We have a golden opportunity this year to work towards a 100% subtraction. The Governor's two tax relief bills on uniformed services retired pay are now in the system for evaluation and hopefully passage by both the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates. The numbers are SB 312 and HB 362. They cover all seven uniformed services and also apply to SBP payments to surviving spouses. They exempt $15,000 of taxes in 2018, 75% in 2019, and 100% in 2020 (no tax on Uniformed Services Retired Pay or SBP).

We have argued for many years that this is a solid economic move for Maryland, its workforce, its employers, our military installations, and all taxpayers across the state. Our Maryland Comptroller agrees! So does our Maryland Military Coalition (MMC). With the recent addition of West Virginia and Arkansas in 2018, the retired pay of uniformed services is now not taxed at all in 27 States.

Now, it is most appropriate to contact your Senators and Delegates (in person, by phone, by letter, via e-mail, and/or whatever mechanism you can use) to request their support before the bills are discussed in the committees and in the hearings--and, hopefully, in floor votes. In the Senate, SB 312 will be managed by the Budget and Taxation (B&T) Committee; in the House of Delegates, HB 362 will be managed by the Ways and Means (W&M) Committee. It is especially important to communicate with the members of the two committees. Members of the General Assembly's Veterans Caucus, in both the House and Senate, should also be contacted. Remember, everyone has three Delegates and one Senator. B&T and W&M Committee members in your county delegation should definitely be contacted.

Everything you need to support the tax-exempt issue, committees, email addresses, etc. are located here! You may also check the status of proposed legislation by visiting the Maryland General Assembly website.

The Senators and Delegates in the Veterans Caucuses will continue to meet and drive this effort as well as other legislation for future years based on the approved priorities from last November. Our website has information on the Veterans Caucus and their priorities, especially state tax exemption and mental health---our chapter key current issues and advocacies!

House Bill 898, co-sponsored by Delegate Nick Kipke, speaker at our April 26, 2017 dinner meeting, took effect June 1, 2016 and applies to taxable year 2017. It authorizes local governments to grant a property tax credit for a dwelling an individual who is at least 65 and has lived in the same dwelling for at least the preceding 40 years or a retired member of the U.S. Armed Forces who is at least 65. The amount of the property tax credit may not exceed 20% of the county or municipal property tax imposed on the property and may be granted for up to 5 years. The text of the final law as signed by the Governor is available here. Budget problems currently hinder progress, but contact with County and City Councils should be considered and attempted.