Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 17: Estates and Trusts - Venue for Administrative and Judicial Probate and Application of Inheritance Tax

HB 17 changes where probate cases are filed for people who died without Maryland residence and updates Maryland's inheritance tax rules for non-resident estates. It requires that for non-resident decedents, the tax on intangible property (like stocks or bank accounts) is based on where the decedent lived (their domicile), not where the property is located. The bill also repeals a previous exemption that allowed non-resident decedents to avoid inheritance tax on personal property passing to heirs. These changes apply retroactively to all applicable cases.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRepeals exemption for non-resident inheritance tax, closing loophole to increase state revenue from intangible property taxation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 300: State Contracts - Prohibited Provisions - Exemptions

HB 300 amends Maryland's state contract law to prohibit specific provisions in state agreements, such as requiring the state to pay for damages without budgeted funds, mandating binding arbitration, or limiting the state's legal options. The bill exempts contracts entered by the Office of International Trade (within the Department of Commerce) for international business development, as authorized under existing law. This exemption allows the Office to include terms that would otherwise be invalid under the general prohibition. The change ensures these international business contracts remain enforceable without being voided for standard prohibited clauses.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProhibits contract terms requiring unbudgeted payments, promoting fiscal responsibility in state budget management.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 277: Estates and Trusts - Venue for Administrative and Judicial Probate and Application of Inheritance Tax

SB 277 changes how Maryland handles probate cases and inheritance tax for people who did not live in Maryland at the time of death. It requires that for inheritance tax purposes, intangible property (like stocks, bank accounts, or investments) is taxed based on the decedent's home state, not where the property is located in Maryland. The bill also repeals an existing exemption that previously allowed nonresident decedents to avoid inheritance tax on personal property passing to heirs. These changes apply retroactively to estates opened before the law took effect.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill closes tax loophole by repealing exemption for nonresident inheritance tax on personal property, increasing state revenue collection.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 1007: Prior Authorizations of State Debt - Alterations

This bill amends existing state debt authorizations to update grant details for various community projects across Maryland. It directly affects multiple local organizations and municipalities that have received state funding for construction, renovation, and infrastructure improvements. The key provision allows the state to change grantee names, modify authorized project uses, and extend termination dates for several grants without requiring new legislation for each change. Specific projects include facilities for the National Road Museum, Harford Crisis Center, Imagination Stage, and various community centers, with funding amounts and deadlines being adjusted accordingly.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill updates state debt authorizations and grants for community projects, enabling continued funding for infrastructure and public works without requiring new legislation for each change.75% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill amends state debt authorizations to update grant details for community infrastructure projects, including construction and renovation that likely includes transportation improvements.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 466: Income Tax - Credit for Physician Preceptors in Areas With Health Care Workforce Shortages - Alterations

SB 466 modifies Maryland's income tax credit for physicians mentoring medical students in underserved areas. It removes a requirement that students must be enrolled in Maryland medical schools and reduces the minimum hours per clinical rotation from 100 to 90. The bill directly affects licensed physicians serving as preceptors in areas designated as having health care workforce shortages by the state. This change aims to expand eligibility for the $1,000-per-student rotation tax credit (capped at $10,000 annually per physician), potentially increasing mentor availability in shortage regions. The credit remains limited to $100,000 total annually for all physicians.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax credit eligibility for physicians, providing tax relief (reducing state revenue) to address healthcare workforce shortages via fiscal policy.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands tax credit eligibility for physician preceptors in healthcare shortage areas by removing enrollment restrictions and lowering hour requirements, directly increasing provider access in underserved communities.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 927: Carroll County - Public Facilities Bond

HB 927 authorizes Carroll County to borrow up to $27 million through general obligation bonds to fund public infrastructure projects, including water and sewer systems, volunteer fire department equipment/buildings, and other facilities like parks, roads, and agricultural land preservation. The bonds would be tax-exempt at state and local levels, with annual property taxes levied to repay them. This bill directly affects Carroll County residents through future tax-funded projects and volunteer fire departments receiving loan access for equipment and facilities. The county retains full discretion over bond terms, including interest rates, maturity dates (up to 30 years), and specific project allocations within the $27 million limit.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes $27M tax-exempt bonds for public infrastructure funding (water, fire, parks), directly advancing budget allocation for essential services through future property tax levies.92% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill explicitly funds road infrastructure projects through $27M bonds for Carroll County public facilities, directly advancing transportation infrastructure as per topic description.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 1139: State Retirement and Pension System - Administration and Clarification

HB 1139 clarifies that local governments (such as counties, cities, and special agencies) must have all their employees join specific state pension systems - Employees’, Law Enforcement Officers’, or Correctional Officers’ - rather than allowing partial participation. It requires governments seeking to join these systems to submit properly completed election forms showing employee consent and ensures local retirement plans match state contribution rates or eliminate employer-paid contributions. The bill affects over 25 types of Maryland governmental units currently operating pension systems, including fire departments, transit authorities, and community action agencies. These changes aim to standardize participation requirements across the State Retirement and Pension System.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates full pension system participation, requiring local governments to match state contribution rates, promoting fiscal responsibility in retirement spending.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates local governments to enroll all employees in state pension systems with matching employer contributions, protecting retirement benefits as part of employment standards.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 972: Maryland Fair and Agricultural Education Promise Fund - Establishment ( Charles J. Otto Agricultural Education Promise Act)

HB 972 establishes the Maryland Fair and Agricultural Education Promise Fund, a permanent fund to provide annual grants supporting agricultural fairs and education. The fund will receive lottery proceeds (before allocation to the general fund) and replace previous requirements for horse racing fund allocations. It directs specific annual grants: $825,000 to the Maryland Agricultural Fair Board, $75,000 to the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, $550,000 to the Maryland State Fair Society (for youth programs like 4-H and FFA), and $50,000 to the Maryland FFA Association. These grants aim to advance agricultural fairs, education, and youth programs across Maryland.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects lottery proceeds to fund agricultural education and fairs ($825k, $75k, $550k annually), directly advancing dedicated program funding per topic indicators.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $1.45M annually to agricultural education programs via grants to foundations and fair boards, enhancing specialized student programs and curriculum access.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 777: Labor and Employment - Workforce Development - Hospital Employee Retraining and Placement Program and Workforce Development and Local Workforce Development Boards (Local Workforce Solutions Investment Act)

SB 777 requires Maryland’s Department of Labor to allocate funds from the Hospital Employees Retraining Fund to local workforce development boards when hospitals close, downsize, or merge. It mandates that these boards be included in state workforce programs and receive funding for the State’s quick response program to assist workers affected by job losses. The bill also requires local boards to provide grants to employers through the Apprenticeship Career Training in Our Neighborhoods Program. These changes directly affect local workforce boards, hospitals facing operational changes, and workers needing retraining or job placement support.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates existing Hospital Employees Retraining Fund to workforce development programs, funding essential workforce services through state budget reallocation.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllocates funds to workforce boards for displaced workers from hospital changes and provides apprenticeship grants, directly supporting worker retraining and job transitions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports 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