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 · 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 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 · 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 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 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