| Old | New | Differences | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | ||
| 2 | 2 | ||
| 3 | 3 | EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW. | |
| 4 | 4 | [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law. | |
| 5 | - | Underlining indicates amendments to bill. | |
| 6 | - | Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by | |
| 7 | - | amendment. | |
| 8 | 5 | *hb1372* | |
| 9 | 6 | ||
| 10 | 7 | HOUSE BILL 1372 | |
| 11 | 8 | Q2 5lr2394 | |
| 12 | 9 | CF 5lr2396 | |
| 13 | 10 | By: Washington County Delegation | |
| 14 | 11 | Introduced and read first time: February 7, 2025 | |
| 15 | 12 | Assigned to: Ways and Means | |
| 16 | - | Committee Report: Favorable | |
| 17 | - | House action: Adopted | |
| 18 | - | Read second time: March 5, 2025 | |
| 19 | 13 | ||
| 20 | - | ||
| 14 | + | A BILL ENTITLED | |
| 21 | 15 | ||
| 22 | 16 | AN ACT concerning 1 | |
| 23 | 17 | ||
| 24 | 18 | Washington County – Notice of Tax Sale – Alterations 2 | |
| 25 | 19 | ||
| 26 | 20 | FOR the purpose of altering the requirements for providing notice of the tax sale of property 3 | |
| 27 | 21 | in Washington County; altering the number of notices that shall be sent to the owner 4 | |
| 28 | 22 | of property after property is sold at a tax sale; and generally relating to providing 5 | |
| 29 | 23 | notice of a tax sale of property in Washington County. 6 | |
| 30 | 24 | ||
| 31 | 25 | BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7 | |
| 32 | 26 | Article – Tax – Property 8 | |
| 33 | 27 | Section 14–813(a) and 14–817.1 9 | |
| 34 | 28 | Annotated Code of Maryland 10 | |
| 35 | 29 | (2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 11 | |
| 36 | 30 | ||
| 37 | 31 | SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12 | |
| 38 | 32 | That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13 | |
| 39 | 33 | ||
| 40 | 34 | Article – Tax – Property 14 | |
| 41 | 35 | ||
| 42 | 36 | 14–813. 15 | |
| 43 | 37 | ||
| 44 | 38 | (a) (1) At any time after 30 days from the mailing of the statement and notice, 16 | |
| 45 | 39 | the collector shall cause to be published, 4 times, once a week for 4 successive weeks in 1 17 | |
| 46 | 40 | or more newspapers that have a general circulation in the county in which the property is 18 | |
| 47 | 41 | located, a notice that the property will, on the date and at the place named in the notice, be 19 | |
| 48 | - | sold at public auction. 20 2 HOUSE BILL 1372 | |
| 42 | + | sold at public auction. 20 | |
| 43 | + | ||
| 44 | + | (2) In Dorchester County, Frederick County, Garrett County, Kent County, 21 | |
| 45 | + | and Queen Anne’s County, the notice shall be published 3 times, once a week for 3 22 | |
| 46 | + | successive weeks. 23 | |
| 47 | + | ||
| 48 | + | (3) (i) In Baltimore City, the notice shall be: 24 2 HOUSE BILL 1372 | |
| 49 | 49 | ||
| 50 | 50 | ||
| 51 | 51 | ||
| 52 | - | (2) In Dorchester County, Frederick County, Garrett County, Kent County, 1 | |
| 53 | - | and Queen Anne’s County, the notice shall be published 3 times, once a week for 3 2 | |
| 54 | - | successive weeks. 3 | |
| 52 | + | 1. published two times, once per week in alternate weeks; 1 | |
| 53 | + | and 2 | |
| 55 | 54 | ||
| 56 | - | | |
| 55 | + | 2. posted on the City’s website 4 weeks prior to the sale. 3 | |
| 57 | 56 | ||
| 58 | - | 1. published two times, once per week in alternate weeks; 5 | |
| 59 | - | and 6 | |
| 57 | + | (ii) The required newspaper notice shall include a statement that 4 | |
