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SB 638

Department of Natural Resources – Savage River Lodge – Hotel Rental Surcharge

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mike McKay

Bill would allow Maryland's Department of Natural Resources to charge hotel guests an additional surcharge on Savage River Lodge stays to boost state facility revenues. (Bill withdrawn March 2025.)

Withdrawn by Sponsor
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 638

Legislative bill overview

SB 638 would have authorized the Department of Natural Resources to impose a hotel rental surcharge on lodging at Savage River Lodge, a state-owned facility in Maryland. The bill would have allowed the department to collect additional fees from guests beyond standard room rates to generate revenue.

Why is this important

State-owned lodging facilities often operate at narrow margins, and surcharge authority can help fund facility maintenance, upgrades, and operations without requiring direct general fund appropriations. This mechanism affects both the facility's financial sustainability and guest costs at public accommodations.

Potential points of contention

  • Guest cost impact: Additional surcharges increase lodging expenses for visitors using public facilities, potentially reducing accessibility or competitiveness with private hotels
  • Rate transparency: Surcharges added to room rates may obscure true costs to consumers and complicate price comparisons
  • Revenue use restrictions: The bill's language doesn't clearly specify how surcharge revenue must be used, raising questions about accountability and whether funds stay dedicated to facility improvement

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

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