Anne Arundel delegation backs HB 320 to allow county Rural Legacy property tax credit

Annapolis, Jan. 30 — The Anne Arundel County delegation voted unanimously to support House Bill 320, a bill that would enable the county to offer a property tax credit for parcels in the Rural Legacy program.

Sponsor Delegate Baylor said the change corrects an omission in county offerings. "We just don't have that offering for Rural Legacy as well," she said, adding that the county currently has property tax credits for agricultural land preservation and for properties in the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation program but not for Rural Legacy sites. Delegate Chisholm, a cosponsor, asked whether properties already zoned in the program currently receive a credit; Baylor said they do not and that HB 320 would allow the county to pass such a credit.

The motion to record the delegation's support was moved and seconded and carried by roll call. "By a vote of 15 to 0 with 1 absent, the motion on the bill passes," the secretary announced. Delegates recorded as voting aye included Vice chair Simmons, Speaker Pena Melnick, Delegate Bagnell, Delegate Bartlett, Delegate Baylor, Delegate Chang, Delegate Chisholm, Delegate Howard, Delegate Jones, Delegate Kipke, Delegate Layman, Delegate Congolo, Delegate Rogers, Delegate Schmidt and Chairman Pruski; Delegate Barnes was absent.

The chair asked the secretary to follow up with a letter to the committee chair and vice chair and to provide a copy to Delegate Baylor to ensure the delegation's support is delivered to the committee. The delegation's letter and next procedural steps will determine whether the committee records that support during the bill's committee consideration.