Budget & Taxes

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 28, 2026

HB 594: Sales and Use Tax - Distribution - City of Baltimore

HB 594 changes Maryland's sales tax distribution by requiring the state to pay one-third of sales tax revenue collected from retail sales within Baltimore City directly to the city government, instead of sending it to the state general fund. Previously, this revenue flowed to the state, but the bill redirects it to Baltimore for local use. The bill also adjusts the percentage of remaining sales tax revenue sent to Maryland's education fund (starting at 9.2% in 2023 and rising to 12.1% by 2027), with the rest going to the state general fund. This directly affects Baltimore City by increasing its local revenue from in-city retail sales, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects sales tax revenue to Baltimore City and increases education fund allocation, directly funding local services and public programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Sales Tax State Budget

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signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 595: Income Tax - Credit for Physician Preceptors in Areas With Health Care Workforce Shortages - Alterations

HB 595 modifies Maryland's income tax credit for physicians mentoring medical students in underserved areas. It removes a requirement that students must be enrolled in a Maryland medical school or training program and reduces the required hours per preceptor rotation from 100 to 90 for community-based clinical training. Licensed physicians serving as preceptors in designated healthcare shortage areas may claim a $1,000 tax credit per qualifying student rotation, capped at $10,000 annually per physician and $100,000 statewide. The bill aims to expand access to physician mentorship by broadening eligibility for the credit, directly benefiting doctors and medical training programs in regions facing healthcare workforce shortages.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates a $1,000 tax credit per qualifying student rotation for physicians, providing direct tax relief to incentivize healthcare workforce development in underserved areas.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands tax credit accessibility for physician preceptors in healthcare shortage areas, removing enrollment restrictions and reducing hour requirements to strengthen workforce development in underserved communities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Healthcare Workforce

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 23, 2026

HB 468: Health and Taxation - Digital Social Media Services and the Mental Health Care Fund for Children and Youth

HB 468 establishes a new "Mental Health Care Fund for Children and Youth" in Maryland, funded by a tax on digital social media companies' annual revenues within the state. The bill imposes a tax on qualifying digital social media services (e.g., platforms generating revenue from Maryland users) and directs all collected revenue into this dedicated, non-lapsing fund. The fund must be used exclusively to improve access to mental health care services for children and youth, supplementing existing state funding without replacing it. The Comptroller will distribute the tax revenue to the fund, which the Secretary will administer per the new provisions in the Health and Tax codes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes tax on digital social media companies to fund mental health care for children, directly allocating revenue to a public service.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates dedicated fund from social media tax to improve children's mental health care access, directly funding a healthcare service area.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Revenue Mental Health

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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

Sub-Topics Sales Tax K-12 Education Teachers

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

Sub-Topics Property Tax Revenue Tax Credits Water Quality Property Taxes

died · Maryland · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 235: Baltimore County - Property Tax Credits - Public Safety Officers and Public School System Employees

SB 235 requires Baltimore County's governing body to establish property tax credits for homes owned by public safety officers and Baltimore County public school employees. The bill mandates that the county create specific rules for the credit amount, duration, eligibility, and application process through local law. It directly affects these two groups of public employees by potentially reducing their county property tax burden. The law takes effect June 1, 2026, applying to taxable years beginning after June 30, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides property tax credits for public safety officers and school employees, reducing their tax burden - direct tax relief for public sector workers.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides property tax credits to public school employees, directly supporting educators' financial stability and retention.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides property tax credits to public safety officers and school employees, reducing living costs as a financial benefit tied to employment.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Tags Public Safety

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passed · Maryland · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 267: Land Use - Residential Housing - Oversight and Approval (Building Affordably in My Back Yard Act)

SB 267, the "Building Affordably in My Back Yard Act," aims to increase residential housing development by changing oversight, regulation, and tax policies. It requires property owners to certify contact information to the housing department, empowers local governments to streamline approvals for housing projects, and sets housing production targets. The bill allows counties to reduce certain taxes or fees for affordable housing projects while increasing them for non-affordable developments, and permits local tax adjustments for different property types. These changes directly affect property owners, local governments, and housing developers across Maryland.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly allows tax/fee reductions for affordable housing projects, providing targeted tax relief aligned with supporting lower-income housing initiatives.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill increases affordable housing via tax incentives for affordable projects, streamlines approvals, and sets housing production targets to advance development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Property Taxes Zoning

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 28, 2026

HB 560: Sales and Use Tax and Property Tax - Exemptions for Data Centers - Repeal

HB 560 repeals two tax exemptions for data centers in Maryland: one that exempted sales and use tax on qualifying equipment purchases and another that allowed local governments to reduce property tax on data center equipment. This bill directly affects data centers previously eligible for these breaks, requiring them to pay standard sales and use tax on equipment and full property tax on their assets. The repeal removes Sections 11-239 (Tax-General) and 7-248 (Tax-Property) from Maryland law, eliminating the eligibility requirements and certification process for these exemptions. As a result, data centers will no longer qualify for these specific tax benefits under current law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRepeals tax exemptions for data centers, closing a loophole to increase state revenue and strengthen fiscal management per Budget & Taxes topic.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Sales Tax Tax Incentives

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 19, 2026

HB 144: Commercial Law – Fair Pricing and Market Competition Fund – Establishment

HB 144 establishes the Fair Pricing and Market Competition Fund to support Maryland's Antitrust Division within the Attorney General's Office. The fund is funded by civil penalties assessed against businesses violating anti-competitive laws (like price discrimination or monopolistic practices under §11-204), plus state budget appropriations and other designated revenues. It operates as a permanent, supplemental funding source specifically for the Antitrust Division's enforcement activities, not replacing existing budget allocations. The bill also mandates, starting in fiscal year 2028, a dedicated full-time investigator position within the division funded through this mechanism.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates permanent fund via state budget appropriations for Antitrust Division enforcement, directly advancing fiscal management through dedicated funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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passed both · Maryland · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 247: Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit - Conversion to Grant Program

SB 247 converts Maryland's Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit into a direct grant program administered by the Department of Commerce. It replaces tax credits with cash grants for qualifying biotechnology companies engaged in research, development, or commercialization of biological technologies. The bill requires the Department to disburse grants within a specified timeframe and allows recipients to deduct these grants from their Maryland income tax for the same year. This change shifts the incentive from tax savings to immediate funding, directly affecting eligible biotech firms in Maryland.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesConverts tax credit to direct grants, increasing state spending on biotech incentives instead of reducing tax revenue, advancing fiscal support for the sector.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyConverts tax credits to direct grants for biotech R&D, funding innovation in biological technologies per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits

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