Call for Action - Oppose HB1554/SB 1045

Why Your Voice Matters: Stop HB 1554 / SB 1045 Before It Hurts Maryland’s Design Professionals

Maryland’s economy is built on the strength of its small businesses, professional service providers, and entrepreneurs. Yet, HB 1554 / SB 1045 threatens to undermine that foundation by imposing a tax on essential business services—accounting, IT support, legal services, human resources, and more. If this bill passes, businesses of all sizes, including architecture firms, will face higher costs, administrative burdens, and an uneven playing field against competitors in neighboring states that do not impose such a tax.

This isn’t just about another tax—it’s about the future of Maryland’s business climate. It’s about whether we support local job creation and economic growth or drive businesses out of the state. If Maryland becomes a more expensive and complicated place to do business, companies will be forced to cut costs, reduce hiring, or relocate entirely.

Legislators need to hear from YOU. They need to understand that this bill will have far-reaching consequences—not just for business owners, but for employees, clients, and the communities that depend on thriving local industries. In the past, similar proposals were defeated because businesses and professionals stood together in opposition. We must do it again.

Take Action Now!

Contact your legislator today by filling out the form to the right and getting directly into their mailboxes. Tell them to vote NO on HB 1554 / SB 1045. Protect Maryland’s businesses. Protect Maryland’s economy. Let’s stand together and stop this harmful tax before it’s too late.

Make your voice heard. Your business, your livelihood, and your community depend on it.

Take action now

What's your district & how can legislators reach you?

Your Message to the legislators

Dear (name and title inserted automatically),

On behalf of Maryland’s business community, including architects and design professionals who contribute to our built environment, I urge you to OPPOSE HB 1554 / SB 1045. This proposed tax on business services is not just another financial burden—it is a direct threat to the small businesses that drive our state’s economy.

Architecture firms, like many professional service providers, rely on essential support systems—accounting, IT, legal, and human resources—to operate efficiently. Taxing these services will not only increase costs but will make it harder for small firms and independent practitioners to remain competitive. At a time when we should be investing in local talent and fostering economic growth, this bill would push work out of Maryland and into neighboring states like Virginia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, where such taxes do not exist.

We have fought back against similar proposals before and won—because businesses across industries stood together in opposition. We must do the same now. If passed, this bill will lead to:
	•	Increased costs for businesses of all sizes, particularly small firms that form the foundation of Maryland’s economy.
	•	Lost revenue and job opportunities as companies are forced to cut expenses or relocate to tax-friendly states.
	•	Greater administrative burdens on businesses already stretched thin by inflation and regulatory pressures.

As architects, we are deeply invested in Maryland’s future—our firms design the homes, schools, and communities that shape our state. But if doing business in Maryland becomes untenable, firms will have no choice but to take their talent elsewhere.

We strongly urge you to reject HB 1554 / SB 1045. Let’s protect Maryland’s businesses, foster economic growth, and ensure that our professional service industries continue to thrive.