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SB 724

Baltimore City - Tax Sales - Heir-Occupied Property and Registry

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Cory McCray

SB 724 protects heir-occupied properties in Baltimore from tax sales by establishing a registry and modified procedures to prevent displacement of family members living in inherited homes with delinquent taxes.

Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · SB 724

Legislative bill overview

SB 724 addresses tax sale procedures in Baltimore City for heir-occupied properties and establishes a registry system to track such properties. The bill appears designed to prevent displacement of heirs living in properties with delinquent taxes by modifying how Baltimore conducts tax sales on these parcels.

Why is this important

Baltimore has a significant problem with tax foreclosures displacing residents, particularly in low-income communities where heirs may occupy properties without formal title documentation. Creating protections and a registry for heir-occupied properties could preserve housing stability for vulnerable populations while clarifying tax sale procedures that have sometimes caught families by surprise.

Potential points of contention

  • Administrative burden: Cities may resist new registry requirements and modified procedures, citing increased administrative costs and complexity in tax collection
  • Tax base concerns: Some argue that protections for heir-occupied properties could reduce municipal revenue from tax sales, potentially shifting costs to other taxpayers
  • Definition and verification challenges: Defining "heir-occupied" and verifying occupancy status poses practical enforcement questions—how long must heirs occupy? What documentation is required?
  • Equity vs. property rights: Tension between protecting vulnerable residents versus property owners' expectations that delinquent taxes trigger consistent foreclosure procedures

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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