UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF
REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act File Number: 811-04521
| T. Rowe Price State Tax-Free Funds, Inc. |
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| (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) |
| 100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 |
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| (Address of principal executive offices) |
| David Oestreicher |
| 100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 |
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| (Name and address of agent for service) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (410) 345-2000
Date of fiscal year end: February 28
Date of reporting period: August 31, 2020
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Maryland Short-Term Tax-Free Bond Fund |
August 31, 2020 |
| PRMDX | Investor Class |
| TRMUX | I Class |
Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by SEC regulations, paper copies of the T. Rowe Price funds’ annual and semiannual shareholder reports will no longer be mailed, unless you specifically request them. Instead, shareholder reports will be made available on the funds’ website (troweprice.com/prospectus), and you will be notified by mail with a website link to access the reports each time a report is posted to the site.
If you already elected to receive reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and need not take any action. At any time, shareholders who invest directly in T. Rowe Price funds may generally elect to receive reports or other communications electronically by enrolling at troweprice.com/paperless or, if you are a retirement plan sponsor or invest in the funds through a financial intermediary (such as an investment advisor, broker-dealer, insurance company, or bank), by contacting your representative or your financial intermediary.
You may elect to continue receiving paper copies of future shareholder reports free of charge. To do so, if you invest directly with T. Rowe Price, please call T. Rowe Price as follows: IRA, nonretirement account holders, and institutional investors, 1-800-225-5132; small business retirement accounts, 1-800-492-7670. If you are a retirement plan sponsor or invest in the T. Rowe Price funds through a financial intermediary, please contact your representative or financial intermediary or follow additional instructions if included with this document. Your election to receive paper copies of reports will apply to all funds held in your account with your financial intermediary or, if you invest directly in the T. Rowe Price funds, with T. Rowe Price. Your election can be changed at any time in the future.
| T. ROWE PRICE MARYLAND TAX-FREE FUNDS |
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HIGHLIGHTS
| ■ | The broad municipal bond market experienced a sharp sell-off in March as investors reacted to the spread of the coronavirus, but a rebound in demand for tax-exempt bonds drove muni yields to record lows later in the period. |
| ■ | The Maryland Tax-Free Bond Fund and Maryland Short-Term Tax-Free Bond Fund lagged their peer group benchmarks, while the Maryland Tax-Free Money Fund performed in line with its peer group average. |
| ■ | Despite concerns about the impact of the pandemic on the state’s economy, Maryland ended the fiscal year in a better position than expected. |
| ■ | Although the public health crisis has placed fiscal pressures on even the most prepared state and local governments, we anticipate that the municipal market will remain high quality, with low defaults and high recovery rates relative to other areas of fixed income. |
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CIO Market Commentary
Dear Shareholder
Financial markets recorded broadly positive results during the first half of your fund’s fiscal year, the six-month period ended August 31, 2020. Although the spread of the coronavirus disrupted global economies, historic levels of fiscal and monetary stimulus helped stocks and bonds recover from a sharp downturn.
After the S&P 500 Index reached a record close on February 19, markets became increasingly volatile as the coronavirus spread outside China. Governments around the world issued stay-at-home orders to contain the virus, and some sectors, such as travel, restaurants, and shopping malls, nearly came to a halt. Over 22 million Americans lost their jobs in March and April, and many measures of economic activity, including retail sales and industrial production, experienced record-setting declines.
As the extent of the crisis grew, investors rapidly moved their assets into U.S. Treasuries and cash. By March 23, the S&P 500 had fallen by about a third from the start of the year, and even traditionally safer areas of the market, such as high-quality corporate and municipal bonds, sold off during the downturn.
In response to the rapid economic contraction, the Federal Reserve cut its short-term lending rate back to near zero and began massive purchases of government and corporate bonds to stimulate the economy and increase liquidity in the fixed income market. The federal government also provided trillions of dollars in fiscal help in the form of direct payments to most Americans, expanded unemployment insurance, and subsidies to sectors such as transportation and health care that had been directly impacted by the pandemic.
As lockdowns eased during the summer, there were signs of economic recovery along with indications that a full return to normalcy could be slow. Almost half of the jobs lost early in the crisis had been recovered by the end of August, but the unemployment rate remained high at 8.4%. Corporate earnings, meanwhile, were better than predicted in the second quarter but were down 32% from a year earlier.
Boosted by the stimulus, hopes for an early vaccine for the coronavirus, and better-than-expected economic news, nearly all market sectors finished the period in positive territory. Large-cap growth stocks, especially technology and other Internet-related firms, led the recovery and helped push the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite Index to record highs by the end of the period. Conversely, small-cap value stocks were among the weakest performers.
In the fixed income universe, Treasuries recorded solid gains as yields dropped to record lows. All other major segments of the bond market produced positive results for the period, but the municipal bond sector lagged and eked out only small gains. Munis experienced unprecedented volatility in March and April, although a rebound in investor demand for tax-free income has helped the sector recover. In addition, amid growing concerns over projected municipal budget shortfalls, the Fed established a Municipal Liquidity Facility to provide short-term financing to qualifying state and local governments.
As the end of 2020 approaches, we expect markets to remain volatile. On the one hand, the Fed is unlikely to raise rates anytime soon, and the scale of monetary and fiscal stimulus could continue to support investor sentiment. However, another wave of coronavirus infections and setbacks in the search for treatments and a vaccine could heighten risk aversion. The U.S. elections in November and tensions between the U.S. and China could also unsettle investors.
Although much has changed as a result of the pandemic, our commitment to disciplined fundamental research remains steady, and we will be closely following any developments that could impact markets. Our investment analysts had more than 11,000 meetings with company managements and municipal debt issuers in 2019, and they expect to maintain that pace this year as they seek out insights that can benefit your portfolio.
Thank you for your continued confidence in T. Rowe Price.
Sincerely,
Robert Sharps
Group Chief Investment Officer
Management’s Discussion of Fund Performance
MARYLAND TAX-FREE MONEY FUND
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The fund seeks to provide preservation of capital, liquidity, and, consistent with these objectives, the highest level of income exempt from federal and Maryland state and local income taxes.
FUND COMMENTARY
How did the fund perform in the past six months?
The Maryland Tax-Free Money Fund returned 0.22% in the six months ended August 31, 2020, performing in line with its peer group, the Lipper Other States Tax-Exempt Money Market Funds Average. (Returns for the I Class shares varied slightly, reflecting their different fee structure. Past performance cannot guarantee future results.)
