Governor Hogan Eliminates or Cuts Fees Statewide, Saving Marylanders $51 Million Over Five Years

Statewide Fee Rollback Will Benefit Thousands of Businesses, Farmers, and Struggling Families Across Maryland

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Larry Hogan today delivered on his promise to roll back Maryland’s high fees and put money back into the pockets of hard-working Maryland families and businesses. As part of a process that will begin immediately, eight agencies will reduce or completely eliminate hundreds of individual fees currently levied by Maryland’s government. In total, the Hogan administration announced plans to reduce or eliminate 100 fees across state government, as well as 115 separate fees related to animal health diagnostics at the Department of Agriculture.

The Hogan administration will reduce fees paid by Maryland taxpayers by approximately $10.2 million per year, or approximately $51 million over the next five years. This includes the $5.9 million elimination of E-Z Pass maintenance fees, which took effect in July. Governor Hogan’s Fee Rollback, which will proceed as a series of changes to state regulations and won’t require new legislation, will not interrupt the delivery of services to citizens and business.

“We are very proud to announce another step our administration is taking to deliver relief to Maryland’s businesses and struggling families,” said Governor Hogan. “Earlier this year, I challenged my Cabinet to reduce or eliminate fees throughout their departments, and today we can announce that we are reducing or eliminating 100 fees across state government."

“Our entire focus has been making Maryland more competitive. By allowing Marylanders to keep more of their hard-earned money, rather than sending it to bureaucrats in Annapolis, they will have the chance to put those dollars back into our state’s economy. No longer will Maryland’s government ask ‘how much can we get?’ but will instead ask ‘how much can we give back?’”

The removal of fees associated with permits and licenses does not eliminate the requirement for individuals and businesses to apply for and receive necessary approvals to carry out activity regulated with the state. Among the fees to be cut or eliminated are the following:

Fee elimination and reduction at the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) will account for $6.27 million in savings and will include:

• Reduction to $1 for homeless identification cards
• The previously announced elimination of Maryland’s $1.50 monthly EZ-Pass fees
• $4 reduction in vehicle emissions test fees for self-service kiosk customers
• 10% reduction in numerous business license fees associated with the sale and registration of new and used motor vehicles
• Reduction or elimination of certain outdoor advertising fees
• $10 reduction in MVA’s vehicle title correction fee

Fee elimination and reduction at the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) will account for $1.78 million in savings and will include:

• A range of business license fees in the Prevention & Health Promotion Administration
• Numerous food manufacturing and processing license fees
• Reduction in the three-year controlled dangerous substance (CDS) registration fee
• $2,000 reduction in ambulatory surgery center fees

Fee elimination and reduction at the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) will account for $1.09 million in savings and will include:

• Multiple reductions in real estate broker, salesperson and home appraisal license fees
• Numerous fees associated with financial regulations

Fee elimination and reduction at the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) will account for $272,000 in savings and will include:

• $65 reduction in annual license fee for veterinarians
• 20% across-the-board reduction in lab fees for animal health diagnostics (115 individual fees)

Fee elimination and reduction at the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) will account for $83,000 in savings and will include:

• Elimination or reduction of business fees associated with asbestos contractor licenses
• Elimination of license fees for underground storage tank technicians, removers and inspectors

Fee elimination and reduction at the Department of Natural Resources will account for $36,000 in savings and will include:

• Elimination of state park boat launch fee for seniors with Golden Age Pass

Fee elimination and reduction at the Department of Human Resources (DHR) will account for $739,000 in savings and will include:

• Elimination of MCVAR adoption application fees
• Elimination of $25 child support income tax intercept fee

Complete details on the tax and fee rollback are attached.