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Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland lifts annual cap on state income tax credits for venison donations
Last action · April 13, 2026: Third Reading Passed (131-1)Sponsor: Johnny Salling
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What This Bill Would Do
Maryland eliminates the $300 annual limit on state income tax credits that hunters can claim for expenses incurred by donating processed venison to charitable organizations, effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.
Hunters who donate multiple processed deer to charitable food programs can now claim up to $75 per deer in processing expenses without an annual ceiling, affecting their overall state income tax liability.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Hunters who donate venison
Hunters can claim tax credits for processing expenses on multiple deer donations without an aggregate annual limit.
Venison donation programs
Programs must report donor names, home addresses, and donation counts to the Comptroller annually by January 31.
Comptroller
The agency is responsible for receiving annual reports from venison donation programs regarding taxpayer donations.
Key Facts
- Repeals the $300 annual maximum limit on the total amount of tax credits an individual may claim for venison donation expenses.
- Removes the exception that allowed exceeding the annual cap if each deer was harvested under a deer management permit.
- Retains the individual credit of up to $75 for qualified expenses incurred to butcher and process an antlerless deer for human consumption.
- Maintains the rule that unused tax credit amounts cannot be carried over to any other taxable year.
Show all 7 facts
- Requires venison donation programs to report donor names, home addresses, and the number of deer donated to the Comptroller on or before January 31 each year.
- Maintains civil liability immunity under § 5–634 of the Courts Article for individuals who donate food.
- Applies to all taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, with the Act taking effect July 1, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What expenses qualify for the income tax credit?
Can I carry over unused tax credits to the next year?
What reporting is required from organizations that accept venison donations?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently passed both. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.
Procedural history
12 actions- Apr 13, 2026HouseFloorThird Reading Passed (131-1)
- Apr 13, 2026HouseFloorSecond Reading Passed with Amendments
- Apr 13, 2026HouseFavorable with Amendments { 303725/1 Adopted
- Apr 11, 2026HouseCommitteeFavorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means
- Apr 9, 2026HouseCommitteeRereferred to Ways and Means
- Apr 9, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred Rules and Executive Nominations
Show 6 earlier actions
- Apr 8, 2026SenateFloorThird Reading Passed (42-0)
- Apr 8, 2026SenateFloorSecond Reading Passed
- Apr 8, 2026SenateFloorFavorable Adopted
- Apr 8, 2026SenateCommitteeFavorable Report by Budget and Taxation
- Apr 7, 2026SenateCommitteeRereferred to Budget and Taxation
- Feb 13, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst Reading Senate Rules
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance35How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy5Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz10Current news / social attention level
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