What factors influenced the fund’s performance?
In response to the economic challenges posed by the coronavirus, the Federal Reserve cut the federal funds target rate from a range of 1.50% to 1.75% at the beginning of the period to a 0.00% to 0.25% target by mid-March. As a result of the Fed’s accommodative moves, the interest rates available to money market investors were reduced.
In addition to the accommodative shift in monetary policy, supply constraints and renewed demand put downward pressure on short-term municipal interest rates during the period. Demand for muni money market securities from separately managed accounts and muni bond funds increased after cash flows into muni bond portfolios turned positive again in May.
Maryland variable rate demand note (VRDN) yields averaged 0.69% since our last report six months ago, compared with a 1.15% average for the prior six-month reporting period. Longer rates decreased 74 basis points (0.74 percentage point) over the most recent six months, with one-year maturities trading at 0.18% at the end of the reporting period.
How is the fund positioned?
VRDNs, at 76% of net assets, represented the portfolio’s largest position in absolute terms at the end of the period, and we are overweight these very short-maturity (one to seven day) securities compared with our peer group average. We also had an overweight position in general market notes but were underweight commercial paper.
We shortened the fund’s weighted average maturity in March as a defensive measure, but we later extended it, and at the end of the period the weighted average maturity was in line with the peer group average. Our relative overweight to the front end of the money market yield curve provides the fund with the flexibility to respond to changes in interest rates or supply dynamics in the market.
Credit quality continues to play a significant part in our security selection. At the end of the period, our largest sector allocations were to health care and housing revenue debt as well as local general obligation securities. Some prominent positions in the portfolio included Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Trinity Health Corp., University of Maryland Medical System Obligated Group, and Johns Hopkins University. (Please refer to the portfolio of investments for a complete list of holdings and the amount each represents in the portfolio.)
What is portfolio management’s outlook?
We expect the Fed to maintain an accommodative stance in the near term given continuing concerns about the effect the pandemic will have on the economy. We also believe that supply and demand imbalances could continue to limit yield increases in the municipal money market.
As a result of these factors, we are pursuing a strategy that will allow the fund to quickly respond to a change in interest rate sentiment, an increase in issuance, or changing patterns of cash flows into or out of the muni money market. We believe the fund’s positioning in VRDNs and commercial paper is appropriate in this environment.
As always, we remain committed to managing a high-quality, diversified portfolio focused on liquidity and stability of principal, which we deem of utmost importance to our shareholders.
MARYLAND SHORT-TERM TAX-FREE BOND FUND
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The fund seeks to provide the highest level of income exempt from federal and Maryland state and local income taxes consistent with modest fluctuation in principal value.
FUND COMMENTARY
How did the fund perform in the past six months?
The Maryland Short-Term Tax-Free Bond Fund returned -0.16% for the six months ended August 31, 2020, underperforming the Lipper Short Municipal Debt Funds Average, which returned 0.52%. (Returns for I Class shares varied slightly, reflecting their different fee structure. Past performance cannot guarantee future results.)
What factors influenced the fund’s performance?
The spread of the coronavirus weighed on the municipal market during the period. However, shorter-maturity municipal bonds were supported by investor demand for lower-risk options, as well as accommodative monetary policy, and generally outperformed longer-maturity securities.
The largest detractor from the fund’s underperformance was our position in the Purple Line Light Rail Project in the transportation sector. These securities struggled amid a dispute between the state and its construction partners. We reduced our exposure, although we continue to hold the name as we believe the bonds will be supported by the state. (Please refer to the portfolio of investments for a complete list of holdings and the amount each represents in the portfolio.)
We were also heavily invested in some areas of the market that were acutely impacted by the coronavirus, including hospitals (where we had a 13% allocation), higher education (7.5%), life care (6.5%), and student housing (4.8%). This positioning weighed on our returns as credit spreads widened considerably in all of these sectors.
Although our holdings have adequate reserves, we have generally been reducing our exposure to sectors that face elevated pandemic risk by allowing bonds to mature without replacing them. Our credit analysts continue to closely monitor the situation, and we will make additional adjustments as needed.
The fund’s duration was modestly longer than the Bloomberg Barclays 1–3 Year Blend Index, and this interest rate positioning contributed to results as muni yields declined during the period. The fund’s overall high credit quality also aided relative returns as investors favored higher-quality debt in response to the downturn caused by the pandemic.
How is the fund positioned?
We continued to favor revenue bonds over general obligation (GO) debt in light of our long-held concerns that many municipalities will face challenges related to increased pension and health care liabilities. Within the revenue sector, the health care segment represents our largest position in absolute terms and relative to the benchmark.
Although hospitals faced challenges as a result of the pandemic, we continued to add bonds in the sector that offer attractive risk-adjusted yields. Notable purchases included bonds issued for the University of Maryland Medical System and MedStar Health Inc.
We also maintained a large position in education bonds but reduced our position in transportation bonds. As discussed in the previous section, we sold some of our Purple Line holdings. We were also able to reduce our position in local GO bonds as we remain focused on finding promising opportunities in revenue debt.
During the market dislocations in March and April, we sold some of our prerefunded holdings, which are highly liquid securities, to manage fund outflows and to take advantage of higher-yielding opportunities that became available. The fund remains a high-quality portfolio, with more than half its assets invested in AAA or AA securities.
What is portfolio management’s outlook?
The municipal market is large and diverse, with many issuers who have historically managed their finances in a prudent manner, building rainy day funds and properly funding their long-term liabilities. Nonetheless, the depth of the public health crisis has placed fiscal pressures on even the most prepared state and local governments.
Although market conditions have largely recovered, the long-term impacts of the coronavirus on the municipal asset class are still to be determined. Over the near term, state and local governments will continue to face considerable stress as they try to balance the escalating costs of providing necessary services to their citizens and adequately funding their existing long-term liabilities amid steep revenue shortfalls.
While states and other municipal borrowers may receive some additional relief beyond the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Federal Reserve’s Municipal Liquidity Facility, the situation will remain especially challenging for borrowers with budget stresses that existed prior to the crisis. Revenue-backed municipal bond issuers will face their own set of hurdles as the loss of revenues leads to financial pressures.
