Maryland

Governor O'Malley has called a Special Session of the General Assembly that will commence on Monday, October 29, 2007. The purpose of the session is to address Maryland's $1.7 billion deficit.
Contained in Governor O'Malley's proposal is an expansion of the sales tax, including a sales tax on massage therapy. Massage is the only health care service to be added as a taxable service.

ABMP recommends you contact your representatives this week and ask them to please oppose any tax on massage therapy.

Both the sales tax on massage and House Bill 735, failed to pass this legislative session. Any new attempt to regulate the massage therapy profession will take place in the next legislative session beginning in January 2008.

House Bill 448 has been introduced in the Maryland House of Delegates. The bill would expand the definition of "taxable services" under the sales and use tax imposing additional sales taxes on consumers; including on massage therapy. Massage is the only health care service to be added as a taxable service.

To view the entire bill, go to:
http://mlis.state.md.us/2007RS/bills/hb/hb0448f.pdf