April 15, 2008 -- Maryland Legislative Session
The 2008 Maryland Legislative Session ended on April 7, 2008. Legislators passed three bills that were extremely important to Somerset County. Two bills HB612/SB 676 reduce the assessments on Commercial Waterfront Property. A third bill HB 591 would set a 20 percent cap on assessments for businesses in Somerset County, similar to the 10 percent cap already in place statewide for owner-occupied residential properties. All of these bills were passed as enabling legislation allowing the counties and their municipalities to reduce assessments on commercial waterfront properties and Somerset County to reduce assessments on businesses. These bills will now go to the Governor for signature.
Three bills to help Maryland homeowners who are at risk of losing their homes due to foreclosure were passed as emergency legislation and went into effect on April 3, 2008. The bills are: SB 216/HB 365, Foreclosure Process, SB 217/ HB 360, Mortgage Fraud Protection, and SB 218/HB 361, Prohibition on Certain Foreclosure Transactions. For bill details go to: www.mdrealtor.org
HB 1253/SB 844, Chesapeake Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area Protection Program - Administrative and Enforcement Provisions, passed with amendments. The original bill required a 300 foot buffer; however, the bill has been amended to require a 200 foot buffer. In addition permits applied for before October 1, 2008 will be grandfathered in. Permits applied for after October 1, 2008 will have to abide by the new rules. This bill has been sent to the Governor for signature.
The legislators also passed enabling legislation to allow Worcester County and the Town of Ocean City to grant tax relief to two amusement parks in Ocean City. This bill has been sent to the Governor for signature.
HB 1424 which would have allowed counties and municipal corporations to impose a transfer tax died in committee. In addition HB 663, which would have allowed municipal corporations to impose an excise tax, was defeated. The Maryland Association of REALTORS® opposed both these bills and worked hard to defeat them.
The sales tax on computer services was repealed. The $200M shortfall will be made up by placing a surcharge on the income of millionaires and cutting budgets on several state agencies.
March 20, 2008 -- Meet Your Congressional Candidate Frank Kratovil
The race for the 1st Congressional District, which includes the Eastern Shore of Maryland, will have two new candidates for the public to vote for this November with the defeat of Congressman Wayne Gilchrest. Both of these candidates are unknown to the Lower Eastern Shore and more importantly, to the real estate community. With this in mind, the CAR Government Affairs Committee has invited both candidates to be guest speakers at one of their meetings.
The Democratic Candidate, Queen Anne's County State's Attorney, Frank Kratovil, to speak this Thursday, March 20, 2008 @ 3:00 pm. The meeting will be held at the CAR Office, 314 Franklin Avenue, Suite 106, Berlin, Maryland. The Government Affairs Committee invites any member of the Coastal Association of REALTORS® interested in hearing Candidate Frank Kratovil speak to attend their meeting. Please RSVP in advance if possible.
The Republican Candidate, Senator Andy Harris, has been invited to speak on Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 10:00 am. Please mark your calendars. A reminder will be given closer to the date of the meeting.