Nevertheless, with good fiscal management at many state and local governments, we anticipate that the municipal market will remain high quality, with low defaults and high recovery rates relative to other areas of fixed income. In addition to monetary policy support from the Federal Reserve, we expect growing investor demand for municipal debt and other technical factors to keep borrowing costs for muni issuers low and bond prices high. Though we anticipate challenges in the market going forward, we believe that the strength of our credit research and our fundamental, bottom-up approach should help our shareholders navigate this environment.
MARYLAND TAX-FREE BOND FUND
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The fund seeks to provide, consistent with prudent portfolio management, the highest level of income exempt from federal and Maryland state and local income taxes by investing primarily in investment-grade Maryland municipal bonds.
FUND COMMENTARY
How did the fund perform in the past six months?
The Maryland Tax-Free Bond Fund returned -1.51% for the six months ended August 31, 2020, underperforming the Lipper Maryland Municipal Debt Funds Average, which returned -1.19%. (Returns for I Class shares varied slightly, reflecting their different fee structure. Past performance cannot guarantee future results.)
What factors influenced the fund’s performance?
The six-month period we just completed was a challenging time for the municipal bond market and the Maryland Tax-Free Bond Fund. Municipal bond prices plummeted in March as the market reacted to the coronavirus and the ensuing lockdowns that brought much of the economy to a halt. However, by late April the muni market had begun a stunning recovery that led yields to all-time lows by August.
The impact of the virus on the municipal market varied by sector. Health care and transportation bonds were hit hard and have been slow to recover. About 35% of the portfolio’s holdings were in these sectors at the start of the period, and this positioning had a negative impact on our returns relative to our peers.
While the hospital bonds we held for the full period weighed on our performance, the purchases we made in the sector during the March sell-off produced some of the highest returns in the portfolio, lessening the negative impact of the health care sector on the fund’s overall results. We believe these securities remain good long-term investments.
In the transportation sector, bonds issued for construction of the Purple Line Light Rail Project on the perimeter of Washington were pressured as the state and its construction partners feuded. Regardless of the outcome of the dispute, we believe that the state of Maryland is obligated to make good for bondholders, and we maintained our position. (Please refer to the portfolio of investments for a complete list of holdings and the amount each represents in the portfolio.)
We took a different approach with our holdings in bonds supported by the revenues of the Baltimore Convention Center hotel, which came under pressure as occupancy dropped severely as a result of the coronavirus. We eliminated the bulk of our position as the duration of the pandemic crisis remains uncertain.
We added to our Puerto Rico holdings during the downturn, which was beneficial as some of these bonds gained more than 10% during the period. As we discussed in previous reports, we added Puerto Rico holdings in 2019 after a long hiatus from investing in the commonwealth, and many of those positions had been among our top performers leading into this year. Our overall position in Puerto Rico is still modest, and most of our activity has been focused on Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corporation (COFINA) bonds, as this name is the one major bond issuer in Puerto Rico to have already emerged from bankruptcy.
The portfolio also benefited from our addition of Buckeye Tobacco Settlement bonds from Ohio, even though the interest from these securities is not exempt from state taxes in Maryland. This is the first time we have invested in out-of-state long-maturity bonds, but we judged the opportunity was worth it—and the market rewarded us for the move. The Buckeye bonds were up over 50% from our purchase in late March and were the most significant contributor to our relative returns for the period.
How is the fund positioned?
On a sector basis, we have maintained a long-term emphasis on revenue bonds as lingering concerns about the ability of state and local governments to finance pensions and retiree health care benefits have steered us away from general obligation debt. Within the revenue sector, our largest positions at the end of the period were in health care, education, and transportation bonds. Notable purchases included bonds issued for Baltimore City Public Schools and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority.
Our yield curve positioning, a positive contributor for the fund in recent periods, detracted from relative returns in the most recent six months as bonds with longer maturities lagged their shorter-maturity counterparts. We extended the portfolio’s weighted average maturity during the period as the dramatic downward adjustment in prices in March offered up some opportunities to add good longer-maturity names at attractive prices.
About 44% of the portfolio is invested in AAA or AA rated bonds, the two highest quality categories, but our positioning in lower-rated bonds increased by the end of the period. Lower-quality securities staged a strong rally as the market recovered after the March sell-off, and our positioning helped us versus our peer group.
Maryland’s credit rating was unchanged during the period. Maryland is rated AAA with a stable outlook by all three of the major rating agencies. Despite concerns about the impact of the pandemic on the state’s economy, Maryland ended fiscal year 2020 in a better position than anticipated. Revenues increased 2.4%, and the general fund ended the year with a positive balance.
Maryland has a long history of responsible stewardship and prudent financial management, but, unfavorably, Maryland’s pension system was only funded at 72% on an actuarial basis according to the most recent data. Maryland historically has not always fully funded its actuarial required contribution, but it is currently. This funding has slowed net pension liability growth, but Maryland still faces heavy unfunded liabilities for its pension plans compared with other AAA rated states.
What is portfolio management’s outlook?
The municipal market is large and diverse, with many issuers who have historically managed their finances in a prudent manner, building rainy day funds and properly funding their long-term liabilities. Nonetheless, the depth of the public health crisis has placed fiscal pressures on even the most prepared state and local governments.
Although market conditions have largely recovered, the long-term impacts of the coronavirus on the municipal asset class are still to be determined. Over the near term, state and local governments will continue to face considerable stress as they try to balance the escalating costs of providing necessary services to their citizens and adequately funding their existing long-term liabilities amid steep revenue shortfalls.
While states and other municipal borrowers may receive some additional relief beyond the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Federal Reserve’s Municipal Liquidity Facility, the situation will remain especially challenging for borrowers with budget stresses that existed prior to the crisis. Revenue-backed municipal bond issuers will face their own set of hurdles as the loss of revenues leads to financial pressures.
Nevertheless, with good fiscal management at many state and local governments, we anticipate that the municipal market will remain high quality, with low defaults and high recovery rates relative to other areas of fixed income. In addition to monetary policy support from the Federal Reserve, we expect growing investor demand for municipal debt and other technical factors to keep borrowing costs for muni issuers low and bond prices high. Though we anticipate challenges in the market going forward, we believe that the strength of our credit research and our fundamental, bottom-up approach should help our shareholders navigate this environment.
The views expressed reflect the opinions of T. Rowe Price as of the date of this report and are subject to change based on changes in market, economic, or other conditions. These views are not intended to be a forecast of future events and are no guarantee of future results.
