(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated, unless otherwise required by the context.

(b) “Bonds” means any bonds, notes, or other obligations of an issuer, the interest on which is exempt from federal taxation under the Code and the tax-exempt status of which is subject to the volume limitation established under § 146 of the Code.

(c) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the applicable regulations thereunder.

(d) “Community Development Administration” means that division of the Department of Housing and Community Development established under Title 4, Subtitle 2 of the Housing and Community Development Article.

(e) “County” means any county in the State of Maryland and the City of Baltimore.

(f) “Housing bonds” means any “qualified mortgage bonds” and bonds for any “qualified residential rental project” as those terms are defined in the Code.

(g) “Issuer” means any State issuer or local issuer.

(h) “Local issuer” means any county, municipality, or industrial development authority established under Title 12, Subtitle 1 of the Economic Development Article, or other agency with authority to issue bonds, other than a State issuer.

(i) “Maryland State ceiling” means the volume limitation established pursuant to § 146 of the Code on the aggregate dollar amount of bonds that may be issued by State and local issuers in any calendar year.

(j) “Minority business enterprise” means the minority business enterprises as defined in § 14-301 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.

(k) “Municipality” means any municipal corporation subject to the provisions of Article XI-E of the Maryland Constitution.

(l) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Commerce.

(m) “Secretary’s reserve” means the allocation of the Maryland State ceiling initially made under § 13-802(4) of this subtitle and augmented under § 13-805 of this subtitle.

(n) “State issuer” means the State of Maryland or any agency of the State of Maryland with authority to issue bonds.