Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 175: Income Tax Credit - Venison Donation - Alterations

HB 175 repeals the $300 annual limit on Maryland’s income tax credit for hunters donating processed antlerless deer meat to 501(c)(3) organizations, allowing individuals to claim up to $75 per deer processed for human consumption. It requires hunters to comply with state hunting laws and donate meat through eligible nonprofit programs, while mandating donation programs to report donor names and donation counts to the Comptroller annually. The bill directly affects hunters who process and donate antlerless deer meat to qualified nonprofits, removing a previous cap on the total credit amount. Key provisions include maintaining the $75 per deer limit, requiring donations to 501(c)(3) organizations, and adding reporting requirements for donation programs. This changes the policy by expanding access to the credit without increasing the per-deer benefit.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRepeals $300 annual cap on venison donation tax credit, expanding tax relief for eligible hunters through increased per-deer credit.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 257: Mel Noland Woodland Incentives and Fellowship Fund - Reporting

SB 257 requires the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to include specific details in its annual report to the Senate Committee on Education, Energy, and the Environment and the House Environment and Transportation Committee. The report must state how much money from a tax on transfers of woodland property was distributed to the Mel Noland Woodland Incentives and Fellowship Fund in the previous fiscal year, plus any uncertainties about that amount. This bill does not change the Fund’s purpose or funding sources but mandates clearer annual reporting for transparency. The reporting requirement applies to annual reports due September 30 each year, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires reporting on tax revenue distribution for woodland fund, ensuring fiscal accountability without altering tax structure.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 547: Income Tax - Enhanced Agricultural Management Equipment Subtraction Modification and Parent of a Stillborn Child Credit

HB 547 expands Maryland's income tax deduction for agricultural equipment by allowing the Secretary of Agriculture to add new equipment types through regulation. This directly affects Maryland farmers who purchase qualifying equipment, including technologies that reduce soil disturbance and nutrient runoff. The bill modifies existing tax rules (Section 10-208(d)) to include "enhanced agricultural management equipment" determined by the Secretary, beyond the current list of specific items like no-till planters or manure injection systems. Farmers must still meet standard requirements, such as owning equipment for at least three years and using it in agricultural production.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax deduction for agricultural equipment, providing tax relief to farmers under existing tax code modifications.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill incentivizes tax deductions for equipment reducing soil disturbance and nutrient runoff, directly addressing pollution control in agricultural practices.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 358: Sales and Use Tax - Elementary or Secondary School Book Fairs - Exemption

HB 358 exempts sales tax on in-person book fairs held at Maryland elementary or secondary schools when organized by the school, a nonprofit parent-teacher organization (PTO), or another school-based nonprofit. The exemption applies only if the book fair occurs on school premises and all net proceeds are used solely for the school’s educational benefit or student programs. This change modifies Maryland’s tax code by adding a new exemption under Section 11-204(b)(9), specifically covering book fairs managed by school staff, students, or PTO members acting as agents for vendors. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts sales tax on school book fairs, directing net proceeds to educational programs, providing tax relief that funds public schools.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExempts sales tax on school book fairs, directing net proceeds to educational programs and student benefits, effectively increasing school funding for educational activities.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 28: Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026

SB 28 requires state agencies and institutions (like the University System of Maryland and Maryland Environmental Service) to use a neutral third-party arbitrator from the American Arbitration Association's panel when collective bargaining reaches an impasse. It mandates that budget bills include all necessary funds to implement agreements reached through bargaining, including memoranda of understanding (MOUs) covering employee terms and conditions. The bill makes the arbitrator's recommendations advisory (not binding) and sets deadlines for negotiations to conclude by September 30. This directly affects state employees represented by exclusive bargaining units and ensures funding for negotiated terms is included in annual budgets.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates budget bills include funds for employee agreements (MOUs), ensuring fiscal implementation of bargaining outcomes and supporting public sector funding.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates neutral arbitration for collective bargaining impasses and requires budget funding for implemented agreements, strengthening worker negotiation rights and protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 590: Howard County - Transfer Tax - Use of Proceeds Ho. Co. 12-26

