On February 8, 2024, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the House Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 470- County Income Tax- Rate and Income Brackets- Alterations. This bill gives counties the necessary tools and flexibility to levy the local income tax with greater equity and fairness. HB 470 properly allows counties to tailor local revenue structures to serve and react to community needs. In 2021, the General Assembly approved legislation authorizing counties to…

On February 6. 2024, MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the House Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 243- Property Tax- Tax Sales- Revisions with amendments. The bill requires local governments to withhold specified properties from tax sales, alters redemption rates for properties sold at tax sale, and adds new record-keeping requirements. This bill generally makes wholesale changes to Maryland’s tax sale process. MACo seeks amendments to address administrative hurdles and awkward…

On February 1, 2024, MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the House Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 66- Property Tax Credits- Public School Employees, Health and Safety Improvements, and Property Used for Local Housing Programs. This bill authorizes local governments to establish property tax credits for employees of local school systems, apartment and condominium buildings that establish specific safety regulations, and local housing programs that serve homeless individuals or families. MACo…

On February 1, 2024, MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the House Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 16- Tax Sales- Homeowner Protection Program- Funding with amendments to further bolster the program. This bill increases awareness of and establishes a new Homeowner Protection Program (HPP) funding source. The Program is one of the most effective tools to help homeowners facing tax sale, offering potential cost avoidance and providing help like payment assistance, foreclosure…

On January 31, 2024, MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee in support of SB 369- Property Tax Exemption- Rental Income- Reporting Requirement. This bill requires property owners with property tax exemptions to report any rental income attributable to the property. This bill would promote taxpayer equity by ensuring that tax-exempt treatment of specified real property is based on its actual use rather than its nominal ownership. From MACo…

On January 31, 2024, MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally submitted written testimony to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee in opposition to SB 422- Income Tax- Subtraction Modification- Foreign Service Retirement Income. This bill authorizes a subtraction modification for an individual's specified foreign service retirement income. Counties are eager and committed partners in promoting economic growth and creating opportunity – and prefer local autonomy in determining the best way locally. The Maryland Association of Counties…