HB 595 modifies Maryland's income tax credit for physicians mentoring medical students in underserved areas. It removes a requirement that students must be enrolled in a Maryland medical school or training program and reduces the required hours per preceptor rotation from 100 to 90 for community-based clinical training. Licensed physicians serving as preceptors in designated healthcare shortage areas may claim a $1,000 tax credit per qualifying student rotation, capped at $10,000 annually per physician and $100,000 statewide. The bill aims to expand access to physician mentorship by broadening eligibility for the credit, directly benefiting doctors and medical training programs in regions facing healthcare workforce shortages.
HB 472 extends the expiration date for Maryland's theatrical production tax credit from 2027 to 2032. This credit allows theater producers to claim a reduction on their state income tax for qualifying production costs. The bill directly affects film and theater producers in Maryland who currently qualify for the credit. It modifies existing law (from 2022) to extend the credit's validity period by five additional years, ensuring the program remains active through 2032 without requiring new legislative action.
SB 247 converts Maryland's Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit into a direct grant program administered by the Department of Commerce. It replaces tax credits with cash grants for qualifying biotechnology companies engaged in research, development, or commercialization of biological technologies. The bill requires the Department to disburse grants within a specified timeframe and allows recipients to deduct these grants from their Maryland income tax for the same year. This change shifts the incentive from tax savings to immediate funding, directly affecting eligible biotech firms in Maryland.
HB 370 creates a state income tax credit for employers in Prince George’s County who provide "parental engagement leave" to qualified employees. The leave must be 10-20 hours per employee, paid at regular wage rates, and used solely for attending school-related events (e.g., parent-teacher conferences) at a public or nonpublic school in the county. Employers must obtain a certification form signed by school officials (e.g., principal and county board member) to claim the credit, which is calculated as the employee’s hourly wage multiplied by hours used, capped at $800 per employee annually. This credit directly affects PG County employers, qualified parents/guardians of school students, and school officials who verify attendance.
HB 528 modifies Maryland's income tax code to expand a $15,000 tax subtraction for retirement income from public safety jobs. It specifically adds retired fire, rescue, and emergency services personnel who worked for the District of Columbia to the list of eligible individuals, previously limited to those employed in Maryland or federal roles. The change applies to residents aged 55 or older receiving retirement income attributable to these services, effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025. This adjustment ensures DC-based public safety retirees working in these fields receive the same tax benefit as Maryland-based retirees.
SB 382, the "Retire in Maryland Tax Relief Act," provides a state income tax credit for Maryland residents aged 77 or older with federal adjusted gross income under $175,000 (for individuals or certain filing statuses). The credit amount increases with age: 25% of state tax for 77-year-olds, rising to 100% for those 80 or older. Married couples filing jointly must both be 77+ to qualify for the tiered credit, and unused credit amounts cannot be carried forward to future years. The bill applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025, and takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 694 modifies Maryland's income tax calculation by excluding certain foreign earned income from the state tax addition. Specifically, it removes the requirement to include income exempt from federal tax under IRS Section 911 (for overseas workers) when calculating Maryland adjusted gross income. This change directly affects Maryland residents who work abroad and qualify for the federal foreign earned income exclusion. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.
HB 411 increases Maryland's standard income tax deduction amounts for 2026 and beyond. It raises the standard deduction to $4,100 for single filers (from $3,350), $8,200 for heads of household or surviving spouses (from $6,700), and $8,200 for married couples filing jointly (from $6,700). The bill also establishes an automatic annual cost-of-living adjustment starting in 2026, tying future increases to inflation as measured by the IRS formula. This directly affects Maryland residents who claim the standard deduction instead of itemizing deductions on their state tax returns.
HB 690, the "Economic Competitiveness Act of 2026," lowers Maryland's corporate income tax rate gradually over several years. It directly affects corporations doing business in Maryland that pay state corporate income tax. The bill reduces the rate from 8.25% (for tax years 2026-2027) to 7.75% (2027-2028), then to 7.25% (2028-2029), 6.75% (2029-2030), and finally to 6.25% starting in 2030. The changes take effect July 1, 2026, as specified in the bill's provisions.
SB 122 modifies how Maryland counties and Baltimore City reimburse the State Department of Assessments and Taxation for administrative costs. It requires these local jurisdictions to pay 90% of costs for real property valuation, business personal property valuation, and related IT services (instead of 50% for 2012-2013 as previously noted), with payments calculated based on property accounts or business property value. Reimbursements must be paid quarterly (50% by October 1, 25% each January 1 and April 1), and late payments may trigger withholding of local income tax distributions. The changes take effect June 1, 2026.
