State Roundup

ESTATE TAX CUT: Democratic leaders of the Maryland General Assembly outlined plans Friday to reduce the estate tax and to offer targeted tax credits to bolster businesses around universities as part of a broader agenda to foster economic development in the state, the Post’s John Wagner writes.

• The group wants to raise Maryland’s estate tax exemption to the $5.34 million federal estate taxexemption over a four-year period, reports Alex Jackson for the Annapolis Capital.

• The legislative leaders sent an encouraging signal to Maryland’s private sector when they announced a joint legislative agenda for business and economic development in the state. Agenda action items include establishing a private-sector commission to review Maryland’s support foreconomic development and creating “reduced tax” zones, a new cyber-seed investment fund and an initiative to develop matching private-sector funding for university research to nurture science and technology industry growth. Donald Fry writes about the plans for Center Maryland.

SMOKING AGE: Maryland lawmakers on Monday introduced a bill to restrict the sale of tobacco products in the state to those age 21 and older instead of the current age of 18. If passed, that would make Maryland the strictest state in the nation when it comes to cigarette purchases, consultant Frederick Mattis writes in an op-ed in the Sun.
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