SB 500 expands Washington County's property tax credit program for disabled veterans to include members of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Public Health Service (PHS) who meet the existing eligibility criteria. The bill amends the county code to define "disabled veteran" to cover these federal service members, who must still have an honorable discharge, a service-connected disability certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and own their primary residence. The credit amount remains tied to the veteran's disability rating percentage, applied against county property taxes. This change directly affects qualifying NOAA and PHS members in Washington County who previously did not qualify under the county's existing definition.
HB 1594, the Veterans' Discounts Act, requires Maryland government agencies to waive certain statutory fees for veterans. It applies to fees related to agricultural licenses, business permits, environmental regulations, natural resources access, and public safety services across multiple departments. Agencies must adopt specific regulations before implementing these fee waivers. The bill formalizes existing practices by creating a clear process for veterans to access reduced fees on government services, without expanding eligibility or creating new benefits.
HB 1611 repeals a fixed $100,000 federal adjusted gross income limit for disabled veterans seeking a property tax credit on their primary residence. Instead, it allows counties and municipalities to set their own income eligibility criteria for the credit, based on a veteran's federal adjusted gross income. The bill directly affects disabled veterans (with service-connected disabilities of 50%+) and their surviving spouses who own their homes. Key provisions shift authority from the state to local governments to determine income thresholds, while maintaining existing credit rates (25% or 50% of property tax) based on disability rating. The change takes effect June 1, 2026, for tax years beginning after that date.
HB 977 requires non-V.A. accredited claim servicers who charge fees for veterans benefits assistance to provide written fee agreements with specific disclosures. It mandates that these agreements include a notice stating free veterans benefits services are available through V.A. accredited organizations and that veterans must acknowledge this notice in writing. The bill also requires all advertisements for veterans benefits appeals services to include the same notice about free V.A. accredited options. Violations carry civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation, enforced by the Attorney General. This bill directly affects veterans seeking benefits and non-accredited claim servicers charging fees, aiming to increase transparency about available free assistance.
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.
HB 1482 requires Maryland counties and municipalities to automatically grant a property tax credit to disabled veterans and surviving spouses who own their homes, replacing the previous "may grant" option. It increases the credit to 80% of property taxes for veterans with 70%+ service-connected disability (up from 50%), 40% for 50-69% disability (up from 25%), and 20% for 20-49% disability. To qualify, applicants must have a VA-certified disability rating, own a primary residence, and have federal adjusted gross income under $100,000. Surviving spouses may also continue receiving the credit under local laws. The bill mandates these changes starting June 1, 2026, for all taxable years after that date.
HB 844 exempts unemployable disabled veterans with service-connected disabilities from Maryland's vehicle registration fees for one personally used vehicle. The bill amends Maryland's vehicle registration code to add a new exemption category (Section 13-903(a)(11)) specifically for veterans deemed unemployable due to a service-connected disability. This change directly affects qualifying veterans who own or lease a vehicle for personal use, removing a recurring cost. The exemption takes effect October 1, 2026, and does not apply to additional vehicles. The bill replaces the previous exemption for veterans with specific physical disabilities under Section 13-903(a)(8).
HB 364 clarifies that "interment location" includes burial plots, mausoleums, and columbarium niches in Maryland's state veterans' cemeteries. It requires the Department of Veterans and Military Families to provide an outer burial receptacle (like a marker or niche) at no cost with every interment, replacing the previous requirement for a grave liner. This directly affects veterans and their eligible dependents (spouses, children under 21, or disabled adult children) who are buried in state veterans' cemeteries. The bill amends existing Maryland law to ensure this free marker provision is standard practice for all eligible interments.
SB 96 updates terminology in Maryland's Sheila E. Hixson Behavioral Health Services Matching Grant Program by removing the word "active" before "service member" throughout the law. This change clarifies that the program serves all service members (including those not currently on active duty), veterans, and their families, without altering eligibility criteria or funding. The bill specifically revises definitions in Section 7.5-210(a)(2)(i), (b)(2), and (e)(1)(ii) to replace "active service member" with "service member." It does not create new benefits or change who qualifies for grants, only how the program describes its target population. The change aims to align the law with the program's actual scope and improve clarity.
HB 644 amends Maryland's property tax law to simplify the application process for surviving spouses of disabled veterans seeking a property tax exemption on their primary residence. The bill updates the required documentation, allowing surviving spouses to submit either a VA disability certification or a VA rating decision (including the effective date) instead of previous, more complex forms. This change directly affects unmarried surviving spouses of veterans who were honorably discharged with a 100% service-connected disability, ensuring they can more easily qualify for the exemption on their current home or a newly acquired home meeting specific conditions. The exemption remains tied to the property's use as a primary residence and the veteran's qualifying disability status.