HB 590 renames Howard County's Agricultural Land Preservation Fund to the Agricultural Preservation and Innovation Fund and specifies how property transfer tax revenues are distributed. The bill directs 25% of transfer tax proceeds to school construction, 25% to park and watershed projects, and the remaining 50% to be split: 50% (of the remainder) for agricultural programs (including innovation to support farming sustainability), 25% for low-income housing and community improvement, and 25% for fire services. It also requires that any revenue from an increased transfer tax rate be distributed equally among school capital projects, recreation and parks capital projects, low-income housing, and fire services. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates transfer tax revenues to schools, parks, agricultural innovation, and low-income housing programs, directly funding public services and essential initiatives.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates 25% of transfer tax proceeds specifically to school construction, directly funding school infrastructure per education topic indicators.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly allocates 25% of transfer tax proceeds to 'low-income housing and community improvement', directly funding affordable housing initiatives.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 403: Sales and Use Tax - Elementary or Secondary School Book Fairs - Exemption

SB 403 exempts sales tax on in-person book fairs held at Maryland elementary and secondary schools. It applies to sales by schools, parent-teacher organizations (PTOs), or other nonprofit groups operating these events on school premises. The exemption covers sales where students, staff, or PTO members act as agents for vendors, with all net proceeds used solely for the school's educational benefit. This bill adds a new tax exemption provision (Section 11-204(b)(9)) to Maryland’s tax code, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts sales tax on school book fairs, providing tax relief for educational programs and increasing net proceeds for schools per tax code amendment.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExempts sales tax on school book fairs, increasing net proceeds for educational programs without direct state funding.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 654: Natural Resources - Maryland Heritage Areas Authority - Funding and Grants

HB 654 modifies funding rules for Maryland's Heritage Areas Authority, directly affecting local jurisdictions and entities managing certified heritage areas. It removes previous 50% limits on grant coverage for project costs (allowing full funding for eligible activities like preservation and marketing) and adjusts how Program Open Space funds are used. Specifically, it increases the allowable percentage for operating expenses from 10% to 7% or $600,000 (whichever is greater), and raises the maximum funding transfer to the Authority's Financing Fund. These changes aim to provide greater flexibility for heritage area management while maintaining oversight of fund usage.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRemoves 50% grant limit, allowing full funding for heritage preservation/marketing, and increases operating expense allowances, directly expanding public spending on cultural programs.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRemoves 50% grant cap for preservation activities in heritage areas, enabling full funding for conservation projects under Maryland's Heritage Areas Authority.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 860: Department of Aging – Aging Resilience Fund – Establishment

SB 860 establishes the Aging Resilience Fund, a dedicated, nonlapsing fund administered by Maryland's Department of Aging. The fund is designed to support the department's mission by covering administrative costs like personnel, partnership development, and senior-focused programs. Interest earnings from the fund must be reinvested into the fund itself, and money can only be spent following state budget rules. This bill directly affects the Department of Aging's operations and senior services programs in Maryland.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes dedicated fund for Department of Aging operations, funding senior services per state budget rules, aligning with funding essential programs.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 43: Financial Institutions - Maryland Community Investment Venture Fund and Regulation of Entities - Revisions

SB 43 repeals a $25 fee charged to banking institutions for certificate of valid charter requests and extends the deadline for the Commissioner to match investments in the Maryland Community Investment Venture Fund from 2028 to 2030. The bill revises the Fund’s purpose to focus on developing financial products and services for low-to-moderate-income communities through investments, grants, and innovation testing. It also updates assessment credit rules for banking institutions and credit unions, alters the definition of "emergency" for banking closures, and clarifies the Fund’s status as a nonlapsing state fund. These changes directly affect Maryland banking institutions, credit unions, and residents in low-to-moderate-income areas seeking improved financial services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRevises Maryland Community Investment Fund purpose to develop financial products for low-income communities through government-funded investments and grants, advancing fiscal support for underserved populations.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes