Prince George's County - Supplemental Homeowners' Property Tax Credit - Required PG 412-26
HB0368 would require the governing body of Prince George’s County to provide a local property tax credit that supplements Maryland’s existing Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit Program. The bill sets out a formula for the county credit based on a homeowner’s combined income and the total real property tax on the dwelling, with the credit designed to reduce property tax liability for eligible homeowners whose income and net worth fall below specified limits. It also defines how the credit is calculated, including income brackets, a $200,000 net worth cap, and a $75,000 gross income cap for eligibility.
The bill assigns the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation responsibility for administering applications and determining eligibility, while requiring Prince George’s County to reimburse the Department for the reasonable cost of administering the credit. It also specifies that the county may not receive reimbursement under the State homeowners’ tax credit reimbursement provision for the amount of the required local supplement. The bill would take effect June 1, 2026, and apply to taxable years beginning after June 30, 2026.
If enacted, HB0368 would amend Maryland’s property tax law to create a mandatory local supplement to the State homeowners’ property tax credit in Prince George’s County, while also modifying the general local-supplement provision to recognize this county-specific requirement. It would directly affect Prince George’s County homeowners who qualify under the income and net worth limits, and it would impose administrative and reimbursement obligations on the county and the State tax department. The bill would not change the statewide credit program itself, but it would add a county-specific layer of relief and administration within Title 9 of the Tax-Property Article.
The available record suggests limited public legislative debate, because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes, and the bill was ultimately withdrawn by the sponsor in the House. The bill’s structure indicates a policy goal of expanding property tax relief for eligible homeowners in Prince George’s County, which generally suggests support for tax relief and housing affordability. However, the withdrawal means the measure did not advance to a recorded vote or final committee disposition, so there is no documented floor or committee sentiment beyond the introduction of the proposal.
The main points of potential contention are fiscal and administrative. Prince George’s County would be required to fund the local supplement and reimburse the State Department of Assessments and Taxation for administrative costs, which could raise concerns about county revenue impacts and implementation burden. Eligibility limits tied to income, net worth, and the interaction with the existing State credit could also be debated, especially because the bill excludes homeowners whose State credit already exceeds the local formula amount. No specific objections are documented in the provided materials, but these are the likely pressure points for affected county officials, tax administrators, and budget stakeholders.