[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6680374,"mediaKeyId","2364545-c0e605dec0d95438604a2da0266a2b90","parentId",2364545,"title","Panel urges creation of Baltimore Convention and Tourism Redevelopment Authority to modernize center, expand bookings and capture local benefits","audioSeconds",154,"startMs",5125000,"endMs",5279000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2364545-c0e605dec0d95438604a2da0266a2b90&start=5125&end=5279","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2364545-c0e605dec0d95438604a2da0266a2b90/thumbnail_5125000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6680374/Maryland/Panel-urges-creation-of-Baltimore-Convention-and-Tourism-Redevelopment-Authority-to-modernize-center-expand-bookings-and-capture-local-benefits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6680374-dc3ddd826beb04ed6b01023502eb5f5d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142126&Signature=ROqxQxLTO4zJa6zBD7VDX9CoogDTpBAc-mH~uio5GAM0TSQTEFCMOC3l37VuD4M7x83zTi2sOuQW5Mf6i13~ZZPMn9gFDDiEcvmKpJBvNdWk7YndC7UVxb7GdbbY8dhyxWNWpc0dUynMaqU-Vwdjr86r013YkzY6AgqAJEUKbCymah5eWovhh-yNtDDz5RTrEhR~gu1AT62DX-YikjxaZGIUvP9BOKkCzJTYrxhrJWO2sg3dtYFPZj56q52Cp~5VyoEcs4Qv1t2hjJEjzZUAJ12uNlJsBvso89cHWVI20IXIE4xGTCUls84i~S8FeRaicrxX6vKjXJXhcidRiXxPQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Maryland General Assembly - Ways and Means","date","2025-02-20T23:16:16.437Z","article","Baltimore City officials, the Baltimore Convention Center director and tourism leaders testified in favor of House Bill 1016, a proposal to establish a Baltimore Convention Center and Tourism Redevelopment and Operating Authority.

Justin Williams, deputy mayor for community and economic development, said the city is not seeking privatization but wants a governance model that will align incentives and allow more streamlined decision‑making for capital improvements and marketing. He and other witnesses noted a substantial amount of planned private investment near downtown and noted competition from newer convention facilities in other cities. They argued the current city‑owned/operated model has limited flexibility to capture and reinvest the economic benefits of conventions and events in ways that modern governance could better enable.

Matt Campbell, the Baltimore Convention Center executive director, provided economic context: the center historically delivered significant state and city tax revenue and supported thousands of jobs, but rising operating costs, deferred capital maintenance and increasing competition have eroded the center’s competitiveness since the pandemic. Campbell said the center’s annual capital budget is tiny compared with peer facilities and that a new authority would provide a governance structure better able to raise and allocate capital for modernization.

Visit Baltimore (the destination marketing organization) and hospitality leaders described how conventions generate hotel nights, restaurant and retail spending, and regional benefits. The Mid‑Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS), a long‑standing Baltimore event, said its exhibitors and attendees have seen infrastructure failures and that newer venues elsewhere were drawing growing interest. Local hotels and convention stakeholders urged the committee to create the authority and noted the city and industry are discussing amendments on labor representation and board seats for the Orioles and Ravens.

Committee members asked whether the proposal would shift costs to the state and whether it meant privatization; witnesses said the authority model would preserve workers and city oversight while creating more nimble financing and planning. Several delegates asked for clarification about state vs. city funding and whether the fiscal note accurately captured start‑up costs. Williams said the partners were still negotiating some technical language and noted the city’s interest in ensuring the authority benefits both Baltimore and the state.

Why it matters: The hearing offered a clear view that the center remains an important regional economic engine but has aging infrastructure and is losing business to newer facilities. The authority model is presented as a governance and financing reform, not a privatization; key details (funding, governance, labor protections) remain under negotiation.

