Lockheed Hotel Tax Exemption Bill Advances In Annapolis

The Maryland Senate has voted to support a bill that would exempt Lockheed Martin from paying taxes on its Bethesda training center, and the legislation is moving on to the House Ways and Means Committee, Maryland Juice reports.

If the measure is approved, Lockheed would be exempted from about $450,000 a year in taxes, The Washington Post reports.

The version of the legislation that passed the Senate dropped language that would have required Montgomery County to pay the Bethesda-based defense giant a $1.8 million refund, Maryland Juice reported.

The bill would apply to Maryland companies that operate lodging facilities used only to support training or conference centers – a description Sen. Nancy J. King (D-Montgomery) said applied only to Lockheed, but for which other facilities may qualify in the future, The Post reported.

Sen. Bryan W. Simonaire (R-Anne Arundel) called the bill a “carve-out” for Lockheed Martin, according to the report.

The bill is expected to be taken up by the House Ways and Means committee Thursday.

Should Lockheed Martin have to pay hotel taxes on the lodging facility it operates for its conference center? Tell us in the comments.