EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW. [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law. *sb1119* SENATE BILL 1119 Q2 4lr3478 CF 4lr3400 By: Senator Sydnor Introduced and read first time: February 8, 2024 Assigned to: Rules A BILL ENTITLED AN ACT concerning 1 Baltimore County – Property Taxes – Authority to Set a Special Rate for Vacant 2 and Abandoned Property 3 FOR the purpose of authorizing the governing body of Baltimore County to set a special 4 property tax rate for certain vacant and abandoned property; and generally relating 5 to a special property tax rate for vacant and abandoned property. 6 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7 Article – Tax – Property 8 Section 6–302 9 Annotated Code of Maryland 10 (2019 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 11 SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12 That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13 Article – Tax – Property 14 6–302. 15 (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section and after complying with § 6–305 16 of this subtitle, in each year after the date of finality and before the following July 1, the 17 Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City or the governing body of each county annually 18 shall set the tax rate for the next taxable year on all assessments of property subject to that 19 county’s property tax. 20 (b) (1) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section[,] AND §§ 6–305 and 21 6–306 of this subtitle [and § 6–203 of this title]: 22 (i) there shall be a single county property tax rate for all real 23 2 SENATE BILL 1119 property subject to county property tax except for operating real property described in § 1 8–109(c) of this article; and 2 (ii) the county tax rate applicable to personal property and the 3 operating real property described in § 8–109(c) of this article shall be no more than 2.5 4 times the rate for real property. 5 (2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection does not affect a special rate prevailing 6 in a taxing district or part of a county. 7 [(c) (1) Intangible personal property is subject to county property tax as 8 otherwise provided in this title at a rate set annually, if: 9 (i) the intangible personal property has paid interest or dividends 10 during the 12 months that precede the date of finality; 11 (ii) interest or dividends were withheld on the intangible personal 12 property during the 12 months that precede the date of finality to avoid the tax under this 13 subsection; 14 (iii) the intangible personal property consists of newly issued bonds, 15 certificates of indebtedness, or evidences of debt on which interest is not in default; or 16 (iv) a stock dividend has been declared on the intangible personal 17 property during the 12 months that precede the date of finality. 18 (2) The county tax rate for the intangible personal property is 30 cents for 19 each $100 of assessment.] 20 (C) THE GOVERNING BODY OF BALTIMORE COUNTY MAY SET A SPECIAL 21 RATE FOR A VACANT LOT OR IMPROVED PROPERTY CI TED AS VACANT AND UN FIT 22 FOR HABITATION OR OT HER AUTHORIZED USE O N A HOUSING OR BUILD ING 23 VIOLATION NOTICE . 24 SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Ac t shall take effect June 25 1, 2024, and shall be applicable to all taxable years beginning after June 30, 2024. 26