Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 644: Sales and Use Tax - Certificates Indicating Multiple Points of Use - Alterations

SB 644 simplifies tax collection for digital products and services used across multiple jurisdictions. It allows businesses (buyers) to submit a standardized certificate to vendors confirming that digital codes, products, or taxable services will be used in more than one taxing area or resold to affiliated entities. Once vendors receive a properly completed certificate, they are exempt from collecting, paying, or remitting sales tax for those transactions, and the certificate remains valid for future sales with the same buyer. The bill applies retroactively and eliminates the need for vendors to seek prior approval from the Comptroller for these certificates.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill exempts digital transactions from sales tax collection, reducing state tax revenue and weakening tax collection mechanisms.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes 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

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 250: Environment - Appropriation or Use of Water and Dam Safety - Enforcement

HB 250 authorizes Maryland's Department of the Environment to impose administrative penalties for violations of water appropriation, dam safety, and wetlands rules. It directly affects businesses, developers, and dam operators who breach these regulations. Key provisions include setting penalties up to $5,000 per violation (capped at $100,000 total), requiring consideration of factors like environmental harm and willfulness, and mandating that collected penalties fund the Maryland Clean Water Fund (except for dam safety cases, which go to a repair fund). The bill also streamlines enforcement by allowing the Department to issue immediate corrective orders and hold expedited hearings for urgent threats.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates penalties fund Maryland Clean Water Fund, aligning with 'funds essential programs' indicator for support stance.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAuthorizes penalties for water/wetlands violations, funds clean water initiatives, strengthens enforcement of environmental regulations.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 363: Local Government - Grant for Recipients of State Child Tax Credit - Authorization

HB 363 authorizes Maryland counties to create a local child tax credit against county income tax for low-income families with children. It allows counties to provide a $500 credit per qualified child for taxpayers with federal adjusted gross income below $15,000, reduced by $50 for every $1,000 over that threshold. To qualify, both the taxpayer and child must be residents of the county (either domiciled there or maintaining a principal residence). Counties must formally adopt the credit by July 1 prior to implementation and notify the Comptroller, but the credit is optional for counties to implement.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes local child tax credit providing $500 tax relief per child for low-income families ($15k AGI threshold), directly advancing tax relief for lower-income residents.95% 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 absent

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 429: On-Farm Organics Diversion and Recycling Grant Program - Established

HB 429 establishes two grant programs to reduce food waste and promote composting. The On-Farm Organics Diversion Grant Program (under Agriculture) funds farmers, urban farmers, and related entities to implement on-farm composting, food rescue, and waste prevention. The Wasted Food Reduction Grant Program (under Environment) funds projects like food rescue infrastructure, community composting, and education to reduce wasted food statewide. Eligible projects must meet specific standards, such as producing certified compost and prioritizing underserved communities, with grants awarded annually starting July 2028.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds via grants to establish food waste reduction programs, directly increasing government spending on environmental initiatives per budget & taxes definition.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes grant programs for on-farm composting, food rescue, and waste reduction - directly advancing environmental conservation by diverting organic waste from landfills and promoting resource conservation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes