Budget and Taxation Committee concurs on multiple bills and orders gaming study on electronic instant bingo

The Budget and Taxation Committee reviewed a large slate of House and Senate measures and agreed to concur on most by voice vote, and it authorized a study into commercial electronic instant bingo and related gaming activities.

Committee members voiced approval for a series of measures the clerk read into the record, including House Bill 681, which would repeal maximum civil and criminal fines Baltimore City may impose for ordinance violations (cross-file Senate Bill 290); House Bill 500, exempting certain precious metal bullion and coins from sales and use tax; House Bill 654 on Maryland Heritage Areas Authority findings and grants; and House Bill 1598 concerning racetrack facility renewal account grants. The committee also concurred with House Bill 1599 (cross-file Senate Bill 558) to establish a Chesapeake Bay Enhancement Program in the Department of Natural Resources and authorize associated funding administered by the Maryland Agriculture and Resource Based Development Corporation.

On concurrences originating in the Senate, committee members accepted technical clarifications. The committee concurred with Senate Bill 459 — a procurement measure that would require government units to use local news organizations for advertising — after the House clarified the definition of "local news organization" from "one full-time employee" to "one full-time equivalent" to account for part-time staffing arrangements. The panel also concurred with Senate Bill 247, which converts the biotech incentive tax credit to a grant program and arrived with amendments altering application and recapture requirements.

The committee discussed Senate Bill 148, which the House amended to replace a proposed retirement subtraction modification for 911 specialists with an equivalent tax credit. The committee recorded that the credit would be administered via certificates from the Department of Emergency Management, would be capped at $250,000 in credits in a taxable year and would include a three-year sunset to permit data collection and reevaluation.

The committee appointed a conference committee on House Bill 139 at the request of the senator who sponsored the bill from Baltimore County; members named for the conference include Senator Rosapepe (chair), Augustine and Cory.

On gaming policy, the committee considered House Bill 1587, which alters definitions for electronic instant bingo and related devices, changes printing requirements for instant bingo play, and directs the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to adopt regulations and to submit a report by Dec. 1, 2026 on commercial electronic instant bingo and satellite simulcast facilities, including historical horse racing and certain video lottery terminals. Senator Corderman pressed for broader advisory participation in the planned study — including casinos, off-track betting facilities and labor representatives — saying his intent was "that everyone has a, quote, 'seat at the table.'" The transcript records agreement to treat those partners as advisory participants rather than formal voting members of any study body.

Several other measures were addressed briefly, including Senate Bill 328 (allowing local authorization to transfer certain credits for newly acquired dwellings) and a licensure matter for state lottery courier services in Senate Bill 708; the committee discussed whether portions of the lottery courier measure should be converted into a study session to gather additional data.

Votes recorded in the transcript were conducted by voice; specific tallies were not provided in the segments reviewed. The committee proceeded through the agenda; the gaming study will produce a report due Dec. 1, 2026, and conference committee work will move forward on House Bill 139.