MD HB1153

Alters the Maryland estate tax unified credit for decedents dying on or after January 1, 2026, to align with the federal applicable exclusion amount rather than the current $5 million state cap

Maintains the existing $5 million exclusion amount (plus deceased spousal unused exclusion) for decedents dying between January 1, 2019 and January 1, 2026

Removes the state-imposed ceiling on the unified credit, allowing Maryland estates to benefit from the higher federal exclusion amounts currently in effect (approximately $13.61 million in 2024)

Takes effect July 1, 2025, with changes applying to decedents dying on or after January 1, 2026