Next steps: Sponsors and city officials said they will work on technical amendments requested by labor and by sports franchise stakeholders; the committee will consider the fiscal impact and proposed board composition in later drafting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","W&M Committee Session, 2/20/2025 #1","oneSentenceSummary","Baltimore officials and industry leaders told the Ways and Means Committee HB1016 would create a convention and tourism redevelopment authority to modernize the Baltimore Convention Center and better align financing and management with regional economic development goals.","taxTitle","Ways and Means Committee, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Maryland","taxId",15064,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6680378,"Lawmakers consider extension of Maryland Innovation Initiative to Bowie State and Frostburg State to boost regional entrepreneurship",83,3383000,3466000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2364545-c0e605dec0d95438604a2da0266a2b90&start=3383&end=3466","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2364545-c0e605dec0d95438604a2da0266a2b90/thumbnail_3383000.jpg","/articles/6680378/Maryland/Lawmakers-consider-extension-of-Maryland-Innovation-Initiative-to-Bowie-State-and-Frostburg-State-to-boost-regional-entrepreneurship","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6680378-3c651ccb1253cf8febe70517823dc78c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170387&Signature=dhv2p2CgIR~ceCYN30f4cmbrWmxzrfdlPbETmg197L6U1QmZoQ6eoGkwUfpvQGYe343qKjd6WrlU5mujLwyU9lobk7m5TCYPLYX-kt857uCh4IBcvyAUe2iDl3JZQj~oOYMRWplOV6buXsgwYjTdvkIemUdKtjN4164GAsW3AJeoWYpX8l92S2uDn32R1rQaTqOCIHDOjHwGQ0l-FA99vhOLINjXkUUmlrB20ZABevYsB~4PrrLoNAGyidl4XvMj2QkFIvmtYUK-LBjRfivakl32xoqaDrRHJYF~cMz3zZ8ggtESLBlMctOwg3pzAHu~UzB4jNAMscirUMSRQjKRVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ways and Means Committee heard extended testimony on House Bill 799, a bill to continue and extend the Maryland Innovation Initiative (MII) pilot at Bowie State University and Frostburg State University.

Sponsors and university leaders described the MII pilot as a targeted investment in research commercialization and entrepreneurship outside of Maryland’s highest‑tier research institutions. Frostburg State officials described MII support for the Bobcat Innovation Launchpad, intellectual property validation and a plan to develop a regional Cybersecurity Operations Center (RSOC) for Western Maryland. Bowie State witnesses stressed the importance of supporting historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and building technology transfer and commercialization capacity.

Students and faculty who testified said MII‑funded programs supported technology validation, the creation of datasets required for further product development and helped students build startup ideas into ventures. Representatives from TEDCO and other innovation partners noted that the state already funds similar initiatives for flagship research universities; HB799 would continue and modestly extend a program that places additional resources in institutions that serve under‑resourced regions.

Delegates asked about program size and fiscal tradeoffs. TEDCO representatives said the existing MII pot was roughly $5 million for the larger research institutions and that additional Baltimore Innovation Initiative funding was roughly $1 million; sponsor and advocates asked the committee to consider that extending $500,000 to $1,000,000 for these pilots is modest given overall state investments in research innovation.

Why it matters: Supporters said MII grows entrepreneurial capacity and workforce development in regions that have not historically attracted venture capital or university spinouts. Opponents did not dominate the hearing record; committee members sought clarification on program scope, potential duplication with other state programs and how a scaled‑up MII might be designed.

Next steps: Sponsors asked for a favorable report; committee staff will consider budgetary implications and any technical amendments.","Bowie State and Frostburg State representatives told the committee HB799 would continue the Maryland Innovation Initiative pilot at two regional institutions, describing entrepreneurship programs, tech validation work and plans for a regional cybersecurity operations center.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6680386,"Delegate Hartman urges phased cut in Maryland corporate income tax to boost competitiveness; opponents question timing amid budget shortfall",257,2039000,2296000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2364545-c0e605dec0d95438604a2da0266a2b90&start=2039&end=2296","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2364545-c0e605dec0d95438604a2da0266a2b90/thumbnail_2039000.jpg","/articles/6680386/Maryland/Delegate-Hartman-urges-phased-cut-in-Maryland-corporate-income-tax-to-boost-competitiveness-opponents-question-timing-amid-budget-shortfall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6680386-3e55885541790b2cc233ee238feeecb4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170387&Signature=OOdi5HDTFI8oZBRO7I~oHEabuQMisU-7WNQu3oaBiEi0bZ-oabMWSGiizxyVC687M0fmTFIeoBaj1bXHaibmiiEBbMthq0JIX-PHP92cnVT8G4VuyTT1BmXqPWJsYBIv8pgcxrD41gWYmESRV3rVkb8e9mdSlaqGcm~XjSA7X3Mg9UV0m8Wl0SvdApIW2kHuDMyfFWzk4H5no~bHli4QkLubGcEZ1T0IbCSRPfj34rCMjl-IVoZVT~mwODD1qvQfiS9LqF0KtDwIt7FI4zV5RLQG2VsfPyqtDEfok0XENpoBywpZ13kt8vq1yTVH3JXHQMiRDPlzmDHtEWlOvvVUSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Delegate Wayne Hartman presented House Bill 1101, titled the Economic Competitiveness Act of 2025, to the Ways and Means Committee on Feb. 20. Hartman described the bill as a multi‑year reduction in Maryland’s corporate tax rate, reducing it from 8.25 percent over five taxable years down toward 6.25 percent (a phased approach outlined by the sponsor).