RISKS OF INVESTING IN A RETAIL MONEY MARKET FUND
You could lose money by investing in the Fund. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so. The Fund may impose a fee upon the sale of your shares or may temporarily suspend your ability to sell shares if the Fund’s liquidity falls below required minimums because of market conditions or other factors. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The Fund’s sponsor has no legal obligation to provide financial support to the Fund, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the Fund at any time.
RISKS OF INVESTING IN FIXED INCOME SECURITIES
Bonds are subject to interest rate risk (the decline in bond prices that usually accompanies a rise in interest rates) and credit risk (the chance that any fund holding could have its credit rating downgraded or that a bond issuer will default by failing to make timely payments of interest or principal), potentially reducing the fund’s income level and share price. The fund is less diversified than one investing nationally. Some income may be subject to state and local taxes and the federal alternative minimum tax.
BENCHMARK INFORMATION
Note: Bloomberg Index Services Ltd. Copyright © 2020, Bloomberg Index Services Ltd. Used with permission.
Note: Lipper, a Thomson Reuters Company, is the source for all Lipper content reflected in these materials. Copyright 2020 © Refinitiv. All rights reserved. Any copying, republication or redistribution of Lipper content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Lipper. Lipper shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
GROWTH OF $10,000
This chart shows the value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the fund over the past 10 fiscal year periods or since inception (for funds lacking 10-year records). The result is compared with benchmarks, which include a broad-based market index and may also include a peer group average or index. Market indexes do not include expenses, which are deducted from fund returns as well as mutual fund averages and indexes.
AVERAGE ANNUAL COMPOUND TOTAL RETURN
GROWTH OF $10,000
This chart shows the value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the fund over the past 10 fiscal year periods or since inception (for funds lacking 10-year records). The result is compared with benchmarks, which include a broad-based market index and may also include a peer group average or index. Market indexes do not include expenses, which are deducted from fund returns as well as mutual fund averages and indexes.
AVERAGE ANNUAL COMPOUND TOTAL RETURN
GROWTH OF $10,000
This chart shows the value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the fund over the past 10 fiscal year periods or since inception (for funds lacking 10-year records). The result is compared with benchmarks, which include a broad-based market index and may also include a peer group average or index. Market indexes do not include expenses, which are deducted from fund returns as well as mutual fund averages and indexes.
AVERAGE ANNUAL COMPOUND TOTAL RETURN
EXPENSE RATIOS
FUND EXPENSE EXAMPLE
As a mutual fund shareholder, you may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, such as redemption fees or sales loads, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and service (12b-1) fees, and other fund expenses. The following example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the most recent six-month period and held for the entire period.
Please note that the fund has two share classes: The original share class (Investor Class) charges no distribution and service (12b-1) fee, and the I Class shares are also available to institutionally oriented clients and impose no 12b-1 or administrative fee payment. Each share class is presented separately in the table.
Actual Expenses
The first line of the following table (Actual) provides information about actual account values and expenses based on the fund’s actual returns. You may use the information on this line, together with your account balance, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number on the first line under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The information on the second line of the table (Hypothetical) is based on hypothetical account values and expenses derived from the fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed 5% per year rate of return before expenses (not the fund’s actual return). You may compare the ongoing costs of investing in the fund with other funds by contrasting this 5% hypothetical example and the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period.
Note: T. Rowe Price charges an annual account service fee of $20, generally for accounts with less than $10,000. The fee is waived for any investor whose T. Rowe Price mutual fund accounts total $50,000 or more; accounts electing to receive electronic delivery of account statements, transaction confirmations, prospectuses, and shareholder reports; or accounts of an investor who is a T. Rowe Price Personal Services or Enhanced Personal Services client (enrollment in these programs generally requires T. Rowe Price assets of at least $250,000). This fee is not included in the accompanying table. If you are subject to the fee, keep it in mind when you are estimating the ongoing expenses of investing in the fund and when comparing the expenses of this fund with other funds.
You should also be aware that the expenses shown in the table highlight only your ongoing costs and do not reflect any transaction costs, such as redemption fees or sales loads. Therefore, the second line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. To the extent a fund charges transaction costs, however, the total cost of owning that fund is higher.
QUARTER-END RETURNS
Unaudited
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Unaudited
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
August 31, 2020 (Unaudited)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
August 31, 2020 (Unaudited)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Unaudited
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Unaudited
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Unaudited
| NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
T. Rowe Price State Tax-Free Funds, Inc. (the corporation) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act). The Maryland Short-Term Tax-Free Bond Fund (the fund) is a nondiversified, open-end management investment company established by the corporation. The fund seeks to provide the highest level of income exempt from federal and Maryland state and local income taxes consistent with modest fluctuation in principal value. The fund has two classes of shares: the Maryland Short-Term Tax-Free Bond Fund (Investor Class) and the Maryland Short-Term Tax-Free Bond Fund–I Class (I Class). I Class shares require a $1 million initial investment minimum, although the minimum generally is waived for retirement plans, financial intermediaries, and certain other accounts. Each class has exclusive voting rights on matters related solely to that class; separate voting rights on matters that relate to both classes; and, in all other respects, the same rights and obligations as the other class.
NOTE 1 - SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Preparation The fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 (ASC 946). The accompanying financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), including, but not limited to, ASC 946. GAAP requires the use of estimates made by management. Management believes that estimates and valuations are appropriate; however, actual results may differ from those estimates, and the valuations reflected in the accompanying financial statements may differ from the value ultimately realized upon sale or maturity.
Investment Transactions, Investment Income, and Distributions Investment transactions are accounted for on the trade date basis. Income and expenses are recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses are reported on the identified cost basis. Premiums and discounts on debt securities are amortized for financial reporting purposes. Income tax-related interest and penalties, if incurred, are recorded as income tax expense. Non-cash dividends, if any, are recorded at the fair market value of the asset received. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Income distributions are declared by each class daily and paid monthly. A capital gain distribution may also be declared and paid by the fund annually.
Class Accounting Shareholder servicing, prospectus, and shareholder report expenses incurred by each class are charged directly to the class to which they relate. Expenses common to both classes and investment income are allocated to the classes based upon the relative daily net assets of each class’s settled shares; realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated based upon the relative daily net assets of each class’s outstanding shares.
