Budget & Taxes (State Budget)

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 11, 2026

HB 1193: Department of Natural Resources - Savage Highlands State Park - Hotel Rental Surcharge

HB 1193 requires the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to collect an 8% surcharge on hotel rentals at Savage Highlands State Park. The revenue from this surcharge will be sent to the Comptroller for distribution to Garrett County. Specifically, 6% of the surcharge funds must be used by Garrett County for promoting the county, while the remaining 2% is directed to the county’s general fund. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and directly affects park renters and Garrett County’s budget allocation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes 8% hotel surcharge to fund Garrett County promotion (6%) and general fund (2%), directly generating tax revenue for local budget allocation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Fees & Licensing State Budget

Track

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 9, 2026

SB 602: Algorithmic Addiction Fund - Establishment

SB 602 establishes the Algorithmic Addiction Fund in Maryland to use settlement funds from cases where social media algorithms harmed children. The fund, administered by the Maryland Department of Health, is financed by civil penalties from settlements related to social media harm and earns interest. It directly supports children by funding prevention programs (like school digital literacy campaigns), treatment services for mental health impacts (such as depression and anxiety), research, and evidence-based interventions. The fund is non-lapsing, meaning unused money rolls over annually, and all spending must align with the state budget.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesUses settlement funds (not new taxes) to directly fund children's programs like mental health services and digital literacy, advancing public service funding under fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds school digital literacy campaigns and mental health services for students, directly supporting K-12 educational programs and student well-being.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds mental health treatment services (depression/anxiety) and prevention programs under Maryland Department of Health, directly supporting mental health services within healthcare.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRegulates social media algorithms for child safety, using settlements to fund harm mitigation programs per bill's focus on algorithmic harm cases.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Mental Health Substance Abuse Social Media

Track

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

Sub-Topics State Budget

died · Maryland · Senate Mar 2, 2026

SB 923: Solar Photovoltaic Modules, Energy Storage, and Zero-Emission Vehicles - Advisory Councils, Checkoff Programs, and Funds

SB 923 creates three new state funds to promote solar photovoltaic modules, energy storage systems, and zero-emission vehicles in Maryland. Each fund will be financed through a fee-based marketing program (a "checkoff" where industry participants pay small contributions) to support statewide promotion efforts. The funds are permanent (nonlapsing) and will retain all interest earnings instead of transferring them to the state general fund. Advisory councils, made up of industry representatives and state officials, will manage the funds and guide marketing initiatives for these technologies.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates permanent funds via industry checkoff fees, establishing dedicated revenue for clean energy programs without general tax impact. Funds retain interest earnings instead of transferring to general fund.85% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill creates permanent state funds financed by industry checkoffs to promote solar, energy storage, and zero-emission vehicles through statewide marketing efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Energy Storage Solar

Track

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 503: Growing Family Child Care Opportunities Program - Funding

SB 503 requires the Governor to include $450,000 annually in the state budget for the Growing Family Child Care Opportunities Program during fiscal years 2023, 2024, 2026, and 2028-2030. The bill formalizes funding for grants to support local programs that help establish and sustain family child care services, directly affecting family child care providers and local jurisdictions (counties or groups of counties). To receive funds, counties must partner with a child care resource center to jointly apply for and administer the grants. The program, administered with the Maryland Child Care Resource Network, aims to provide start-up assistance for family child care homes serving children under 13 or developmentally disabled individuals under 21.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates $450,000 annual state budget allocation for child care program grants, directly increasing public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds family child care programs expanding early education access and supporting providers, directly aligning with educational access under topic scope.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds family child care provider programs, directly supporting employment stability and operational capacity for workers in this sector.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2026

HB 1224: Property Taxes - Special Rate for Vacant and Abandoned Property - Charter County Tax Limitation PG 408-26

HB 1224 allows charter counties in Maryland (like Prince George's County) to impose a higher property tax rate on vacant or abandoned properties that exceed their usual tax rate limits under county charters. The bill authorizes counties to collect additional tax revenue from these properties and direct it into the county’s general fund, bypassing standard charter restrictions. Counties must annually report details including the number of affected properties, revenue changes, and whether properties are being prepared for reuse. This policy directly affects property owners of vacant lots or uninhabitable buildings cited for housing violations, aiming to generate revenue for county services without requiring charter amendments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllows counties to collect higher taxes on vacant properties, increasing general fund revenue for local budgets and bypassing charter restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Revenue State Budget

Track

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 19, 2026

HB 1058: Youth Delinquency Prevention Fund - Establishment

HB 1058 establishes Maryland's Youth Delinquency Prevention Fund to provide grants to community-based programs, including youth service bureaus, that offer preventive services like delinquency prevention, youth suicide prevention, substance use prevention, and youth development. The fund, administered by the state office, is funded through state budget appropriations and interest earnings, and it must be used exclusively for these preventive services without replacing existing funding. The bill requires annual reports detailing grant distribution, the number of children served (disaggregated by age, region, race, and ethnicity), and whether served youth later interacted with justice systems. The fund is non-lapsing, meaning money remains available year-to-year and cannot revert to the General Fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes new state fund requiring budget appropriations for youth programs, explicitly increasing public service funding without replacing existing resources.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes fund for youth delinquency prevention programs, directly advancing criminal justice reform by reducing future involvement through preventive services like substance use and youth development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Juvenile Justice

Track

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 537: Youth Delinquency Prevention Fund - Establishment

SB 537 establishes Maryland's Youth Delinquency Prevention Fund to provide grants to community programs focused on preventing youth delinquency, suicide, substance abuse, and supporting youth development. The fund, administered by the Office, receives state budget appropriations and interest earnings, and is designated as a non-lapsing special fund (meaning it doesn't expire or revert to the General Fund). It requires annual reports detailing grant distribution, recipient demographics (by age, race, geography, and ethnicity), services provided, and unspent funds. The fund specifically supports community-based programs like youth service bureaus and aims to supplement, not replace, existing youth funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state budget appropriations to fund youth prevention programs via a non-lapsing special fund, directly advancing public service funding under fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates fund for youth prevention programs targeting delinquency/suicide/substance abuse, directly advancing criminal justice reform by addressing root causes to reduce future system involvement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Juvenile Justice

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 1512: Business Regulation - Rounding Cash Transactions - Remittance to Comptroller

HB 1512 requires merchants to remit the difference when rounding cash transactions up to the nearest 5 cents to the State Comptroller. It directly affects merchants selling goods or services who round cash payments (e.g., rounding $1.99 to $2.00), excluding transactions where customers explicitly consent to rounding for donation purposes. The Comptroller must distribute all collected revenue to the State’s General Fund. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies only to cash transactions (not gift cards or other payment methods).

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill directs rounded cash transaction differences to General Fund, increasing state revenue without new taxes, directly strengthening state budget.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability State Budget

Track

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 854: School Construction - Nonpublic Special Education School Renovation Program - Established

HB 854 establishes a state grant program to fund renovations and improvements at eligible nonpublic special education schools in Maryland. The program provides grants for classroom renovations, safety upgrades to residential facilities, health/safety accessibility work, infrastructure modernization, and new construction to meet state standards. Eligible schools must operate with a licensed residential treatment center, offer an approved curriculum (high school credits or K-8 programs), and serve students placed through state education programs. The Interagency Commission on School Construction will administer the program, with funding proposed annually in the state budget.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes state grant program funding renovations for special education schools, allocating public funds to support essential education infrastructure and compliance with state standards.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes state grants for school renovations, safety upgrades, and infrastructure at nonpublic special education schools, directly funding educational facility improvements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Curriculum K-12 Education Special Education