Ways and Means Committee holds hearings on 15 bills on property tax credits, emergency services funding and election rules

An array of sponsors presented 15 bills to the Ways and Means Committee on March 18, asking the panel for favorable reports on measures ranging from property tax credits for fallen or disabled law-enforcement officers and retail-to-residential conversions to a local enabling tax for emergency services in Somerset County and multiple election-administration and campaign-finance changes. Committee members did not record any votes during the hearing session.

Many bills were presented as requests for a favorable report. Senate Bill 30 was described as fixing an omission in current law so that the surviving spouse of a disabled or fallen law-enforcement officer or rescue worker would be eligible for the existing property tax credit. Senate Bill 344 would allow counties and Baltimore City to grant a property tax credit to property owners who convert retail service stations to convenience or residential uses; the sponsor said the credit could be up to 50% of the taxes that would otherwise be due and that the measure is enabling (a “may” provision) so counties would not be required to adopt it. Senate Bill 502 (cross-filed from the House) was presented as an expansion of property-tax credits…