New Accounting Guidance In March 2020, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU), ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) – Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which provides optional, temporary relief with respect to the financial reporting of contracts subject to certain types of modifications due to the planned discontinuation of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and other interbank-offered based reference rates as of the end of 2021. The guidance is effective for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur during the period March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of the ASU on the fund’s financial statements.
Indemnification In the normal course of business, the fund may provide indemnification in connection with its officers and directors, service providers, and/or private company investments. The fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown; however, the risk of material loss is currently considered to be remote.
NOTE 2 - VALUATION
The fund’s financial instruments are valued and each class’s net asset value (NAV) per share is computed at the close of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), normally 4 p.m. ET, each day the NYSE is open for business. However, the NAV per share may be calculated at a time other than the normal close of the NYSE if trading on the NYSE is restricted, if the NYSE closes earlier, or as may be permitted by the SEC.
Fair Value The fund’s financial instruments are reported at fair value, which GAAP defines as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The T. Rowe Price Valuation Committee (the Valuation Committee) is an internal committee that has been delegated certain responsibilities by the fund’s Board of Directors (the Board) to ensure that financial instruments are appropriately priced at fair value in accordance with GAAP and the 1940 Act. Subject to oversight by the Board, the Valuation Committee develops and oversees pricing-related policies and procedures and approves all fair value determinations. Specifically, the Valuation Committee establishes procedures to value securities; determines pricing techniques, sources, and persons eligible to effect fair value pricing actions; oversees the selection, services, and performance of pricing vendors; oversees valuation-related business continuity practices; and provides guidance on internal controls and valuation-related matters. The Valuation Committee reports to the Board and has representation from legal, portfolio management and trading, operations, risk management, and the fund’s treasurer.
Various valuation techniques and inputs are used to determine the fair value of financial instruments. GAAP establishes the following fair value hierarchy that categorizes the inputs used to measure fair value:
Level 1 – quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical financial instruments that the fund can access at the reporting date
Level 2 – inputs other than Level 1 quoted prices that are observable, either directly or indirectly (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar financial instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar financial instruments in inactive markets, interest rates and yield curves, implied volatilities, and credit spreads)
Level 3 – unobservable inputs
Observable inputs are developed using market data, such as publicly available information about actual events or transactions, and reflect the assumptions that market participants would use to price the financial instrument. Unobservable inputs are those for which market data are not available and are developed using the best information available about the assumptions that market participants would use to price the financial instrument. GAAP requires valuation techniques to maximize the use of relevant observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. When multiple inputs are used to derive fair value, the financial instrument is assigned to the level within the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest-level input that is significant to the fair value of the financial instrument. Input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with financial instruments at that level but rather the degree of judgment used in determining those values.
Valuation Techniques Debt securities generally are traded in the over-the-counter (OTC) market and are valued at prices furnished by independent pricing services or by broker dealers who make markets in such securities. When valuing securities, the independent pricing services consider the yield or price of bonds of comparable quality, coupon, maturity, and type, as well as prices quoted by dealers who make markets in such securities. Generally, debt securities are categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy; however, to the extent the valuations include significant unobservable inputs, the securities would be categorized in Level 3.
Assets and liabilities other than financial instruments, including short-term receivables and payables, are carried at cost, or estimated realizable value, if less, which approximates fair value.
Thinly traded financial instruments and those for which the above valuation procedures are inappropriate or are deemed not to reflect fair value are stated at fair value as determined in good faith by the Valuation Committee. The objective of any fair value pricing determination is to arrive at a price that could reasonably be expected from a current sale. Financial instruments fair valued by the Valuation Committee are primarily private placements, restricted securities, warrants, rights, and other securities that are not publicly traded.
Subject to oversight by the Board, the Valuation Committee regularly makes good faith judgments to establish and adjust the fair valuations of certain securities as events occur and circumstances warrant. For instance, in determining the fair value of troubled or thinly traded debt instruments, the Valuation Committee considers a variety of factors, which may include, but are not limited to, the issuer’s business prospects, its financial standing and performance, recent investment transactions in the issuer, strategic events affecting the company, market liquidity for the issuer, and general economic conditions and events. In consultation with the investment and pricing teams, the Valuation Committee will determine an appropriate valuation technique based on available information, which may include both observable and unobservable inputs. The Valuation Committee typically will afford greatest weight to actual prices in arm’s length transactions, to the extent they represent orderly transactions between market participants, transaction information can be reliably obtained, and prices are deemed representative of fair value. However, the Valuation Committee may also consider other valuation methods such as a discount or premium from market value of a similar, freely traded security of the same issuer; discounted cash flows; yield to maturity; or some combination. Fair value determinations are reviewed on a regular basis and updated as information becomes available, including actual purchase and sale transactions of the issue. Because any fair value determination involves a significant amount of judgment, there is a degree of subjectivity inherent in such pricing decisions, and fair value prices determined by the Valuation Committee could differ from those of other market participants. Depending on the relative significance of unobservable inputs, including the valuation technique(s) used, fair valued securities may be categorized in Level 2 or 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
Valuation Inputs On August 31, 2020, all of the fund’s financial instruments were classified as Level 2, based on the inputs used to determine their fair values.
NOTE 3 - OTHER INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS
Consistent with its investment objective, the fund engages in the following practices to manage exposure to certain risks and/or to enhance performance. The investment objective, policies, program, and risk factors of the fund are described more fully in the fund’s prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
Restricted Securities The fund invests in securities that are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale. Prompt sale of such securities at an acceptable price may be difficult and may involve substantial delays and additional costs.
LIBOR The fund may invest in instruments that are tied to reference rates, including LIBOR. On July 27, 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority announced a decision to transition away from LIBOR by the end of 2021. There remains uncertainty regarding the future utilization of LIBOR and the nature of any replacement rate. Any potential effects of the transition away from LIBOR on the fund, or on certain instruments in which the fund invests, are not known. The transition process may result in, among other things, an increase in volatility or illiquidity of markets for instruments that currently rely on LIBOR, a reduction in the value of certain instruments held by a fund, or a reduction in the effectiveness of related fund transactions such as hedges. Any such effects could have an adverse impact on the fund’s performance.
Other Purchases and sales of portfolio securities other than short-term securities aggregated $13,472,000 and $26,624,000, respectively, for the six months ended August 31, 2020.
NOTE 4 - FEDERAL INCOME TAXES
No provision for federal income taxes is required since the fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code and distribute to shareholders all of its income and gains. Distributions determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations may differ in amount or character from net investment income and realized gains for financial reporting purposes. Financial reporting records are adjusted for permanent book/tax differences to reflect tax character but are not adjusted for temporary differences. The amount and character of tax-basis distributions and composition of net assets are finalized at fiscal year-end; accordingly, tax-basis balances have not been determined as of the date of this report.
The fund intends to retain realized gains to the extent of available capital loss carryforwards. Net realized capital losses may be carried forward indefinitely to offset future realized capital gains. As of February 29, 2020, the fund had $557,000 of available capital loss carryforwards.
At August 31, 2020, the cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $158,472,000. Net unrealized gain aggregated $1,064,000 at period-end, of which $1,951,000 related to appreciated investments and $887,000 related to depreciated investments.
NOTE 5 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The fund is managed by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (Price Associates), a wholly owned subsidiary of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (Price Group). The investment management agreement between the fund and Price Associates provides for an annual investment management fee, which is computed daily and paid monthly. The fee consists of an individual fund fee, equal to 0.10% of the fund’s average daily net assets, and a group fee. The group fee rate is calculated based on the combined net assets of certain mutual funds sponsored by Price Associates (the group) applied to a graduated fee schedule, with rates ranging from 0.48% for the first $1 billion of assets to 0.260% for assets in excess of $845 billion. The fund’s group fee is determined by applying the group fee rate to the fund’s average daily net assets. The fee is computed daily and paid monthly. At August 31, 2020, the effective annual group fee rate was 0.29%.
The Investor Class is subject to a contractual expense limitation through the expense limitation date indicated in the table below. During the limitation period, Price Associates is required to waive its management fee or pay any expenses (excluding interest; expenses related to borrowings, taxes, and brokerage; and other non-recurring expenses permitted by the investment management agreement) that would otherwise cause the class’s ratio of annualized total expenses to average net assets (net expense ratio) to exceed its expense limitation. The class is required to repay Price Associates for expenses previously waived/paid to the extent the class’s net assets grow or expenses decline sufficiently to allow repayment without causing the class’s net expense ratio (after the repayment is taken into account) to exceed the lesser of: (1) the expense limitation in place at the time such amounts were waived; or (2) the class’s current expense limitation. However, no repayment will be made more than three years after the date of a payment or waiver.
The I Class is also subject to an operating expense limitation (I Class Limit) pursuant to which Price Associates is contractually required to pay all operating expenses of the I Class, excluding management fees; interest; expenses related to borrowings, taxes, and brokerage; and other non-recurring expenses permitted by the investment management agreement, to the extent such operating expenses, on an annualized basis, exceed the I Class Limit. This agreement will continue through the expense limitation date indicated in the table below, and may be renewed, revised, or revoked only with approval of the fund’s Board. The I Class is required to repay Price Associates for expenses previously paid to the extent the class’s net assets grow or expenses decline sufficiently to allow repayment without causing the class’s operating expenses (after the repayment is taken into account) to exceed the lesser of: (1) the I Class Limit in place at the time such amounts were paid; or (2) the current I Class Limit. However, no repayment will be made more than three years after the date of a payment or waiver.
Pursuant to these agreements, expenses were waived/paid by and/or repaid to Price Associates during the six months ended August 31, 2020 as indicated in the table below. Including these amounts, expenses previously waived/paid by Price Associates in the amount of $165,000 remain subject to repayment by the fund at August 31, 2020. Any repayment of expenses previously waived/paid by Price Associates during the period would be included in the net investment income and expense ratios presented on the accompanying Financial Highlights.
In addition, the fund has entered into service agreements with Price Associates and a wholly owned subsidiary of Price Associates, each an affiliate of the fund (collectively, Price). Price Associates provides certain accounting and administrative services to the fund. T. Rowe Price Services, Inc. provides shareholder and administrative services in its capacity as the fund’s transfer and dividend-disbursing agent. For the six months ended August 31, 2020, expenses incurred pursuant to these service agreements were $33,000 for Price Associates and $23,000 for T. Rowe Price Services, Inc. All amounts due to and due from Price, exclusive of investment management fees payable, are presented net on the accompanying Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
The fund may participate in securities purchase and sale transactions with other funds or accounts advised by Price Associates (cross trades), in accordance with procedures adopted by the fund’s Board and Securities and Exchange Commission rules, which require, among other things, that such purchase and sale cross trades be effected at the independent current market price of the security. During the six months ended August 31, 2020, the fund had no purchases or sales cross trades with other funds or accounts advised by Price Associates.
NOTE 6 - OTHER MATTERS
Unpredictable events such as environmental or natural disasters, war, terrorism, pandemics, outbreaks of infectious diseases, and similar public health threats may significantly affect the economy and the markets and issuers in which a fund invests. Certain events may cause instability across global markets, including reduced liquidity and disruptions in trading markets, while some events may affect certain geographic regions, countries, sectors, and industries more significantly than others, and exacerbate other pre-existing political, social, and economic risks.
These types of events may also cause widespread fear and uncertainty, and result in, among other things: quarantines and travel restrictions, including border closings; disruptions to business operations and supply chains; exchange trading suspensions and closures, and overall reduced liquidity of securities, derivatives, and commodities trading markets; reductions in consumer demand and economic output; and significant challenges in healthcare service preparation and delivery. The funds could be negatively impacted if the value of a portfolio holding were harmed by such political or economic conditions or events. In addition, the operations of the funds, their investment advisers, and the funds’ service providers may be significantly impacted, or even temporarily halted, as a result of extensive employee illnesses or unavailability, government quarantine measures, and restrictions on travel or meetings and other factors related to public emergencies. Recently, a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) has resulted in disruptions to global business activity and caused significant volatility and declines in global financial markets.
Governmental and quasi-governmental authorities and regulators have in the past responded to major economic disruptions with a variety of significant fiscal and monetary policy changes, including but not limited to, direct capital infusions into companies, new monetary programs, and dramatically lower interest rates. An unexpected or quick reversal of these policies, or the ineffectiveness of these policies, could negatively impact overall investor sentiment and further increase volatility in securities markets.
INFORMATION ON PROXY VOTING POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND RECORDS
A description of the policies and procedures used by T. Rowe Price funds and portfolios to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available in each fund’s Statement of Additional Information. You may request this document by calling 1-800-225-5132 or by accessing the SEC’s website, sec.gov.