Hartman framed his proposal as a response to Maryland’s unfavorable business rankings and to competitive pressure from neighboring states such as Virginia and Pennsylvania. He cited several business‑climate rankings (American Legislative Exchange Council, Tax Foundation) and past commissions recommending a lower corporate tax rate. Hartman told the committee that reducing the corporate rate would make the state more attractive to new employers, stimulate investment, support job growth and “send a message” to the private sector that Maryland is trying to be business friendly.

Members probed the timing and magnitude of the proposal. Delegate Buckle asked how the state’s higher corporate tax rate squares with neighboring states that have large surpluses; Hartman said Maryland’s economic performance has lagged and that tax cuts are one element of a broader competitiveness strategy. Members observed that tax changes take years to influence private sector investment and asked about the governor’s alternative proposals. Hartman acknowledged the governor has proposed a smaller, later cut but said his bill was intended to move state policy sooner and more decisively.

Committee discussion emphasized tradeoffs between near‑term fiscal needs and long‑run competitiveness. Several delegates asked about the fiscal note and whether predicted revenue reductions might be offset by future growth. Hartman defended the proposal on grounds that a lower corporate rate would expand the business tax base long‑term and help attract private investment in a period when federal job losses were a risk.

No formal vote on HB1101 was recorded in the hearing transcript. Hartman asked the committee for a favorable report.

Why it matters: The bill would reduce Maryland’s corporate tax rate in a multi‑year trajectory and is part of a larger debate about whether tax cuts or other policies do more to attract business. The hearing highlighted the tension between near‑term budget constraints and long‑term economic competitiveness strategies.

Speakers quoted in this writeup were limited to committee members and the bill sponsor as recorded in the transcript.","Delegate Wayne Hartman pressed for a multi‑year corporate income tax reduction under HB1101, arguing a lower rate would make Maryland more competitive with neighboring states and attract jobs.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6680387,"Delegate Fisher pitches 'No Income Taxes on Tips' bill, sparking debate on equity and administrative questions",1014,304000,1318000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2364545-c0e605dec0d95438604a2da0266a2b90&start=304&end=1318","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2364545-c0e605dec0d95438604a2da0266a2b90/thumbnail_304000.jpg","/articles/6680387/Maryland/Delegate-Fisher-pitches-No-Income-Taxes-on-Tips-bill-sparking-debate-on-equity-and-administrative-questions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6680387-54a15d6a652eb6df69c4b7b2ea66dc6e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170387&Signature=ebUd8rXYy-pZ7g0YMFaoZftO8lm78~yWQgS0zyhG~4F9uYMI30PFfIyx5OI~OcXFvDuWJahNEpU3guq0AHUf7mgk9ERPZ1FyX8V~R5SgRHuCkfJJEsiHv0dxvaNW8R0enkt6MXsya~24hj8ta8oXgq6HL9mtTiji-YF1S5ysm0OykdwMoUHFBh2qsEySp387ZBZskuIjoTkFxCuQJQairRoHzSAvMem9iyPKJ7HhjD1xSM7eOq208Jed-lE8dwjnEMcbEq~ytOuD0mFZ16qYqnw6A27bIMEd8Ou6jYqlHfchW3nRV~n2s30sJ3t7eQy8-ZD0KwpF5Legm7Q-YxeePA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Delegate Mark Fisher (R‑Calvert) presented House Bill 1005, the “No Income Taxes on Tips Act,” at the February 20 Ways and Means Committee hearing, asking members for a favorable report.

