By Senator Cory McCray
No community is free from the barriers that can hold people back — but when we work together, no barrier is insurmountable. Justice-involved individuals who have served their time and are ready to rebuild face obstacles that are too often overlooked. These challenges persist not because they’re insignificant, but because the resources, planning and legislation needed to address them have been lacking for far too long.
Baltimore City, the place I’ve called home my entire life, has one of Maryland’s highest incarceration rates. The concentration is even starker in certain neighborhoods throughout the city. When someone serves their sentence, their financial obligations don’t pause—tax bills continue to accumulate, creating an impossible burden that undermines the very goal our justice system aims to achieve: successful reintegration into society.
While Baltimore’s numbers are particularly stark, this crisis extends throughout Maryland’s communities. This reality became clear through my work with Dr. Carmen Johnson of Prince George’s County, former Housing Chair for the State Conference of the NAACP. Earlier this year, she reached out to me about partnering on legislation she had been developing that would become Senate Bill 295—the Maryland Fair Taxation for Justice-Involved Individuals Act.
In 2015, Dr. Johnson was incarcerated on federal charges and served three years. That time away left her unable to manage the business or tax-related affairs tied to two businesses—one for-profit and one non-profit—placing her in severe financial hardship. Upon release, she faced mounting tax debt where penalties and interest had accrued, undermining her ability to successfully reintegrate into society. Her story illuminated a harsh reality for justice-involved individuals: the system designed to rehabilitate was inadvertently creating additional barriers to success. Her experience became the catalyst for Senate Bill 295, which I was proud to successfully sponsor in the Senate, with Delegate Greg Wimms leading the effort in the House of Delegates. The legislation took effect on July 1.
Under SB 295, justice-involved individuals can establish payment plans of up to 10 years for unpaid income taxes that accumulated during incarceration. Critically, the law waives the interest and penalties accrued during that period. The program applies to individuals who served between six months and 10 years in state or federal correctional facilities and covers taxable years from 2025 through 2029.
During the session, it took a collaborative effort to get this across the finish line. The CASH Campaign of Maryland, along with Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman, both testified in support of this legislation. The CASH Campaign is a non-profit organization that offers services to low- and moderate-income individuals, including free tax preparation assistance to those under a specific annual income threshold. It’s organizations like the CASH Campaign that directly understand the financial burden some individuals face while trying to get back on solid ground and seek to offer practical solutions that respect both fiscal responsibility and human dignity.
Comptroller Brooke Lierman and her office have already begun to administer the program, launching the Fresh Start Tax Payments Program. The Comptroller’s Office will be working with the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, the Maryland Judiciary and community organizations to promote awareness of the program. This partnership approach ensures that eligible individuals will learn about these opportunities both while incarcerated and upon release.
Maryland has always been a leader in balancing justice with opportunity and addressing problems that other states have overlooked. This legislation strengthens our justice system by removing barriers that prevent successful reentry. When we enable individuals to secure housing, find employment, support their families, and contribute to their communities, we enhance public safety and economic prosperity for all Marylanders. The success of this program will be measured in rebuilt lives and strengthened communities.
When we give people the tools to succeed after they’ve served their time, they rise to meet the challenge. When we remove unnecessary barriers to legitimate success, we unlock human potential that benefits everyone. Senate Bill 295 is a crucial first step toward building a more just and equitable system for all Marylanders.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the AFRO.
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