EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDE D TO EXISTING LAW .
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0138*
SENATE BILL 138
Q2 4lr0818
(PRE–FILED) CF HB 2
By: Senator Hayes
Requested: October 3, 2023
Introduced and read first time: January 10, 2024
Assigned to: Budget and Taxation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Baltimore City – Property Taxes – Authority to Set a Special Rate for Vacant 2
and Abandoned Property 3
FOR the purpose of authorizing the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City to set a 4
special property tax rate for certain vacant and abandoned property; and generally 5
relating 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
2 SENATE BILL 138
(i) there shall be a single county property tax rate for all real 1
property subject to county property tax except for operating real property described in § 2
8–109(c) of this article; and 3
(ii) the county tax rate applicable to personal property and the 4
operating real property described in § 8–109(c) of this article shall be no more than 2.5 5
times the rate for real property. 6
(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection does not affect a special rate prevailing 7
in a taxing district or part of a county. 8
[(c) (1) Intangible personal property is subject to county property tax as 9
otherwise provided in this title at a rate set annually, if: 10
(i) the intangible personal property has paid interest or dividends 11
during the 12 months that precede the date of finality; 12
(ii) interest or dividends were withheld on the intangible personal 13
property during the 12 months that precede the date of finality to avoid the tax under this 14
subsection; 15
(iii) the intangible personal property consists of newly issued bonds, 16
certificates of indebtedness, or evidences of debt on which interest is not in default; or 17
(iv) a stock dividend has been declared on the intangible personal 18
property during the 12 months that precede the date of finality. 19
(2) The county tax rate for the intangible personal property is 30 cents for 20
each $100 of assessment.] 21
(C) THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE CITY MAY SET A 22
SPECIAL RATE FOR A VACANT LOT OR IMPROVED PROPERTY CI TED AS VACANT AND 23
UNFIT FOR HABITATION OR OTHER AUTHORIZED USE ON A HOUSING OR BUILDING 24
VIOLATION NOTICE . 25
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 26
1, 2024, and shall be applicable to all taxable years beginning after June 30, 2024. 27