Wednesday, February 2, the Ways and Means' Local Revenues Subcommittee met to discuss two bills that MML's Legislative Committee voted to support with amendments.
House Bill 76, which seeks to incentivize and expand community solar projects, originally included a blanket exemption for the equipment from personal property tax. MML testified in support of community solar but with an amendment to turn the mandate into an optional tax credit local governments can use if their budget allows.
League staff asked for a similar amendment to House Bill 103, which originally mandated local governments provide a property tax credit to a disabled veteran or their surviving spouse equal to the percentage of the disabled veteran's service-connected disability. The fiscal note showed a $40 million impact to local budgets.
Both amendments were granted by the Local Revenues Subcommittee, and the respective bills will go to the full Ways and Means Committee next.
If you have any questions about either of these bills, please contact Justin Fiore at justinf@mdmunicipal.org.