ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - A Senate committee is backing a bill to close a tax loophole for third-party travel websites.
The committee voted 9-4 on Wednesday in favor of the legislation, which ensures booking companies such as Expedia and Travelocity pay Maryland the same amount of sales tax on that a customer would pay if they did not purchase a discounted hotel room from the travel site.
Sen. Richard Madaleno, D-Montgomery County, is the sponsor of the bill. According to the state's Department of Business and Economic Development, tourists spent more than $15 billion in Maryland in 2014. The industry is also the 10th largest private sector employer in the state.
The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.