Anne Arundel County delegate seeks enabling county tax credit for legacy program in HB320

Delegate Dylan Baylor introduced House Bill 320 to the Ways and Means Committee on Feb. 3, describing the bill as enabling legislation that would allow Anne Arundel County to provide a county property-tax credit for properties enrolled in the county's legacy program (referred to in testimony as the "bridal legacy program"). "It is enabling legislation to allow the county to put forth a tax credit at the county level for properties in the bridal legacy program," Baylor said.

Baylor said Anne Arundel County has three major agricultural land preservation programs: the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (a statewide program), a county agricultural and woodland preservation program, and the program Baylor called the 'bridal legacy program.' Baylor said the first two currently have county property-tax credits while the legacy program does not, and the bill would ensure parity. He told members the measure was requested by the county executive and the county agricultural commission and that the county delegation supports it unanimously.

No committee questions were raised during the sponsor presentation and the hearing concluded without witnesses or debate. Committee staff closed the hearing and moved to the next bill.

Note: the transcript repeatedly uses the word "bridal" to describe the legacy program. That wording appears in sponsor remarks; the sponsor also referenced the county agricultural commission and the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation. If the committee or staff provide official program names in the record, reporters should use the official program name in coverage.