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 come with unintended local price tags. By increasing eligibility thresholds and benefit levels, the bill broadens access to relief — a goal counties share.
However, because many local supplemental tax credit programs are tied to elements of the State credit, these changes could automatically expand county fiscal obligations without local approval. Counties are seeking reasonable amendments to preserve local authority, prevent automatic cost shifts, and ensure that decisions affecting local budgets remain in local hands.
While these changes expand eligibility and increase the value of a
State-level property tax credit, MACo requests amendments to guard against unintended impacts on locally authorized supplemental credits and to ensure the bill does not automatically expand county fiscal obligations without local approval.
More on MACo’s Advocacy:
