HB 202 establishes Maryland's Social Isolation and Loneliness Pilot Grant Program within the Department of Health to fund community programs addressing social isolation. The program awards up to $20,000 per grant to eligible organizations serving vulnerable populations - including youth, seniors, and rural communities - to cover operating costs like staffing and venue fees for socioemotional support services. It requires a $100,000 FY2028 budget appropriation and mandates a program evaluation by December 2029, reporting on financial use and outcomes. The pilot runs from October 2026 through March 2030, focusing on reducing health impacts of isolation without funding research or capital projects.
This bill limits how much free promotional betting credits sports wagering companies can exclude from state revenue calculations. It requires the State Lottery Commission to set a percentage cap (based on the company's prior year's retained revenue) for excluding free bets and promotional credits from "proceeds." This prevents licensees from excluding unlimited promotional value when calculating revenue for state programs. The change takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 2 increases the Maryland income tax deduction for retirement income from $15,000 to $20,000 annually for retired public safety employees. It specifically affects individuals who are at least 55 years old during the tax year and received retirement income from employment as correctional officers, law enforcement officers, firefighters, rescue personnel, or emergency medical technicians (paramedics). The bill modifies Section 10-207(mm) of Maryland's tax code to expand this deduction, reducing taxable income for qualifying retirees. The change takes effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025, and applies to all eligible public safety retirees meeting the age requirement.
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.
HB 511 increases Maryland's catalytic revitalization tax credit rate from 20% to 25% of eligible rehabilitation costs for qualifying projects and raises the annual credit cap from $15 million to $35 million, with annual inflation adjustments based on the Washington metropolitan area's consumer price index. It defines eligible projects as the rehabilitation of historic properties formerly owned by government or large, substantially vacant commercial properties (minimum 250,000 square feet and $50 million investment) in designated economic development areas like Main Street Maryland communities. The credit applies to individuals, nonprofits, and businesses for four consecutive years (for single-phase projects) or in full upon completion (for phased projects). This directly affects property owners and developers seeking to revitalize underutilized commercial or historic properties in targeted communities.
HB 656 requires Maryland's Comptroller and tax agency to regularly verify if nonprofits in the state have been designated by federal authorities as supporting terrorist organizations under U.S. law (18 U.S.C. § 2339A). If confirmed, the bill mandates revoking the nonprofit's state tax exemptions for income, sales/use, and property taxes. Nonprofits receive 90 days to contest the revocation after written notice, with reinstatement possible if errors are found or if they prove they didn’t receive the notice. The bill applies only to nonprofits formally identified by federal agencies as violating anti-terrorism laws, not general criticism of terrorism.
SB 278 establishes new standard processing fees for business documents filed with Maryland's State Department of Assessments and Taxation. It increases fees for key filings, such as $100 for Articles of Incorporation (up from $25) and $300 for annual reports for most corporations. The bill also requires the Department to process certain documents within specified timeframes. It directly affects businesses filing corporate formations, name reservations, annual reports, and other routine documents in Maryland. The changes apply to standard processing, not expedited services as the title suggests.
HB 290 creates a refundable tax credit called the "Buy Maryland Cybersecurity Tax Credit" for Maryland businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 50 employees that purchase cybersecurity technology or services from qualifying Maryland-based cybersecurity companies. The credit covers 50% of qualifying costs, with a $50,000 annual limit per buyer and a $1 million annual cap per seller. Eligible sellers must be headquartered in Maryland, have under $10 million in annual revenue, and meet specific ownership criteria (e.g., minority-, woman-, or veteran-owned) or be located in a designated business zone. The credit expires for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2030, and is refundable if the credit exceeds the buyer's income tax liability.
HB 542 expands Maryland's Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for low-income residents without qualifying children by raising the income level at which the credit begins to phase out. Specifically, it increases the phase-out threshold from $19,160 to higher amounts that will automatically adjust annually for inflation starting in 2026. This change directly benefits working Marylanders earning below the new phase-out limits, allowing them to retain more of their EITC. The bill modifies existing tax code (Section 10-704) to implement these higher income thresholds and annual inflation adjustments.
This bill expands a Maryland income tax break for retirees by including retirement income from the District of Columbia. It modifies the tax code to allow Maryland residents who are retired fire, rescue, or emergency services personnel (including those who worked for DC fire/rescue organizations) to subtract up to $15,000 of that retirement income from their taxable income. The change applies to individuals aged 55 or older as of the end of the tax year. This adjustment aligns DC-based public safety retirees with existing eligibility for the state's tax subtraction benefit. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
