Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 312: Constitutional Officers - Salaries

SB 312 increases annual salaries for Maryland's four constitutional officers: the Comptroller, Treasurer, Attorney General, and Secretary of State. The bill raises their base salaries by $10,000-$15,000 starting in 2027, with step increases over each term (e.g., Comptroller's first-year salary rises from $165,000 to $175,000). These changes apply to terms beginning after October 1, 2026, and do not affect current officeholders serving terms that started before this date. The bill amends specific sections of Maryland law to implement these salary adjustments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases state budget allocation for constitutional officers' salaries, directly impacting government spending and fiscal management.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 305: Qualifying Nonprofit Organizations - Incarcerated Individual Training and Reentry Grant Fund - Extension

SB 305 extends funding for nonprofit organizations providing automotive repair training and reentry services to formerly incarcerated individuals in Maryland. It extends the grant period from fiscal years 2026-2028 to 2026-2029, authorizing $1 million annually for qualifying nonprofits that train at least 50 individuals yearly in auto repair and achieve a 50% job placement rate for participants. The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention administers the grants, requiring nonprofits to submit annual reports on fund usage, participant numbers, and employment outcomes. This bill directly affects nonprofits meeting specific service criteria and supports employment pathways for formerly incarcerated individuals.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill authorizes $1 million annually for nonprofit reentry programs, directly funding a social service through state budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends funding for job training/reentry programs for formerly incarcerated individuals, directly reducing recidivism through employment opportunities and rehabilitation.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends funding for job training and placement programs targeting formerly incarcerated individuals, directly advancing employment outcomes and workforce reentry through mandated job placement rates.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 388: Economic Development - Delivering Economic Competitiveness and Advancing Development Efforts (DECADE) Act

SB 388, the DECADE Act, reorganizes Maryland's economic development programs to streamline administration and adjust eligibility for tax incentives. It redesignates the Economic Development Opportunities Program Account as the Strategic Closing Fund within the Department of Commerce, alters how video lottery proceeds are distributed, and modifies rules for several tax credits - including Job Creation, Research and Development, and film production credits - to expand access for businesses and investors. Key changes include allowing pass-through entities to allocate biotechnology tax credits differently, enabling film producers to amend credit applications, and extending the Build Our Future Grant Pilot Program. The bill directly affects businesses seeking economic development tax credits and state agencies managing these programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands business tax credits (Job Creation, R&D, film) via restructured incentives, advancing economic development funding mechanisms without defunding or restricting.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 625: Human-Relevant Research Fund - Collection of Contributions - Responsible Entity

HB 625 shifts responsibility for collecting fees from research facilities to the Maryland Department of Agriculture, replacing the current system under the Department of Health. It requires facilities submitting USDA Form 7023 (for animal testing) to pay annual contributions based on animal count: $5,000 for ≤100 animals, $10,000 for 101-500, $55,000 for 501-5,000, and $75,000 for over 5,000. Funds collected will support the Human-Relevant Research Fund established under Maryland’s Economic Development Article. The bill repeals existing health code provisions and creates new agriculture code sections for this fee structure, effective October 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes mandatory annual fees ($5k-$75k) based on animal counts, directing collected funds to a specific research fund, creating new revenue and fiscal allocation.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates Human-Relevant Research Fund to support medical research alternatives, advancing healthcare innovation through funding animal testing fee shifts.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 135: Economic Development - Tax Increment Financing - Noncontiguous Areas

HB 135 allows local governments in Maryland to designate *noncontiguous* areas as development districts for tax increment financing (TIF). This means political subdivisions (like counties or cities) can now create TIF zones that include separate, disconnected parcels of land - not just connected areas - under new provisions in Section 12-201(i)(1). The bill modifies existing law to explicitly permit this by redefining "development district" to include noncontiguous areas and updating related sections (e.g., 12-203). It directly affects local governments seeking to use TIF for economic development projects across multiple, non-adjacent sites. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEnables local governments to use tax increment financing (TIF) for noncontiguous development zones, strengthening fiscal tools for economic development funding under budget management.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 468: Local Government - Grant for Recipients of State Child Tax Credit - Authorization

SB 468 authorizes Maryland counties to create their own local child tax credits against county income tax for qualifying families. It allows counties to provide credits for each "qualified child" (defined as a dependent under age 6, or under 17 with a disability) to households with federal adjusted gross income below $15,000. The credit amount is set by the county, but must follow income phaseout rules ($50 reduction per $1,000 of income over $15,000) and requires county notification to the Comptroller. This bill does not create a state-level credit but gives counties the option to implement this local tax benefit for low-income families.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes local child tax credits for low-income families (under $15k AGI), providing direct tax relief to qualifying households, aligning with tax relief indicators for lower income.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 828: State Finance - Delinquent Federal Funds (Federal Obligations Enforcement Act)

SB 828 authorizes Maryland's Central Collection Unit (CCU) to collect delinquent federal funds owed to the state, including placing liens on federal property within Maryland and directing the Comptroller to withhold state payments to the federal government. It requires the Board of Public Works to determine if the federal government is delinquent in paying funds owed to Maryland, triggering these enforcement actions. The bill amends Maryland law to specify that the CCU may collect up to the full amount of delinquent federal funds, and mandates that the Comptroller withhold state payments when the CCU refers such funds. This establishes a formal process for enforcing federal payment obligations to the state.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill secures state revenue by enforcing collection of overdue federal funds, strengthening state budget management without altering tax rates or spending.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 519: Earned Income Tax Credit - Assistance Program Implementation Delay and Study

SB 519 delays Maryland's Earned Income Tax Credit Assistance Program implementation until 2029, instead of 2024. It requires the Comptroller's Office to study outreach efforts by December 31, 2030, to help low-income residents claim the credit they qualify for but often miss. The bill also directs the Department of Service and Civic Innovation to recommend ways to assist low-income residents in claiming tax credits. This legislation postpones the program's start date while mandating studies to improve future outreach and participation.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesDelays EITC implementation until 2029, restricting immediate tax relief for low-income residents instead of advancing the credit program.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 644: Sales and Use Tax - Certificates Indicating Multiple Points of Use - Alterations

SB 644 simplifies tax collection for digital products and services used across multiple jurisdictions. It allows businesses (buyers) to submit a standardized certificate to vendors confirming that digital codes, products, or taxable services will be used in more than one taxing area or resold to affiliated entities. Once vendors receive a properly completed certificate, they are exempt from collecting, paying, or remitting sales tax for those transactions, and the certificate remains valid for future sales with the same buyer. The bill applies retroactively and eliminates the need for vendors to seek prior approval from the Comptroller for these certificates.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill exempts digital transactions from sales tax collection, reducing state tax revenue and weakening tax collection mechanisms.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 250: Environment - Appropriation or Use of Water and Dam Safety - Enforcement

HB 250 authorizes Maryland's Department of the Environment to impose administrative penalties for violations of water appropriation, dam safety, and wetlands rules. It directly affects businesses, developers, and dam operators who breach these regulations. Key provisions include setting penalties up to $5,000 per violation (capped at $100,000 total), requiring consideration of factors like environmental harm and willfulness, and mandating that collected penalties fund the Maryland Clean Water Fund (except for dam safety cases, which go to a repair fund). The bill also streamlines enforcement by allowing the Department to issue immediate corrective orders and hold expedited hearings for urgent threats.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates penalties fund Maryland Clean Water Fund, aligning with 'funds essential programs' indicator for support stance.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAuthorizes penalties for water/wetlands violations, funds clean water initiatives, strengthens enforcement of environmental regulations.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes