NEWS RELEASE
March 29, 2005

EQUALITY MARYLAND
Contact: Dan Furmansky, Executive Director
Phone:    Office 301-587-7500
Cell    301-461-4900
Email:  dan@equalitymaryland.org

HOUSE OF DELEGATES VOTES TO ELIMINATE "GAY TAX" ON HOME OWNERSHIP

Legislation Would Exempt Domestic Partners from Transfer and Recordation Taxes

Annapolis - The Maryland House of Delegates overwhelmingly approved legislation Monday that would alleviate a regressive tax burden and provide greater security in home ownership for unmarried couples. HB 1298, sponsored by Delegate Anne R. Kaiser (D-Montgomery County) at the request of Equality Maryland, would exempt domestic partners from the transfer and recordation tax that is paid when one partner is added or removed to the deed of the other partner's property on the home they share. Heterosexual married couples are already exempt from this tax. The legislation passed the House 98-34. 86 Democrats and 12 Republicans supported the legislation. It now moves to the Senate for consideration.

"Gay and lesbian couples are committed to each other, look forward to growing old together, and seek the same stability as all other couples," said Equality Maryland Executive Director Dan Furmansky. "The State shouldn't be taxing families thousands of dollars just to put the deed to a house in both partners' names, something that any married couple can do without fear of devastating financial consequences."

If the bill becomes law, a recordation tax will not apply on the principal amount of debt assumed by transferee, transfer of property between domestic partners will not be subject to the recordation tax, and in the case of the dissolution of a domestic partnership, a property transfer would not subject to county transfer tax. HB 1298 is modeled after a Montgomery County law that has been in place since 2002.

"This legislation is about providing security and protections equally to all committed partners in Maryland," said Delegate Kaiser. "I'm proud that my colleagues in the House of Delegates voted for this 'family values' bill."