Referred Ways and Means

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (44-0-5)

senate

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Budget and Taxation

upper

Jan 16, 2026

Committee

First Reading Budget and Taxation

upper

9 primary · 0 co-sponsors