Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
House approves bill letting SDAT use aerial imagery to identify properties amid tax assessment debate
Summary
Lawmakers passed House Bill 6 to allow the State Department of Assessments and Taxation to use aerial and oblique imagery for property identification. Supporters said the technology improves accuracy and speeds inspections; opponents warned it could raise assessments, increase property taxes and shift costs to counties.
Annapolis, Feb. 24 — The House passed House Bill 6 on third reading, authorizing the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) to use aerial and oblique images to identify and verify real property across the state.
Supporters said the change modernizes SDAT operations and helps the agency detect changes to properties more quickly. “This is simply about identifying your property in a more efficient and effective way,” said the floor leader. He added that SDAT already uses similar technology in multiple Maryland jurisdictions and that “the facts say the data is better.”
Opponents raised concerns about higher assessed values, potential increases in property taxes, and the bill’s impact on…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
