Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 651: Real Property – Transfer–on–Death Deed – Establishment

SB 651 establishes a legal framework for "transfer-on-death deeds" in Maryland, allowing property owners to designate beneficiaries who automatically inherit real estate upon the owner's death without probate. The bill directly affects Maryland homeowners and their named beneficiaries, providing standardized forms for creating or revoking these deeds and exempting them from property transfer taxes. Key provisions simplify recording requirements (removing tax certification needs) and allow retroactive application to certain existing life estate deeds. This change streamlines property transfer, reduces administrative hurdles, and avoids court involvement for qualifying real estate.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts transfer-on-death deeds from property transfer taxes, providing direct tax relief for homeowners and reducing state tax revenue collection.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 851: Anne Arundel County - Property Tax Credit - Rural Legacy Program

SB 851 creates a property tax credit for Anne Arundel County homeowners who own land in a designated Rural Legacy Area and have sold development rights under the county's Rural Legacy Program. The credit reduces the county property tax bill for qualifying properties, specifically targeting landowners who preserved their land by selling development rights rather than building on it. This policy change, effective June 1, 2026, applies only to properties enrolled in the Rural Legacy Program and directly benefits landowners who participate in the program. The bill amends Maryland's property tax code to authorize this county-specific credit.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates property tax credit reducing county taxes for qualifying landowners preserving rural areas via Rural Legacy Program, providing direct tax relief.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill incentivizes land conservation via property tax credits for landowners preserving rural areas through Rural Legacy Program, directly supporting environmental conservation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 216: Criminal Law - Benefits Exploitation

HB 216 prohibits individuals from exploiting government benefits through deception, coercion, or exploitation of vulnerable people. It specifically bans recruiting, harboring, transporting, or obtaining others to appropriate their benefits (including Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, Social Security, and veterans benefits) for personal gain or to benefit others. The law also prohibits financial gain from such exploitation or aiding/abetting these acts, with penalties including up to 25 years in prison or a $15,000 fine. It directly affects benefit recipients - particularly vulnerable populations like disabled or elderly adults - and those who exploit their benefits through threats, false promises, or controlling behavior. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPrevents fraud in government benefits (Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP), protecting public funds and promoting fiscal responsibility by reducing waste in state spending programs.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly protects veterans benefits from exploitation, prohibiting illegal appropriation and aiding exploitation with penalties.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 30: Baltimore County - Property Tax Credit - Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 34

SB 30 would authorize Baltimore County's governing body to grant a 100% property tax credit against county taxes for real property owned by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 34 at 730 Wampler Road, Middle River. This credit would eliminate the full county property tax liability for that specific property. The bill applies only to taxable years beginning after June 30, 2026, and takes effect June 1, 2026. It directly affects Baltimore County (through its tax policy) and the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 34 (as the beneficiary of the credit).

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesTargets specific entity for full tax exemption, reducing county revenue without broad fiscal justification or public benefit.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 161: Property Tax Credit - Retail Service Station Conversions

HB 161 creates a property tax credit for property owners who convert former gas stations (retail service stations) to new uses like retail stores, homes, or mixed residential-retail spaces. Local governments (counties or cities) can grant this credit to offset property taxes, and the state will reimburse them 50% of the lost tax revenue. The credit is specifically intended to help cover costs for removing old underground gas tanks and cleaning up contamination. This applies to properties converted after June 30, 2026, and affects property owners making such conversions in Maryland jurisdictions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates property tax credit with state reimbursement (50% of lost revenue), providing targeted tax relief for redevelopment cleanup costs while managing state budget impact.92% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly funds cleanup of gas station contamination (removing underground tanks), directly supporting pollution control and environmental protection.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingEnables housing development by offsetting cleanup costs for gas station conversions to residential/mixed uses, facilitating redevelopment of underutilized properties.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 359: Property Tax Credit - Urban Agricultural Property - Alterations