The description of our proxy voting policies and procedures is also available on our corporate website. To access it, please visit the following Web page:
https://www.troweprice.com/corporate/en/utility/policies.html
Scroll down to the section near the bottom of the page that says, “Proxy Voting Policies.” Click on the Proxy Voting Policies link in the shaded box.
Each fund’s most recent annual proxy voting record is available on our website and through the SEC’s website. To access it through T. Rowe Price, visit the website location shown above, and scroll down to the section near the bottom of the page that says, “Proxy Voting Records.” Click on the Proxy Voting Records link in the shaded box.
HOW TO OBTAIN QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
Effective for reporting periods on or after March 1, 2019, a fund, except a money market fund, files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. Prior to March 1, 2019, a fund, including a money market fund, filed a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. A money market fund files detailed month-end portfolio holdings information on Form N-MFP with the SEC each month and posts a complete schedule of portfolio holdings on its website (troweprice.com) as of each month-end for the previous six months. A fund’s Forms N-PORT, N-MFP, and N-Q are available electronically on the SEC’s website (sec.gov).
APPROVAL OF INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
Each year, the fund’s Board of Directors (Board) considers the continuation of the investment management agreement (Advisory Contract) between the fund and its investment advisor, T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (Advisor), on behalf of the fund. In that regard, at a meeting held on March 9–10, 2020 (Meeting), the Board, including all of the fund’s independent directors, approved the continuation of the fund’s Advisory Contract. At the Meeting, the Board considered the factors and reached the conclusions described below relating to the selection of the Advisor and the approval of the Advisory Contract. The independent directors were assisted in their evaluation of the Advisory Contract by independent legal counsel from whom they received separate legal advice and with whom they met separately.
In providing information to the Board, the Advisor was guided by a detailed set of requests for information submitted by independent legal counsel on behalf of the independent directors. In considering and approving the Advisory Contract, the Board considered the information it believed was relevant, including, but not limited to, the information discussed below. The Board considered not only the specific information presented in connection with the Meeting but also the knowledge gained over time through interaction with the Advisor about various topics. The Board meets regularly and, at each of its meetings, covers an extensive agenda of topics and materials and considers factors that are relevant to its annual consideration of the renewal of the T. Rowe Price funds’ advisory contracts, including performance and the services and support provided to the funds and their shareholders.
Services Provided by the Advisor
The Board considered the nature, quality, and extent of the services provided to the fund by the Advisor. These services included, but were not limited to, directing the fund’s investments in accordance with its investment program and the overall management of the fund’s portfolio, as well as a variety of related activities such as financial, investment operations, and administrative services; compliance; maintaining the fund’s records and registrations; and shareholder communications. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the Advisor’s senior management team and investment personnel involved in the management of the fund, as well as the Advisor’s compliance record. The Board concluded that it was satisfied with the nature, quality, and extent of the services provided by the Advisor.
Investment Performance of the Fund
The Board took into account discussions with the Advisor and reports that it receives throughout the year relating to fund performance. In connection with the Meeting, the Board reviewed the fund’s net annualized total returns for the 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, and 10-year periods as of September 30, 2019, and compared these returns with the performance of a peer group of funds with similar investment programs and a wide variety of other previously agreed-upon comparable performance measures and market data, including those supplied by Broadridge, which is an independent provider of mutual fund data.
On the basis of this evaluation and the Board’s ongoing review of investment results, and factoring in the relative market conditions during certain of the performance periods, the Board concluded that the fund’s performance was satisfactory.
Costs, Benefits, Profits, and Economies of Scale
The Board reviewed detailed information regarding the revenues received by the Advisor under the Advisory Contract and other benefits that the Advisor (and its affiliates) may have realized from its relationship with the fund, including any research received under “soft dollar” agreements and commission-sharing arrangements with broker-dealers. The Board considered that the Advisor may have received some benefit from soft-dollar arrangements pursuant to which research is received from broker-dealers that execute the fund’s portfolio transactions. However, the Board also considered that, effective January 2020, the Advisor began bearing the cost of research services for all client accounts that it advises, including the T. Rowe Price funds. The Board received information on the estimated costs incurred and profits realized by the Advisor from managing the T. Rowe Price funds. The Board also reviewed estimates of the profits realized from managing the fund in particular, and the Board concluded that the Advisor’s profits were reasonable in light of the services provided to the fund.
The Board also considered whether the fund benefits under the fee levels set forth in the Advisory Contract from any economies of scale realized by the Advisor. Under the Advisory Contract, the fund pays a fee to the Advisor for investment management services composed of two components—a group fee rate based on the combined average net assets of most of the T. Rowe Price funds (including the fund) that declines at certain asset levels and an individual fund fee rate based on the fund’s average daily net assets—and the fund pays its own expenses of operations (subject to contractual expense limitations agreed to by the Advisor with respect to the Investor Class and I Class). At the Meeting, the Board approved an additional 0.005% breakpoint to the group fee schedule, effective May 1, 2020. With the new breakpoint, the group fee rate will decline to 0.260% when the combined average net assets of the applicable T. Rowe Price funds exceed $845 billion. The Board concluded that the advisory fee structure for the fund continued to provide for a reasonable sharing of benefits from any economies of scale with the fund’s investors.
Fees and Expenses
The Board was provided with information regarding industry trends in management fees and expenses. Among other things, the Board reviewed data for peer groups that were compiled by Broadridge, which compared: (i) contractual management fees, total expenses, actual management fees, and nonmanagement expenses of the Investor Class of the fund with a group of competitor funds selected by Broadridge (Expense Group) and (ii) total expenses, actual management fees, and nonmanagement expenses of the Investor Class of the fund with a broader set of funds within the Lipper investment classification (Expense Universe). The Board considered the fund’s contractual management fee rate, actual management fee rate (which reflects the management fees actually received from the fund by the Advisor after any applicable waivers, reductions, or reimbursements), operating expenses, and total expenses (which reflect the net total expense ratio of the fund after any waivers, reductions, or reimbursements) in comparison with the information for the Broadridge peer groups. Broadridge generally constructed the peer groups by seeking the most comparable funds based on similar investment classifications and objectives, expense structure, asset size, and operating components and attributes and ranked funds into quintiles, with the first quintile representing the funds with the lowest relative expenses and the fifth quintile representing the funds with the highest relative expenses. The information provided to the Board indicated that the fund’s contractual management fee ranked in the third quintile (Expense Group), the fund’s actual management fee rate ranked in the second quintile (Expense Group and Expense Universe), and the fund’s total expenses ranked in the third and fifth quintiles (Expense Group) and fourth and fifth quintiles (Expense Universe).
