Budget & Taxes

passed both · Maryland · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 328: Property Tax Credit - Disabled or Fallen Public Safety Officer or Judicial Officer - Alterations

SB 328 amends Maryland’s property tax credit for disabled or fallen public safety officers by expanding eligibility. It adds disabled officers who die regardless of cause (not just duty-related deaths) to the definition of "fallen public safety officer," and removes the requirement that a dwelling must have been acquired within 10 years of the disability or death. The bill also allows the tax credit amount for new dwellings to match the original credit for a previous dwelling, and authorizes local governments to set their own acquisition timelines or eligibility limits. This directly affects disabled officers, their surviving spouses, and cohabitants who own qualifying homes, as well as county/municipal tax administrators.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands property tax credit eligibility for public safety officers, providing tax relief and increasing state tax expenditure on credits.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed both · Maryland · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 389: Land Use - Transit-Oriented Development - Alterations (Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act)

SB 389, the Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act, automatically designates transit-oriented development (TOD) areas near rail stations with hourly weekday service (8 a.m.-6 p.m.) as enterprise zones - bypassing normal limits on such designations. It requires Maryland’s development corporation to prioritize loans for projects redeveloping state-owned land near rail stations and delays development taxes/fees for qualifying residential projects. The bill also adds project labor agreements as a scoring factor for TOD funding and adjusts local land-use regulations to support transit-focused development. Directly affecting developers, local governments, and communities near transit hubs, it aims to accelerate housing and infrastructure near rail corridors.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesDelays development taxes/fees for qualifying residential projects, providing tax incentive to promote transit-oriented development90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingDesignates TOD areas as enterprise zones, prioritizes loans for state land redevelopment, and delays fees for residential projects - all advancing housing development near transit.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires project labor agreements for transit development projects, ensuring fair wages and union standards in construction labor.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationDesignates TOD areas near rail stations, prioritizes transit-oriented projects, delays fees for housing near transit - directly advancing public transit infrastructure and sustainable transportation access.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 10, 2026

HB 1353: Homeless Individuals - Fee and Examination Exemptions

HB 1353 exempts homeless individuals in Maryland from specific fees and requirements. It prohibits the Maryland Department of Health from charging for vital records (like birth or death certificates) issued to homeless people, waives vehicle registration fees for vehicles owned by homeless individuals, and eliminates driver’s license fees for homeless applicants. The bill also allows unaccompanied homeless youth under 18 to take certain driver’s license exams sooner and exempts homeless individuals from mandatory vehicle emissions inspections. Homeless individuals must provide a written statement proving their homelessness to access these exemptions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts homeless individuals from state fees (vital records, vehicle registration, driver's licenses), reducing government revenue and providing fiscal relief for low-income residents.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExempts homeless individuals from fees for vital records, vehicle registration, and driver's licenses, directly addressing homelessness to improve housing access and stability.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed both · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 9, 2026

HB 813: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization

HB 813 authorizes Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) to cover comprehensive obesity treatment, including intensive behavioral therapy, bariatric surgery, and FDA-approved weight management medications, starting January 1, 2027. The bill requires the Maryland Department of Health to notify Medicaid recipients if it chooses to provide this coverage and mandates a report to the legislature by November 1, 2027, on implementation progress. This directly affects Medicaid recipients with obesity by expanding covered treatments beyond current scope. The program may use standard utilization management processes (like for other conditions) to assess medical necessity but is not required to offer the coverage.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes Medicaid expansion for obesity treatment, requiring state budget allocation for new coverage starting 2027, aligning with funding essential health programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill authorizes Medicaid coverage for obesity treatment (behavioral therapy, surgery, medications), expanding healthcare access and funding for a critical health condition.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Maryland · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 4: Charitable Organizations - Charitable Donation and Tax-Exempt Status - Revocation (Keeping Charities Nonpartisan Act of 2026)

SB 4, the "Keeping Charities Nonpartisan Act of 2026," requires charitable organizations recognized by the IRS for tax-deductible donations to remain nonpartisan. It prohibits these groups from participating in political campaigns for or against candidates for public office. The bill authorizes Maryland’s Secretary of State and Attorney General to jointly revoke a charity’s tax-exempt status if it violates this rule, and mandates that the Comptroller and State Department of Assessments and Taxation must revoke related state tax exemptions. This directly affects Maryland-based charities receiving federal tax-deductible donations, requiring them to avoid political activity to maintain their tax status.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enforces tax-exempt status rules for charities, closing potential misuse of tax benefits and promoting fiscal responsibility in tax policy.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 8, 2026

SB 282: Budget Bill (Fiscal Year 2027)

This is a procedural budget bill (SB 282) that allocates $859 million in state funds for Maryland's fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). It directly funds state agencies including the judiciary (courts, public defender office, and legal services), legislative operations, and administrative offices. The total includes $771 million in general fund appropriations, $86 million in special fund appropriations, and $1.4 million in federal funds. This bill establishes the baseline funding for state operations but does not create new policies or affect citizens directly.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $859M for state agencies including judiciary and legislative operations, directly funding government spending and fiscal management per budget bill language.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds judiciary (courts, public defender office) and legal services, core criminal justice components per bill summary.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

passed · Maryland · Senate Apr 8, 2026

SB 300: Economic Development - Rural Readiness Program and Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund - Establishment

SB 300 establishes the Rural Readiness Program, administered by the Rural Maryland Council, to help eligible rural communities (including nonprofits, local governments, tribes, and economic development organizations) build capacity for economic growth through grant application support and project development. It creates a priority for these communities to receive certain state grants, such as those from the Maryland Agricultural Education Fund and the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund, after completing the program. The bill also creates the Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund - a permanent fund for grants supporting planning and capacity-building initiatives in rural areas. These provisions directly aim to address rural communities' challenges in accessing resources, infrastructure, and skilled staff.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund to allocate state grants for economic development, directly funding new program under state budget appropriations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Maryland · Senate Apr 8, 2026

SB 287: Economic Development - Tax Increment Financing - Noncontiguous Areas

SB 287 allows local governments in Maryland to designate *noncontiguous* blighted areas as development districts for tax increment financing (TIF). This means communities can now use TIF tools for economic development projects in disconnected land parcels (like separate lots in a blighted neighborhood) that were previously ineligible under the law. The bill amends Maryland’s Economic Development Code to explicitly include "noncontiguous" areas in the definition of "development district" and updates related sections to permit this designation. It directly affects counties, cities, and other local governments seeking to revitalize fragmented blighted areas through TIF. The change takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill expands TIF eligibility to noncontiguous areas, enabling local governments to use tax increment financing for economic development projects, strengthening fiscal management tools under Budget & Taxes.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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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 | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 30, 2026

HB 888: Washington County - Property Tax Credit for Disabled Veterans - Eligibility

HB 888 expands Washington County's property tax credit program for disabled veterans to include members of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Public Health Service (PHS) who meet the same disability and service criteria as military veterans. The bill amends existing law to add these federal service members to the definition of "disabled veteran," allowing them to qualify for a credit equal to their VA disability rating percentage on their primary residence. This change directly affects eligible NOAA and PHS members who are disabled veterans under federal standards, as well as their surviving spouses who meet ownership and residency requirements. The credit applies to property tax on the dwelling house owned by qualifying individuals, effective June 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands property tax credit for disabled veterans (including NOAA/PHS), providing targeted tax relief under fiscal policy.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands property tax credit eligibility to include NOAA/PHS disabled veterans, directly advancing benefits for covered veterans under existing disability criteria.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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