EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0918*
HOUSE BILL 918
N2, D1 5lr2679
CF SB 628
By: Delegate Clippinger
Introduced and read first time: January 31, 2025
Assigned to: Judiciary
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Estates and Trusts – Registers of Wills – Salary 2
FOR the purpose of altering the maximum annual salary of a register of wills; repealing as 3
obsolete a certain minimum annual salary for the register of wills for Baltimore City; 4
and generally relating to the salary of a register of wills. 5
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
Article – Estates and Trusts 7
Section 2–205 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 10
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12
Article – Estates and Trusts 13
2–205. 14
(a) (1) It is the intent of this section that each register shall receive a fair and 15
adequate compensation for the effort and duties required of the register by the register’s 16
office. 17
(2) The volume and character of work done by the register shall be in 18
comparison to the salary fixed by the Board of Public Works for each of the other registers. 19
(b) (1) Each register is entitled to receive an annual salary of not more than 20
[$146,500, to be determined in each instance by the Board of Public Works] THE SALARY 21
OF A STATE EMPLOYEE AT GRA DE 26, STEP 20 OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND 22 2 HOUSE BILL 918
STANDARD AND BARGAINING SALARY SCALE IN EFFECT ON TH E DAY BEFORE THE 1
DAY THAT THE REGISTE R BEGINS A NEW TERM OF OFFICE. 2
(2) ANY CHANGE IN THE SAL ARY PAID UNDER THE STATE OF 3
MARYLAND STANDARD AND BARGAINING SALARY SCALE DURING THE TERM OF 4
OFFICE OF A REGISTER MAY NOT APPLY TO THE INCUMBENT REGISTER , BUT THE 5
CHANGED RATE SHALL TAK E EFFECT AT THE BEGI NNING OF THE NEXT FO LLOWING 6
TERM OF OFFICE . 7
(3) THE SALARY OF EACH RE GISTER SHALL BE DETE RMINED BY THE 8
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS. 9
[(2)] (4) In determining the annual salary of the register, the Board of 10
Public Works shall be guided in the exercise of its discretion by: 11
(i) The population of the county determined by the last official 12
United States census; 13
(ii) The dollar volume of total fees and taxes collected and excess fees 14
turned over to the State for each of the preceding 5 years by the office of the register for 15
which the salary is being fixed; and 16
(iii) Other pertinent data which have relation to the reasonableness 17
of the salary in relation to the work done and volume handled by the office. 18
(c) [The minimum annual salary for the register in Baltimore City is $12,000. 19
(d)] (1) The salaries of the registers shall be paid semimonthly from the fees 20
and receipts of the office, after deducting the expenses of the office. 21
(2) Expenses include salaries of deputies and clerks, books, stationery, 22
office supplies, and other necessary and customary expenses of doing business. 23
[(e)] (D) (1) (i) If the fees and receipts of the office are insufficient in any 24
fiscal year to pay all or a part of the expenses of the office and authorized salary of a 25
register, the deficiency shall be funded from the taxes remitted to the Comptroller by the 26
register during that fiscal year. 27
(ii) Written authority for the transfer of funds shall be first obtained 28
from the Comptroller. 29
(2) In the event that tax collections for the fiscal year are insufficient, the 30
Comptroller shall make up the deficit from excess fees remitted from all other registers. 31
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, in accordance with Article 32
III, § 35 of the Maryland Constitution, this Act may not be construed to extend or apply to 33 HOUSE BILL 918 3
the salary or compensation of the register of wills while serving in a term of office beginning 1
before the effective date of this Act, but the provisions of this Act concerning the salary or 2
compensation of the register of wills shall take effect at the beginning of the next following 3
term of office. This limitation does not apply to an individual appointed or elected after the 4
effective date of this Act to fill out an unexpired term. 5
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 6
October 1, 2025. 7