On February 28, 2023, MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the House Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 896 - Property Tax Appeals - Commercial and Industrial Property - Fees. This bill applies reasonable fees for commercial and industrial property tax appeals under specified circumstances. This bill makes meaningful progress toward eliminating a means of tax evasion that benefits commercial and industrial property owners at the expense of other property owners and…

On February 28, 2023, MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the House Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 898 - Property Tax - Renters' Property Tax Relief and Homeowners' Property Tax Credit Programs - Eligibility and Credit Amount. This bill expands eligibility for specified property tax relief programs by increasing income thresholds used to determine eligibility for the property tax credits. The bill also requires the Maryland State Department of Assessments and…

On February 28, 2023, MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the House Ways and Means Committee to support HB 1095 - Property Tax - Supervisors of Assessments - Alterations with amendments. This bill authorizes the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) to appoint a supervisor of assessments to oversee multiple counties. As current law requires a supervisor for each county, MACo urges amendments to require each affected county's governing body to sign off…

On February 14, 2023, MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the House Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 0404 - Property Tax - Statewide Optional Credit for Homeowners Who Have Suffered a Hardship with amendments. The bill authorizes local governments to grant optional property tax credits to residents who have suffered a hardship under specified circumstances. An amendment could help in program administration. MACo generally supports legislation that provides broad authority to enact…