Fisher said HB1005 would create a subtraction modification for tips and gratuities so that tips would not be included in taxable income for Maryland income tax purposes. Fisher framed the bill as targeted relief for students, single parents, retirees and part‑time workers who rely on tipped jobs to make ends meet. He said the policy also benefits restaurants by making tipped jobs easier to staff and said most tips are already traceable because many customers pay by credit card.

At the hearing delegates asked how the change would interact with federal rules and with other workers who do not receive tips. Delegate Jason Buckel (D) and others questioned whether excluding tips from tax would create a “winner/loser” effect — favoring families whose income comes from tips over those who work comparable hours in non‑tipped professions, such as certified nursing assistants, retail staff, or office administrators. Buckel gave examples of two sisters he said might earn similar household income but face different tax treatment.

Fisher responded that the bill treats tips as a private transaction between customer and worker and argued government should not be “in the middle,” and that addressing the underlying tax burden on low‑ and middle‑income households more broadly would also be necessary. He said the bill limits the industries that could use the change and that staff had discussed issues such as whether tips could be treated like gifts.

Delegate Hornberger, Delegate Wells and others asked whether Maryland should simply wait to see if the federal government changes law in ways that would make state action unnecessary or require state/federal coordination. Hornberger suggested drafting the bill so Maryland would decouple or match federal changes automatically if Congress acts.

Wells, who said she is married to a service‑industry worker and is familiar with tipping mechanics, pressed whether the measure would assist workers immediately or whether administrative features of tax filing (e.g., annual reporting) would blunt its benefit. Fisher argued that workers who receive cash tips now often have immediate access to cash; excluding tips on tax returns would reduce or eliminate a later tax liability and so provide a tangible benefit.

Public testimony for the bill was limited to the sponsor’s presentation and committee questions. Fisher said he had spoken with stakeholders and named some restaurant owners he knows; he also criticized a letter from the Maryland Society of Accounting and Tax Professionals in his testimony.

No committee vote on HB1005 was recorded in the hearing transcript. The committee hearing record closed after questions. Fisher asked for a favorable report.

Why it matters: The bill would change how a common form of low‑ and middle‑income household compensation is taxed and could alter recruiting and compensation incentives in the hospitality and gig economies. Opponents highlighted equity concerns for non‑tipped workers and uncertainty about federal/state interaction; supporters emphasized immediate financial relief to workers with irregular schedules.

What’s next: The sponsor asked for a favorable report. The hearing transcript includes extended questions about equity, federal‑state alignment and administrative practicality that bill drafters may need to address in subsequent drafting and in fiscal analysis.

Speakers quoted or cited in this article appear in committee testimony and public record for the hearing; summaries above are limited to statements captured in the committee transcript.","Delegate Mark Fisher introduced House Bill 1005, a proposal to exclude tips from Maryland taxable income, telling the Ways and Means Committee the change would help students, single parents and service workers while making restaurant employment easier to staff.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6680382,"County and city leaders press for expanded redevelopment tools: TIFs, non‑contiguous districts and modernized development authorities",1180,3273000,4453000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2364545-c0e605dec0d95438604a2da0266a2b90&start=3273&end=4453","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2364545-c0e605dec0d95438604a2da0266a2b90/thumbnail_3273000.jpg","/articles/6680382/Maryland/County-and-city-leaders-press-for-expanded-redevelopment-tools-TIFs-noncontiguous-districts-and-modernized-development-authorities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6680382-5013f4ccb4f5c93c9bba208515b6ebd0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170387&Signature=nddikZEUlM7tNfqjdhKL6fgN5~F1xXGuFC7ko0JlGGHfpvnpp77T7ab4l3G4mSkYwWQn60V5HwPa8zDwFLM9LUUL-Wr2FZOUjb0veTCYbUd7C~eWhEfVNtVH5rpYAEF3VusHd-txDWkNFto~Pyy1W1Xt83cFdpHOl2GgHqryF0olTRHkjCIRDgD8LvOOB4SFhv44eXn9si8Rk8tJIccf1kBOQOeXQMT7GxYNSzXQghnXnYlbg6jsCzLa266tngAVPIOlhpwLl-cQGr8Mig5WP-aDBgETY9IhxOM2IsSovXFUQCtYMemr6WX86ydOwYQdg1neoLg8rdym5ZgsGDXhhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Two related policy hearings in the committee addressed local redevelopment tools.

