EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0344*
SENATE BILL 344
Q1 5lr1186
SB 67/24 – B&T CF HB 341
By: Senators Brooks and Watson
Introduced and read first time: January 16, 2025
Assigned to: Budget and Taxation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Property Tax Credit – Retail Service Station Conversions 2
FOR the purpose of authorizing the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City or the 3
governing body of a county or municipal corporation to grant, by law, a credit against 4
the county or municipal corporation property tax imposed on real property if use of 5
the real property has been converted from a retail service station to other certain 6
uses; requiring the State to pay to each county or municipal corporation that grants 7
the property tax credit under this Act an amount equal to a certain percentage of 8
certain forgone revenue of the county or municipal corporation; and generally 9
relating to a property tax credit for retail service station conversions. 10
BY adding to 11
Article – Tax – Property 12
Section 9–275 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 15
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 16
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 17
Article – Tax – Property 18
9–275. 19
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 20
INDICATED. 21
(2) “DISCOUNT STORE ” MEANS A RETAIL STORE THAT OFFERS FOR 22
SALE: 23
2 SENATE BILL 344
(I) A COMBINATION AND VA RIETY OF CONVENIENCE AND 1
CONSUMER SHOPPING GO ODS; AND 2
(II) THE MAJORITY OF THE ITEM S IN THE INVENTORY A T A 3
PRICE NOT TO EXCEED $5. 4
(3) “RETAIL USE” DOES NOT INCLUDE USE AS A DISCOUNT STORE OR 5
A SELF–SERVICE STORAGE FACI LITY. 6
(B) IT IS THE INTENT OF T HE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT A PROPE RTY TAX 7
CREDIT AUTHORIZED UNDER THIS SECTION BE GRAN TED PRIMARILY TO DEF RAY 8
COSTS ASSOCIATED WIT H THE REMOVAL OF UND ERGROUND STORAGE TAN KS AND 9
THE REMEDIATION OF A NY CONTAMINATION ASS OCIATED WITH UNDERGR OUND 10
STORAGE TANKS . 11
(C) THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE CITY OR THE 12
GOVERNING BODY OF A COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORA TION MAY GRANT , BY LAW, 13
A PROPERTY TAX CREDI T UNDER THIS SECTION AGAINST THE COUNTY O R 14
MUNICIPAL CORPORATIO N PROPERTY TAX IMPOS ED ON REAL PROPERTY IF THE USE 15
OF THE REAL PROPERTY HAS BEEN CONVERTED F ROM A RETAIL SERV ICE STATION 16
TO ANOTHER RETAIL US E, A RESIDENTIAL USE , OR A MIXED RETAIL AN D 17
RESIDENTIAL USE . 18
(D) THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE CITY OR THE 19
GOVERNING BODY OF A COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION MAY PROV IDE, BY 20
LAW, FOR: 21
(1) THE AMOUNT AND DURATION OF THE TAX CREDIT UNDER THIS 22
SECTION; 23
(2) ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILI TY CRITERIA FOR THE TAX CREDIT; 24
(3) REGULATIONS AND PROC EDURES FOR THE APPLI CATION AND 25
UNIFORM PROCESSING O F REQUESTS FOR THE T AX CREDIT; AND 26
(4) ANY OTHER PROVISION NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE TAX 27
CREDIT UNDER THIS SE CTION. 28
(E) AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET , THE STATE SHALL PAY TO EA CH 29
COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION THAT GRA NTS THE TAX CREDIT U NDER THIS 30
SECTION AN AMOUNT EQ UAL TO 50% OF THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE THAT WOULD 31
HAVE BEEN COLLECTED I F THE TAX CREDIT UND ER THIS SECTION HAD NOT BEEN 32
GRANTED. 33 SENATE BILL 344 3
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 1
1, 2025, and shall be applicable to all taxable years beginning after June 30, 2025. 2