| 58 | + | notice shall be posted on the City’s website along with instructions on how the public can 5 | |
| 59 | + | access the website. 6 | |
| 60 | 60 | ||
| 61 | - | | |
| 61 | + | (4) (I) IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, THE NOTICE SHALL BE : 7 | |
| 62 | 62 | ||
| 63 | - | (ii) The required newspaper notice shall include a statement that 8 | |
| 64 | - | notice shall be posted on the City’s website along with instructions on how the public can 9 | |
| 65 | - | access the website. 10 | |
| 63 | + | 1. PUBLISHED TWO TIMES , ONCE PER WEEK IN 8 | |
| 64 | + | ALTERNATE WEEKS ; AND 9 | |
| 66 | 65 | ||
| 67 | - | (4) (I) IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, THE NOTICE SHALL BE : 11 | |
| 66 | + | 2. POSTED ON THE COUNTY’S WEBSITE 4 WEEKS PRIOR 10 | |
| 67 | + | TO THE SALE. 11 | |
| 68 | 68 | ||
| 69 | - | 1. PUBLISHED TWO TIMES , ONCE PER WEEK IN 12 | |
| 70 | - | ALTERNATE WEEKS ; AND 13 | |
| 69 | + | (II) 1. THE REQUIRED NEWSPAPE R NOTICE SHALL INCLU DE 12 | |
| 70 | + | A STATEMENT THAT NOT ICE SHALL BE POSTED ON THE COUNTY’S WEBSITE ALONG 13 | |
| 71 | + | WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW THE PUBLIC CAN A CCESS THE WEBSITE . 14 | |
| 71 | 72 | ||
| 72 | - | 2. | |
| 73 | - | ||
| 73 | + | 2. THE NOTICE ON THE COUNTY’S WEBSITE SHALL BE 15 | |
| 74 | + | UPDATED BY THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON EACH FRIDAY UNTIL THE SALE. 16 | |
| 74 | 75 | ||
| 75 | - | (II) 1. THE REQUIRED NEWSPAPE R NOTICE SHALL INCLU DE 16 | |
| 76 | - | A STATEMENT THAT NOT ICE SHALL BE POSTED ON THE COUNTY’S WEBSITE ALONG 17 | |
| 77 | - | WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW THE PUBLIC CAN A CCESS THE WEBSITE . 18 | |
| 76 | + | 14–817.1. 17 | |
| 78 | 77 | ||
| 79 | - | 2. THE NOTICE ON THE COUNTY’S WEBSITE SHALL BE 19 | |
| 80 | - | UPDATED BY THE CLOSE OF BUSINE SS ON EACH FRIDAY UNTIL THE SALE. 20 | |
| 78 | + | (a) Within 60 days after a property is sold at a tax sale, the collector shall send to 18 | |
| 79 | + | the person who last appears as owner of the property on the collector’s tax roll, at the last 19 | |
| 80 | + | address shown on the tax roll, a notice that includes: 20 | |
| 81 | 81 | ||
| 82 | - | ||
| 82 | + | (1) a statement that the property has been sold to satisfy unpaid taxes; 21 | |
| 83 | 83 | ||
| 84 | - | (a) Within 60 days after a property is sold at a tax sale, the collector shall send to 22 | |
| 85 | - | the person who last appears as owner of the property on the collector’s tax roll, at the last 23 | |
| 86 | - | address shown on the tax roll, a notice that includes: 24 | |
| 84 | + | (2) the date of the tax sale; 22 | |
| 87 | 85 | ||
| 88 | - | ( | |
| 86 | + | (3) the amount of the highest bid; 23 | |
| 89 | 87 | ||
| 90 | - | ( | |
| 88 | + | (4) the lien amount on the property at the time of sale; 24 | |
| 91 | 89 | ||
| 92 | - | (3) the amount of the highest bid; 27 | |
| 90 | + | (5) a statement that the owner has the right to redeem the property until 25 | |
| 91 | + | a court forecloses that right; 26 | |
| 93 | 92 | ||
| 94 | - | ( | |
| 95 | - | ||
| 93 | + | (6) a statement that the purchaser of the property may institute an action 27 | |
| 94 | + | to foreclose the property: 28 | |
| 96 | 95 | ||
| 97 | - | ||
| 98 | - | (5) a statement that the owner has the right to redeem the property until 1 | |
| 99 | - | a court forecloses that right; 2 | |