HB942 — Noncontiguous Tax Increment Financing (Delegate Matthew Schindler)

Delegate Matthew Schindler testified on House Bill 942, a measure allowing municipalities and counties to create tax increment financing (TIF) districts that are not required to be geographically contiguous. Schindler said non‑contiguous TIFs would permit jurisdictions to target scattered vacant or blighted properties by addressing them individually by address rather than forcing a broad contiguous boundary. Schindler and a panel of witnesses described multiple use cases, including renovating vacant and abandoned single‑family housing, redevelopment of commercial corridors, mixed‑income rental projects and preventing demolition displacement. Testimony from affordable‑housing advocates and finance experts described how non‑contiguous TIF bonds could fund a portion of development costs and combine with other funding tools to make projects feasible.

Questions from delegates focused on implementation details: how properties would be added to a district (by address), whether intervening parcels would continue to remit taxes to the locality (localities retain collection responsibility), and whether the noncontiguous authority would be limited to vacant/abandoned properties or could include occupied properties. Several delegates asked for a clearer statutory definition limiting TIF use to income‑restricted workforce housing; the sponsor said he would accept a friendly amendment to clarify intent.

HB97 — Modernizing industrial/redevelopment authorities (Delegate Lily Qi)

Delegate Lily Qi presented House Bill 97, which would modernize the enabling statutes for local industrial development authorities and expand local economic development tools, including clarifying and broadening uses of bond proceeds and allowing authorities to take on new functions (owning property, partnering with developers, issuing bonds for TIF‑style projects). Qi and a panel of local economic development officials (Frederick County, Charles County), and private sector groups (Greater Baltimore Committee) described the bill as an enabling statute that permits local governments to use IDA/redevelopment entities more proactively for affordable housing, infrastructure and placemaking.

Local officials emphasized that the bill does not remove local oversight — counties/municipalities would still have to approve a development authority and specific project plans — but expands options available to localities that have limited bonding capacity and competing priorities. Frederick County’s economic officer and Charles County officials described how a separate quasi‑governmental entity could issue bonds backed by incremental revenue and leave county bonding capacity intact.

Committee exchanges emphasized local control: delegates asked how long an authority would retain jurisdiction over a project area and how oversight and approval would be exercised (local boards and councils retain approval authority). Delegates also asked whether properties that are occupied could qualify and if notice processes for property owners had been designed; the sponsor described ordinary local procedures but noted further details could be handled at the locality level.

Why it matters: Both bills were positioned as tools local governments can use to address vacant/abandoned housing, support workforce housing and finance infrastructure improvements without relying solely on general‑fund appropriations. Supporters included municipal leaders, affordable housing advocates and finance specialists; concerns centered on details of property selection, owner notification and statutory limits to ensure projects meet workforce‑housing goals.

Next steps: Sponsor said he would consider language clarifying workforce/affordability limits and local procedural safeguards. No committee votes on either bill were recorded in the hearing transcript.","Delegates and local officials asked the Ways and Means Committee to approve several bills (notably HB942 and HB97) that would let jurisdictions create non‑contiguous tax increment financing districts and broaden redevelopment/industrial development authority powers. Supporters said the changes would let local governments fund housing and targeted","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Panel urges creation of Baltimore Convention and Tourism Redevelopment Authority to modernize center, expand bookings and capture local benefits

Lawmakers consider extension of Maryland Innovation Initiative to Bowie State and Frostburg State to boost regional entrepreneurship

Delegate Hartman urges phased cut in Maryland corporate income tax to boost competitiveness; opponents question timing amid budget shortfall

Delegate Fisher pitches 'No Income Taxes on Tips' bill, sparking debate on equity and administrative questions

County and city leaders press for expanded redevelopment tools: TIFs, non‑contiguous districts and modernized development authorities