Bill > SB192

This bill makes several revisions to Maryland's property tax sale laws, primarily focusing on protecting homeowners and standardizing tax sale procedures across the state. The bill increases protections for owner-occupied residential properties by raising the threshold for tax sale withholding from $750 to $1,000, extending the time before a tax sale certificate holder can file a foreclosure action from 9 to 12 months, and increasing the notification requirements for tenants and property owners. The legislation allows local governments beyond Baltimore City to withhold properties from tax sale under certain conditions, modifies redemption rates (capping them at 10% for owner-occupied residential properties), and expands the definition of "homeowner" to include estates, personal representatives, and heirs of deceased homeowners. The bill also introduces new provisions for abandoned properties, including allowing them to be sold for less than the total tax lien and creating more flexible procedures for local governments to handle such properties. Additionally, the bill establishes new requirements for record-keeping and information reporting by counties conducting tax sales, and creates a Homeowner Protection Program aimed at helping vulnerable homeowners avoid tax lien sales. The changes will take effect on January 1, 2026, and apply only to tax sale certificates issued after that date.

Budget and Finance

Budget and Taxation (S)

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0192?ys=2025RS