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SB 919

SS/SCS/SB 919 - This act modifies several provisions relating to property taxes. CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY This act prohibits an assessor from reclassifying real property without first conducting an in-person consultation with the owner of record of such property. An assessor shall be deemed to be in compliance with this provision if the assessor can document a good-faith effort to contact the owner of record, as described in the act. (Section 137.016) REAL PROPERTY ASSESSED VALUES Current law provides that an assessor shall not increase the assessed valuation of any parcel of residential real property by more than fifteen percent since the last reassessment without first conducting a physical inspection of the property and providing notice to the taxpayer. This act modifies such provision by prohibiting any increase in assessments of residential real property in excess of fifteen percent. Additionally, a property owner may request the assessor to conduct a physical inspection. (Section 137.115.10) REAL PROPERTY TAX CREDIT Current law allows counties to provide a property tax credit to certain seniors. This act requires counties to provide such credit and makes technical changes to the definitions of "eligible credit amount" and "eligible taxpayer". The act also requires the statement of tax due to include certain information about the proportional amount of the credit attributable to each taxing jurisdiction. Such statement shall also include a note indicating that it is the responsibility of the taxpayer to notify the county if the taxpayer is no longer eligible for the property tax credit, as described in the act. The act also provides that the credit shall apply to all property tax levies, including debt service levies. The act provides that a taxpayer shall not be required to reapply for the property tax annually. The tax credit shall continue to be applied to the taxpayer's homestead until the tax year in which the taxpayer relocates to another homestead or upon the death of the taxpayer. The Department of Health and Senior Services shall establish and maintain a secure electronic portal accessible to each county for the purpose of verifying whether an applicant is deceased. (Section 137.1050) Current law authorizes certain counties to provide a tax credit for the property tax liabilities owed on an eligible taxpayer's homestead. This act repeals such provision and instead provides that all counties shall provide a property tax credit for any real property owned by an eligible taxpayer, provided that the real property tax liability owed on the taxpayer's real property may be increased by no more than 2.5% per year or the percent increase in inflation, whichever is less. However, for any county in which any subclass of real property is considered to be valued below its true value in money, as determined in the act, the amount by which a taxpayer's real property tax liability may increase shall not exceed 5% per year, provided that this provision shall no longer apply to a county once such subclass of real property in such county is no longer considered to be valued below its true value in money. Additionally, the act provides that no personal property tax liability owed on any individual item of personal property shall not be increased above the liability owed on such item during the 2024 tax year or the first year an eligible taxpayer first incurs personal property tax liability on such personal property, whichever occurs later. Any eligible taxpayer experiencing such an increase shall be eligible for a credit on the eligible taxpayer's personal property tax liability in an amount equal to such increase, as described in the act. (Sections 137.1058 and 137.1055) STATE TAX COMMISSION RATIO STUDIES Current law requires the State Tax Commission to equalize the valuation of each class and subclass of property among the respective counties. This act requires the Commission to utilize ratio studies to determine whether a class or subclass is valued below or above its true value. Such values shall be no less than 80% and no more than 100% of true market value, as described in the act. (Section 138.390) JOSH NORBERG

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Nicola

Broadens practice audiology to include non-surgical screenings, in-office imaging, and payer-mandated tests, while excluding surgery and operation of radiographic equipment.

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Bill Summary · SB 919

Summary — SB 919: Health Occupations — Practice of Audiology — Definition

Status: Withdrawn by sponsor (withdrawn 2025-03-17)
Introduced: January 24, 2025 (Sen. Gile) — Companion: HB 1298 (Del. Martinez)
Effective date in bill text: July 1, 2025 (if enacted)

Purpose / Intent

SB 919 sought to clarify and modestly modernize the statutory definition of “practice audiology” in Maryland law. It expressly (1) broadened the definition to cover the use of “any means known in the science of audiology,” and (2) clarified that certain screenings and in‑office, non‑radiographic imaging/scanning related to auditory or vestibular conditions (or required by federal, State, or third‑party payers) are included within the practice of audiology.

Key provisions

  • Revises the statutory definition of “practice audiology” to state that it means to “use any means known in the science of audiology to” perform enumerated functions.
  • Confirms that practice audiology includes:
    • Evaluating, diagnosing, managing, and treating auditory or vestibular conditions of the human ear.
    • Prescribing, ordering, selling, dispensing, or fitting hearing aids, osseo‑integrated device sound processors, and cochlear implant external sound processors.
    • Conducting health screenings related to auditory or vestibular conditions or required by federal, State, or third‑party payers.
    • Ordering and performing in‑office, non‑radiographic scanning or imaging of the external auditory canal as it relates to auditory or vestibular conditions.
    • Ordering cultures, blood tests, and radiographic imaging as related to auditory/vestibular conditions (ordering only for radiographic imaging; operation/performance of radiographic imaging remains excluded).
  • Reaffirms exclusions: the practice of audiology does not include performing surgery (including osseo‑integrated device or cochlear implant surgery) or preparing/operating radiographic imaging equipment.

Who would be affected

  • Primary: licensed audiologists in Maryland — clarifies allowable scope of practice.
  • Regulatory: State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, Speech‑Language Pathologists, and Music Therapists (may need to update regulations).
  • Indirectly: patients receiving audiology services, health care providers who coordinate care, and payers (public and private) insofar as the bill references payer‑required screenings.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • Fiscal note: negligible fiscal impact. The Board can update regulations with existing resources; no anticipated revenue, local government, or small business effects.
  • Legislative action: although introduced and assigned to committee, the sponsor withdrew the bill on March 17, 2025; therefore it did not advance to enactment.

Practical effect if enacted

The changes would clarify that evolving, non‑surgical diagnostic or screening technologies and payer‑mandated screenings fall within the statutory practice of audiology, while preserving explicit boundaries excluding surgery and the operation of radiographic equipment.

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

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