Committee hears bill to let local governments set eligibility for disabled veterans’ property tax credit

A legislative aide testified March 18 before the Ways and Means Committee that House Bill 1611 would remove the state-set income limitation for a county opt-in property tax credit for disabled veterans and instead allow local governments to set their own criteria.

“My name is Selena Francis for the record, and I will be testifying on behalf of the delegate in support of HB 1611,” Francis said. She told the committee the credit created in 2020 by HB 257 currently has been adopted by only three counties — Anne Arundel, Frederick and Montgomery — and that the proposed change would have no state fiscal impact because the credit applies only to local property taxes.

Supporters asked the committee to report the bill favorably. Francis said the bill would remove the state income limitation and “authorize the governing body of a county or municipality corporation and allow them to set their own criteria,” an approach she said mirrors optional credits used elsewhere.

There were no substantive questions from committee members during the hearing. The sponsor allowed a staff member to present the bill and committee discussion remained limited to clarification of the proposal’s scope and its local fiscal effects.

The committee ended the bill hearing without taking a vote; no final action was recorded in the hearing transcript. The next procedural step reported in the hearing was routine scheduling of subcommittee meetings and a later floor vote window for the committee.