HB 359 amends Maryland's property tax credit for urban agricultural property, clarifying eligibility and adding procedural requirements for jurisdictions granting the credit. It defines "urban agricultural property" as land between 1/8 and 5 acres in priority areas (not assessed as agricultural) used for activities like crop production, beekeeping, environmental mitigation, community programs, or agritourism. The bill requires jurisdictions to evaluate the credit's effectiveness after 3 years and, if terminating it, must provide the public with at least one year's notice and an opportunity to comment or appeal. This directly affects Baltimore City, counties, and municipalities that administer the tax credit for qualifying urban farms and agricultural operations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAmends property tax credit, providing tax relief for urban agricultural property owners, aligning with tax relief indicators.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExplicitly lists 'environmental mitigation' as qualifying activity for tax credit, incentivizing eco-friendly urban agricultural practices that align with environmental protection goals.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 320: Anne Arundel County - Property Tax Credit - Rural Legacy Program

HB 320 creates a property tax credit for Anne Arundel County landowners who sell development rights under the Rural Legacy Program. It allows the county to grant a credit against the county property tax for real property located in a designated Rural Legacy Area (as defined in Maryland’s Natural Resources Article) where the owner has sold development rights. This directly affects rural landowners participating in the Rural Legacy Program who choose to restrict future development on their land. The credit replaces an existing provision and becomes effective for tax years beginning after June 30, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates property tax credit for rural landowners, reducing their tax burden under the Rural Legacy Program, directly providing tax relief.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill incentivizes land conservation via tax credits for selling development rights under Rural Legacy Program, directly preserving natural resources and open space per Maryland's Natural Resources Article.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 512: Anne Arundel County - Board of License Commissioners and Part-Time Inspectors - Compensation

HB 512 increases minimum annual salaries for Anne Arundel County's Board of License Commissioners and part-time inspectors, effective July 1, 2026. The bill sets a new minimum $21,240 annual salary for the board chair (up from $18,000), $17,700 for other board members (up from $15,000), and $8,260 for each of the 18 part-time inspectors (up from $7,000). All salaries must include any cost-of-living adjustments available to Anne Arundel County employees. Additionally, part-time inspectors receive a $300 monthly expense allowance subject to approval. The bill directly affects these specific county positions handling alcohol beverage licensing.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases county government spending on employee compensation, directly funding public service roles through mandated salary hikes.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases minimum salaries for county board members and inspectors, directly advancing wage standards for public employees per Labor & Employment indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 3: Higher Education - Student Financial Assistance - Dependents of State or Local Public Safety Employees (Maryland Fallen Heroes Tuition Benefits Act)

HB 3, the Maryland Fallen Heroes Tuition Benefits Act, exempts financially dependent children of state or local public safety employees who died while on duty from paying out-of-state or out-of-county tuition at Maryland public colleges. It directly affects children of firefighters, police officers, EMTs, correctional officers, and Maryland National Guard members who were residents of Maryland at the time of their death. The bill amends Maryland law to define "public safety employee" broadly and requires the Commission to create implementing regulations. The exemption applies to public higher education institutions statewide and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts dependent children from tuition costs, increasing state spending on higher education for public safety families through fiscal allocation.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExempts dependents of fallen public safety employees from out-of-state tuition, expanding higher education access for a specific vulnerable group.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 378: Public Libraries - Young Readers Matching Grant Program, Funding, and Services

SB 378 updates Maryland's funding formula for regional library resource centers and county public libraries, increasing per-resident funding from $8.75 (2022) to $11.58 (2032 and beyond) for regional centers, and from $17.10 (2022) to $22.37 (2032 and beyond) for county libraries. It requires each public library to offer at least one new service, such as early childhood literacy programs, digital equity initiatives, or mental health support, by partnering with community organizations. The bill also mandates that libraries adopt written policies meeting state standards to receive state funding, with the Comptroller withholding funds for non-compliance. These changes affect all 23 Maryland county library systems and their regional resource centers, directly impacting how they allocate state funds and deliver services. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases state funding for public libraries by raising per-resident allocations from $8.75 to $11.58 (regional) and $17.10 to $22.37 (county), directly advancing public service budget allocation.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases library funding for educational services and mandates new programs like early childhood literacy, directly advancing educational access and community learning resources.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires libraries to offer digital equity initiatives, advancing access to technology and internet resources per bill summary.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes