On March 3, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 1427 - Property Tax Credits - Renters' Tax Credit, Homeowners' Tax Credit, and Homestead Tax Credit - Altering Eligibility and Amount with amendments. This bill increases eligibility thresholds and benefit amounts under the Renters’ Tax Credit and the State Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit. It establishes a new income-based limitation for the Homestead Tax Credit. By increasing eligibility…

On March 3, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 1308 - Homeowners' Property Tax Credit - Eligibility and Calculation - Alterations with amendments.  This bill increases the assessed-value cap, income brackets, and net-worth and gross-income limits under the State Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit. Counties support expanding property tax relief for Maryland homeowners facing rising costs, but changes to the State Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit must not…

On March 3, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 1302 - Property Tax Credit - Disabled Public Safety and Judicial Officers, Surviving Spouses, and Cohabitants - Eligibility with amendments.  This bill alters eligibility for a local-option property tax credit for disabled public safety officers and judicial officers, and surviving spouses or cohabitants of fallen officers, by repealing the current Maryland domicile requirement. While the bill broadens…

On March 3, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 1224 - Property Taxes - Special Rate for Vacant and Abandoned Property - Charter County Tax Limitation PG 408-26.  This bill provides charter counties with limited, targeted authority to address vacant and abandoned properties that undermine neighborhoods, reduce property values, and strain local services. Vacant buildings often lead to repeated code enforcement activity, public safety concerns, and…

On February 26, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally submitted written testimony to the Ways and Means Committee in opposition to HB 1035 -Income Tax - Subtraction Modification - Overtime Compensation.  This bill allows Maryland residents to subtract certain overtime pay from their state income tax, effectively lowering the amount of tax they owe on those extra earnings. MACo steadfastly resists state-mandated reductions in local revenue that undermine fiscal autonomy. In today's fiscal climate of economic uncertainty…

On February 26, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally submitted written testimony to the Ways and Means Committee in opposition to HB 903 - Income Tax - Subtraction Modification - Donations to Food Banks and Other Charitable Entities.  This bill allows Maryland taxpayers to reduce their taxable income by up to $1,000 for donations of food or money made to food banks and other charities. While counties support the goal of encouraging charitable giving and strengthening food…

On February 24, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 1142 - Task Force To Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Structures. This bill establishes a Task Force to Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Structures to review and recommend updates to Maryland’s local revenue framework. With limited flexibility to diversify revenue sources, local governments face growing strain on homeowners and fewer tools to align revenues with modern economic…

On February 24, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the Ways and Means Committee in opposition to HB 1096 - Property Tax Credits - Notice Through Property Tax Bill.  This bill requires counties and Baltimore City to include written notice with every property tax bill identifying all state and local property tax credits for which a taxpayer “may be eligible.” Counties share the goal of improving awareness of available relief programs, but this bill creates…

On February 24, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 1088 - Property Tax - Petition to Review Value of Commercial Real Property.  This bill authorizes a county or municipality to file a petition for review of the assessed value of specified commercial real property when that property sells for at least 20% more than its prior sales price. This proposal establishes a narrow, objective standard that…

On February 24, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 842 - Property Tax Exemption - Property Acquired by Surviving Spouse of Service Member - Repeal of Time Limitation with amendments.  Counties support efforts to provide meaningful property tax relief to eligible surviving spouses, but urge lawmakers to do so in a way that respects local fiscal realities. While the proposed legislation would eliminate the current two-year…