| 100 | - | ||
| 101 | - | (6) a statement that the purchaser of the property may institute an action 3 | |
| 102 | - | to foreclose the property: 4 | |
| 103 | - | ||
| 104 | - | (i) as early as 6 months from the date of the sale; or 5 | |
| 105 | - | ||
| 106 | - | (ii) if a government agency certifies that the property requires, or 6 | |
| 107 | - | shall require, substantial repair to comply with applicable building codes, as early as 60 7 | |
| 108 | - | days from the date of the sale; 8 | |
| 109 | - | ||
| 110 | - | (7) a statement that if the property is redeemed before an action to 9 | |
| 111 | - | foreclose the right of redemption is filed, the amount that shall be paid to redeem the 10 | |
| 112 | - | property is: 11 | |
| 113 | - | ||
| 114 | - | (i) the total lien amount on the property at the time of sale, with 12 | |
| 115 | - | interest; 13 | |
| 116 | - | ||
| 117 | - | (ii) any taxes, interest, and penalties paid by the holder of the 14 | |
| 118 | - | certificate of sale; and 15 | |
| 119 | - | ||
| 120 | - | (iii) any taxes, interest, and penalties accruing after the date of the 16 | |
| 121 | - | tax sale; 17 | |
| 122 | - | ||
| 123 | - | (8) a statement that, if the property is redeemed more than 4 months after 18 | |
| 124 | - | the date of the tax sale, and before an action to foreclose the right of redemption is filed, 19 | |
| 125 | - | the holder of the certificate of sale may be reimbursed for: 20 | |
| 126 | - | ||
| 127 | - | (i) attorney’s fees for recording the certificate of sale; 21 | |
| 128 | - | ||
| 129 | - | (ii) a title search fee, not to exceed $250; and 22 | |
| 130 | - | ||
| 131 | - | (iii) reasonable attorney’s fees, not to exceed $500; 23 | |
| 132 | - | ||
| 133 | - | (9) a statement that, if the property is redeemed after an action to foreclose 24 | |
| 134 | - | the right of redemption has been filed, the amount that shall be paid to redeem the property 25 | |
| 135 | - | is the sum of: 26 | |
| 136 | - | ||
| 137 | - | (i) the total lien amount on the property at the time of sale, with 27 | |
| 138 | - | interest; 28 | |
| 139 | - | ||
| 140 | - | (ii) any taxes, interest, and penalties paid by the holder of the 29 | |
| 141 | - | certificate of sale; 30 | |
| 142 | - | ||
| 143 | - | (iii) any taxes, interest, and penalties accruing after the date of the 31 | |
| 144 | - | tax sale; and 32 4 HOUSE BILL 1372 | |
| 96 | + | (i) as early as 6 months from the date of the sale; or 29 HOUSE BILL 1372 3 | |
| 145 | 97 | ||
| 146 | 98 | ||
| 147 | 99 | ||
| 148 | - | (iv) attorney’s fees and expenses to which the holder of the certificate 1 | |
| 149 | - | of sale may be entitled under § 14–843(a)(4) and (5) of this subtitle; and 2 | |
| 100 | + | (ii) if a government agency certifies that the property requires, or 1 | |
| 101 | + | shall require, substantial repair to comply with applicable building codes, as early as 60 2 | |
| 102 | + | days from the date of the sale; 3 | |
| 150 | 103 | ||
| 151 | - | (10) the provisions of § 14–843(a) of this subtitle, reproduced as they appear 3 | |
| 152 | - | in the Code. 4 | |
| 104 | + | (7) a statement that if the property is redeemed before an action to 4 | |
| 105 | + | foreclose the right of redemption is filed, the amount that shall be paid to redeem the 5 | |
| 106 | + | property is: 6 | |
| 153 | 107 | ||
| 154 | - | ( | |
| 155 | - | ||
| 108 | + | (i) the total lien amount on the property at the time of sale, with 7 | |
