NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
April 11, 2005

EQUALITY MARYLAND
Contact:    Delegate Anne Kaiser
Office Phone:    (410) 841-3380, (301) 858-3380

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

BILL ELIMINATING "GAY TAX" ON HOME OWNERSHIP HEADS TO GOVERNOR'S DESK

Legislation Would Exempt Domestic Partners from Transfer and Recordation Taxes

Annapolis - The Maryland Senate approved legislation today that will 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, passed the Senate 25-22, following the defeat of an amendment offerred by Senator Alex Mooney (R-Frederick and Washington Counties), that would have allowed local counties to opt out. The bill previously passed the House of Delegates, 98-34.

"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."

HB 1298 will 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. When the bill becomes law, a recordation tax will not apply on the principle 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 voted for this 'family values' bill."

The Legislation passed with bipartisan support in both houses of the General Assembly. Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. has not yet indicted whether he will sign the legislation.