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 882: Consumer Health Information - Termination Date and Mandatory Funding for the State's Consumer Health Information Hub - Repeal

HB 882 repeals the requirement that the Governor must include a mandatory $350,000 annual appropriation for the State's Consumer Health Information Hub in the budget. It also removes the automatic expiration date (June 30, 2026) for the Hub's funding provisions. The bill changes the Hub's mandate to carry out its duties "to the extent funding is available," meaning its operations now depend on annual budget decisions rather than guaranteed funding. This directly affects the Hub - designated as the University of Maryland Herschel S. Horowitz Center for Health Literacy - by eliminating its guaranteed funding stream and making its services subject to yearly budget approvals.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRepeals mandatory $350k annual funding, making Hub operations dependent on annual budget approval instead of guaranteed support. Defunds essential program by removing automatic appropriation.90% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRepeals mandatory $350k annual funding, making Hub operations dependent on annual budget approvals rather than guaranteed support.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes 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 194: Income and Property Tax Incentives - Members and Veterans of the Space Force - Application

SB 194 amends Maryland tax code to extend existing income and property tax benefits to members and veterans of the Space Force. It updates definitions in tax laws to explicitly include "space service" alongside military, naval, and air service, making Space Force members, veterans, and their surviving spouses eligible for current programs. Key provisions include revising eligibility for job creation tax credits (under Section 6-301(e)) and property tax exemptions for disabled veterans (Sections 7-208 and 9-265). These changes ensure Space Force personnel qualify for the same tax incentives previously available only to traditional military branches. The bill directly affects Space Force members, veterans, and their families by expanding access to existing state tax benefits.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends tax exemptions and credits to Space Force members/veterans, providing tax relief under Maryland tax code amendments.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExtends existing Maryland tax benefits to Space Force veterans by updating definitions to include 'space service' alongside traditional military branches.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 Yes ✗ Opposes 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 · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 58: Property Tax Credit - Retail Service Station Conversions

SB 58 allows Baltimore City or Maryland counties to offer property tax credits to owners who convert former gas stations into retail, residential, or mixed-use properties. The credit is specifically intended to help cover costs for removing old underground gas tanks and cleaning up soil or water contamination from those tanks. Local governments can set the credit amount and duration, and the state will reimburse them 50% of the lost property tax revenue. This directly affects property owners and developers planning to redevelop former gas station sites into other commercial or housing uses.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllows property tax credits for cleanup with 50% state reimbursement, supporting fiscal management through targeted tax relief without net budget loss.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill directly funds cleanup of soil/water contamination from gas station tanks, advancing pollution remediation and environmental protection.92% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill incentivizes residential redevelopment of underutilized gas stations via property tax credits, removing cleanup cost barriers to increase housing supply and development.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 193: Washington County - Sales and Use Tax Exemption - Target Redevelopment Area

SB 193 creates a sales and use tax exemption for construction materials and warehousing equipment purchased specifically for use in Washington County's designated Target Redevelopment Area (bounded by Robinwood Drive, Mount Aetna Road, and Yale Drive within an Office/Research/Industry zoning district). Businesses buying these items for that area can avoid the tax if they provide the vendor with Comptroller-issued eligibility proof. The exemption is valid from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2036, after which it automatically expires without further legislative action. This directly affects developers and businesses operating within the defined redevelopment zone.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates sales tax exemption for business development in Target Redevelopment Area, providing tax relief to stimulate economic growth in designated zone.95% 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