Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 312: Constitutional Officers - Salaries

SB 312 increases annual salaries for Maryland's four constitutional officers: the Comptroller, Treasurer, Attorney General, and Secretary of State. The bill raises their base salaries by $10,000-$15,000 starting in 2027, with step increases over each term (e.g., Comptroller's first-year salary rises from $165,000 to $175,000). These changes apply to terms beginning after October 1, 2026, and do not affect current officeholders serving terms that started before this date. The bill amends specific sections of Maryland law to implement these salary adjustments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases state budget allocation for constitutional officers' salaries, directly impacting government spending and fiscal management.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 607: Constitutional Officers - Salaries

HB 607 increases the annual salaries for Maryland's four constitutional officers: the Comptroller, Treasurer, Attorney General, and Secretary of State. The bill establishes new salary schedules with step increases after each anniversary of an officer's term, raising the first-year salary to $175,000-$185,000 (depending on the office) starting in 2027, with subsequent raises to $180,000-$185,000 in later years. These changes apply only to terms beginning on or after October 1, 2026, and do not affect current officeholders serving terms that started before this date. The bill amends specific sections of Maryland's Annotated Code to implement these salary adjustments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases state budget allocation for constitutional officers' salaries, directly funding government positions through new salary schedules.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 305: Qualifying Nonprofit Organizations - Incarcerated Individual Training and Reentry Grant Fund - Extension

SB 305 extends funding for nonprofit organizations providing automotive repair training and reentry services to formerly incarcerated individuals in Maryland. It extends the grant period from fiscal years 2026-2028 to 2026-2029, authorizing $1 million annually for qualifying nonprofits that train at least 50 individuals yearly in auto repair and achieve a 50% job placement rate for participants. The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention administers the grants, requiring nonprofits to submit annual reports on fund usage, participant numbers, and employment outcomes. This bill directly affects nonprofits meeting specific service criteria and supports employment pathways for formerly incarcerated individuals.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill authorizes $1 million annually for nonprofit reentry programs, directly funding a social service through state budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends funding for job training/reentry programs for formerly incarcerated individuals, directly reducing recidivism through employment opportunities and rehabilitation.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends funding for job training and placement programs targeting formerly incarcerated individuals, directly advancing employment outcomes and workforce reentry through mandated job placement rates.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 388: Economic Development - Delivering Economic Competitiveness and Advancing Development Efforts (DECADE) Act

SB 388, the DECADE Act, reorganizes Maryland's economic development programs to streamline administration and adjust eligibility for tax incentives. It redesignates the Economic Development Opportunities Program Account as the Strategic Closing Fund within the Department of Commerce, alters how video lottery proceeds are distributed, and modifies rules for several tax credits - including Job Creation, Research and Development, and film production credits - to expand access for businesses and investors. Key changes include allowing pass-through entities to allocate biotechnology tax credits differently, enabling film producers to amend credit applications, and extending the Build Our Future Grant Pilot Program. The bill directly affects businesses seeking economic development tax credits and state agencies managing these programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands business tax credits (Job Creation, R&D, film) via restructured incentives, advancing economic development funding mechanisms without defunding or restricting.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 625: Human-Relevant Research Fund - Collection of Contributions - Responsible Entity

HB 625 shifts responsibility for collecting fees from research facilities to the Maryland Department of Agriculture, replacing the current system under the Department of Health. It requires facilities submitting USDA Form 7023 (for animal testing) to pay annual contributions based on animal count: $5,000 for ≤100 animals, $10,000 for 101-500, $55,000 for 501-5,000, and $75,000 for over 5,000. Funds collected will support the Human-Relevant Research Fund established under Maryland’s Economic Development Article. The bill repeals existing health code provisions and creates new agriculture code sections for this fee structure, effective October 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes mandatory annual fees ($5k-$75k) based on animal counts, directing collected funds to a specific research fund, creating new revenue and fiscal allocation.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates Human-Relevant Research Fund to support medical research alternatives, advancing healthcare innovation through funding animal testing fee shifts.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 599: On-Farm Organics Diversion and Recycling Grant Program - Established

SB 599 establishes two grant programs to reduce wasted food and promote organics recycling. The On-Farm Organics Diversion Grant Program (starting July 2028) provides funding for farmers, urban agricultural producers, nonprofits, and businesses to develop composting, food rescue, and wasted food prevention projects on farms. The Wasted Food Reduction Grant Program (under the Environment Department) funds infrastructure, education, and community projects statewide to redirect edible food, recover waste for animal feed, and create compost. Eligible projects must reduce food waste, support community needs, prioritize underserved areas, and create jobs with fair wages. The bill specifically prioritizes projects that minimize contamination in compost and meet U.S. composting standards.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes state-funded grant programs (2028 start) for food waste reduction, directly allocating government funds for environmental programs under fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes grant programs to reduce food waste and promote organics recycling, directly advancing environmental protection through waste diversion and composting initiatives.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 1279: Catalytic Revitalization Project Tax Credit - Alterations

HB 1279 modifies Maryland's Catalytic Revitalization Project Tax Credit program to expand eligibility and adjust credit calculations. It updates definitions to include properties formerly owned by the federal government or state, or those formerly used as schools/hospitals, and clarifies income thresholds for "workforce housing" (e.g., 60-150% area median income in designated areas). The bill changes how tax credits are claimed: for workforce housing projects, 50% of the credit applies to workforce units in the first year, with 33% of non-workforce costs spread over three subsequent years. This directly affects developers and property owners rehabilitating qualifying properties seeking state tax credits. The changes aim to simplify claiming while expanding opportunities for projects in targeted communities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax credits for workforce housing revitalization, providing tax relief for qualifying projects and promoting affordable housing development through modified credit calculations.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands tax credit eligibility for workforce housing (60-150% AMI), increasing affordable housing development funding through adjusted credit calculations.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 1346: State Department of Assessments and Taxation - Expedited Document Processing and Fees

HB 1346 establishes new fees for documents processed by Maryland's State Department of Assessments and Taxation. It sets specific fees for business filings, including $100 for articles of incorporation, amendments, or mergers, $300 for annual reports (except family farms, which are $100), and $25 for address changes. The bill requires the Department to process certain documents within defined timeframes but does not specify exact deadlines. This directly affects businesses and entities filing corporate, LLC, partnership, or foreign entity documents with the Department. The bill amends Maryland's Corporations and Associations law to standardize these fees and processing requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes new business filing fees ($100-$300) generating state revenue, directly increasing government fiscal resources under budget/taxation framework.90% 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