| 109 | + | interest; 8 | |
| 156 | 110 | ||
| 157 | - | (2) IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, ONE ADDITIONAL COPY OF T HE NOTICE 7 | |
| 158 | - | REQUIRED UNDER SUBSE CTION (A) OF THIS SECTION SHAL L BE SENT WITHIN 15 8 | |
| 159 | - | DAYS OF THE NOTICE R EQUIRED UNDER SUBSEC TION (A) OF THIS SECTION. 9 | |
| 111 | + | (ii) any taxes, interest, and penalties paid by the holder of the 9 | |
| 112 | + | certificate of sale; and 10 | |
| 160 | 113 | ||
| 161 | - | ( | |
| 162 | - | ||
| 114 | + | (iii) any taxes, interest, and penalties accruing after the date of the 11 | |
| 115 | + | tax sale; 12 | |
| 163 | 116 | ||
| 164 | - | SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 12 | |
| 165 | - | October 1, 2025. 13 | |
| 117 | + | (8) a statement that, if the property is redeemed more than 4 months after 13 | |
| 118 | + | the date of the tax sale, and before an action to foreclose the right of redemption is filed, 14 | |
| 119 | + | the holder of the certificate of sale may be reimbursed for: 15 | |
| 120 | + | ||
| 121 | + | (i) attorney’s fees for recording the certificate of sale; 16 | |
| 122 | + | ||
| 123 | + | (ii) a title search fee, not to exceed $250; and 17 | |
| 124 | + | ||
| 125 | + | (iii) reasonable attorney’s fees, not to exceed $500; 18 | |
| 126 | + | ||
| 127 | + | (9) a statement that, if the property is redeemed after an action to foreclose 19 | |
| 128 | + | the right of redemption has been filed, the amount that shall be paid to redeem the property 20 | |
| 129 | + | is the sum of: 21 | |
| 130 | + | ||
| 131 | + | (i) the total lien amount on the property at the time of sale, with 22 | |
| 132 | + | interest; 23 | |
| 133 | + | ||
| 134 | + | (ii) any taxes, interest, and penalties paid by the holder of the 24 | |
| 135 | + | certificate of sale; 25 | |
| 136 | + | ||
| 137 | + | (iii) any taxes, interest, and penalties accruing after the date of the 26 | |
| 138 | + | tax sale; and 27 | |
| 139 | + | ||
| 140 | + | (iv) attorney’s fees and expenses to which the holder of the certificate 28 | |
| 141 | + | of sale may be entitled under § 14–843(a)(4) and (5) of this subtitle; and 29 | |
| 142 | + | ||
| 143 | + | (10) the provisions of § 14–843(a) of this subtitle, reproduced as they appear 30 | |
| 144 | + | in the Code. 31 | |
| 145 | + | 4 HOUSE BILL 1372 | |
| 166 | 146 | ||
| 167 | 147 | ||
| 148 | + | (b) (1) The notice required under subsection (a) of this section shall be sent by 1 | |
| 149 | + | first–class mail. 2 | |
| 168 | 150 | ||
| 169 | - | Approved: | |
| 170 | - | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 171 | - | Governor. | |
| 172 | - | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 173 | - | Speaker of the House of Delegates. | |
| 174 | - | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 175 | - | President of the Senate. | |
| 151 | + | (2) IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, ONE ADDITIONAL COPY OF T HE NOTICE 3 | |
| 152 | + | REQUIRED UNDER SUBSE CTION (A) OF THIS SECTION SHAL L BE SENT WITHIN 15 4 | |
| 153 | + | DAYS OF THE NOTICE RE QUIRED UNDER SUBSECT ION (A) OF THIS SECTION. 5 | |
| 154 | + | ||
| 155 | + | (c) The mailing required under this section shall include a separate insert that 6 | |
| 156 | + | includes all of the information required under § 14–812(b) of this subtitle. 7 | |
| 157 | + | ||
| 158 | + | SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 8 | |
| 159 | + | October 1, 2025. 9 |