SB 520 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Property Tax - Charter Counties - Application of County Tax Limitation on Public Safety Budget

SB 520 allows charter counties in Maryland to set property tax rates above their charter limits - via simple majority vote - to fund public safety budgets (like police and fire services). It requires that any excess tax revenue collected beyond the charter limit must be allocated solely to public safety, not other county programs. The bill applies only to charter counties (e.g., Baltimore County) and mandates annual reporting to the Governor and legislature on tax rates and revenue usage. This changes existing tax rules by creating a specific exemption for public safety funding while maintaining other budget constraints.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 4, 2026 Last action Mar 23, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Property Tax - Charter Counties - Application of County Tax Limitation on Public Safety Budget Third - Property Tax - Charter Counties - Application of County Tax Limitation on Public Safety Budget · 3 edits
MINOR
SB 520 was amended to clarify that charter counties can override their property tax limits to fund public safety budgets, with specific language added to exclude Prince George's County from this authority. The bill also includes new committee and adoption status information indicating it passed the Senate with amendments.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed by adding an explicit exclusion for Prince George's County, which is now exempt from the new public safety tax override provisions.
ELIGIBILITY

Added explicit language excluding Prince George's County from the ability to override property tax limits for public safety funding.

TECHNICAL

Added committee report status showing the bill was adopted with amendments and read second time on February 28, 2026.

SCOPE

Modified the bill title and introductory text to clarify that the law applies to county councils of charter counties generally, with the Prince George's County exception.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 3, 2026

How they voted

3313
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 49
Mar 3, 2026
D Democratic36
31 Yea 2 Nay 3
86% Yea
R Republican13
2 Yea 11 Nay
84% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
9
Key actions
4
Committee
4
Mar 20, 2026
Committee
Referred Ways and Means
lower
Mar 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Mar 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Mar 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Budget and Taxation
upper
Mar 3, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (33-13-3)
senate
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
First Reading Budget and Taxation
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Ben Kramer
Ben Kramer
DDemocratic
MD
19