The Board also reviewed the fee schedules for other investment portfolios with similar mandates that are advised or subadvised by the Advisor and its affiliates, including separately managed accounts for institutional and individual investors; subadvised funds; and other sponsored investment portfolios, including collective investment trusts and pooled vehicles organized and offered to investors outside the United States. Management provided the Board with information about the Advisor’s responsibilities and services provided to subadvisory and other institutional account clients, including information about how the requirements and economics of the institutional business are fundamentally different from those of the mutual fund business. The Board considered information showing that the Advisor’s mutual fund business is generally more complex from a business and compliance perspective than its institutional account business and considered various relevant factors, such as the broader scope of operations and oversight, more extensive shareholder communication infrastructure, greater asset flows, heightened business risks, and differences in applicable laws and regulations associated with the Advisor’s proprietary mutual fund business. In assessing the reasonableness of the fund’s management fee rate, the Board considered the differences in the nature of the services required for the Advisor to manage its mutual fund business versus managing a discrete pool of assets as a subadvisor to another institution’s mutual fund or for an institutional account and that the Advisor generally performs significant additional services and assumes greater risk in managing the fund and other T. Rowe Price funds than it does for institutional account clients.
On the basis of the information provided and the factors considered, the Board concluded that the fees paid by the fund under the Advisory Contract are reasonable.
Approval of the Advisory Contract
As noted, the Board approved the continuation of the Advisory Contract. No single factor was considered in isolation or to be determinative to the decision. Rather, the Board concluded, in light of a weighting and balancing of all factors considered, that it was in the best interests of the fund and its shareholders for the Board to approve the continuation of the Advisory Contract (including the fees to be charged for services thereunder).
LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
In accordance with Rule 22e-4 (Liquidity Rule) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the fund has established a liquidity risk management program (Liquidity Program) reasonably designed to assess and manage the fund’s liquidity risk, which generally represents the risk that the fund would not be able to meet redemption requests without significant dilution of remaining investors’ interests in the fund. The fund’s Board of Directors (Board) has appointed the fund’s investment advisor, T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (Price Associates), as the administrator of the Liquidity Program. As administrator, Price Associates is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Liquidity Program and, among other things, is responsible for assessing, managing, and reviewing with the Board at least annually the liquidity risk of each T. Rowe Price fund. Price Associates has delegated oversight of the Liquidity Program to a Liquidity Risk Committee (LRC), which is a cross-functional committee composed of personnel from multiple departments within Price Associates.
The Liquidity Program’s principal objectives include supporting the T. Rowe Price funds’ compliance with limits on investments in illiquid assets and mitigating the risk that the fund will be unable to timely meet its redemption obligations. The Liquidity Program also includes a number of elements that support the management and assessment of liquidity risk, including an annual assessment of factors that influence the fund’s liquidity and the periodic classification and reclassification of a fund’s investments into categories that reflect the LRC’s assessment of their relative liquidity under current market conditions. Under the Liquidity Program, every investment held by the fund is classified at least monthly into one of four liquidity categories based on estimations of the investment’s ability to be sold during designated time frames in current market conditions without significantly changing the investment’s market value.
As required by the Liquidity Rule, at a meeting held on May 4, 2020, the Board was presented with an annual assessment prepared by the LRC, on behalf of Price Associates, that addressed the operation of the Liquidity Program and assessed its adequacy and effectiveness of implementation, including any material changes to the Liquidity Program and the determination of each fund’s Highly Liquid Investment Minimum (HLIM). The annual assessment included consideration of the following factors, as applicable: the fund’s investment strategy and liquidity of portfolio investments during normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions, including whether the investment strategy is appropriate for an open-end fund, the extent to which the strategy involves a relatively concentrated portfolio or large positions in particular issuers, and the use of borrowings for investment purposes and derivatives; short-term and long-term cash flow projections covering both normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions; and holdings of cash and cash equivalents, as well as available borrowing arrangements.
For the fund and other T. Rowe Price funds, the annual assessment incorporated a report related to a fund’s holdings, shareholder and portfolio concentration, any borrowings during the period, cash flow projections, and other relevant data for the period of June 1, 2019, through March 31, 2020. The report described the methodology for classifying a fund’s investments (including derivative transactions) into one of four liquidity categories, as well as the percentage of a fund’s investments assigned to each category. It also explained the methodology for establishing a fund’s HLIM and noted that the LRC reviews the HLIM assigned to each fund no less frequently than annually.
Certain provisions of the Liquidity Program initially became effective on December 1, 2018, and the full Liquidity Program was formally approved by the Board in April 2019. During the period covered by the annual assessment, the LRC has concluded, and reported to the Board, that the Liquidity Program since its implementation has operated adequately and effectively and is reasonably designed to assess and manage the fund’s liquidity risk.
Item 1. (b) Notice pursuant to Rule 30e-3.
Not applicable.
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
A code of ethics, as defined in Item 2 of Form N-CSR, applicable to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions is filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s annual Form N-CSR. No substantive amendments were approved or waivers were granted to this code of ethics during the registrant’s most recent fiscal half-year.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
Disclosure required in registrant’s annual Form N-CSR.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Disclosure required in registrant’s annual Form N-CSR.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Investments.
(a) Not applicable. The complete schedule of investments is included in Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.
(b) Not applicable.
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
Not applicable.
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
There has been no change to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board of directors.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
(a) The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have evaluated the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures within 90 days of this filing and have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective, as of that date, in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the registrant in this Form N-CSR was recorded, processed, summarized, and reported timely.
(b) The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer are aware of no change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 13. Exhibits.
(a)(1) The registrant’s code of ethics pursuant to Item 2 of Form N-CSR is filed with the registrant’s annual Form N-CSR.
(3) Written solicitation to repurchase securities issued by closed-end companies: not applicable.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
T. Rowe Price State Tax-Free Funds, Inc.
| By | /s/ David Oestreicher | |||||
| David Oestreicher | ||||||
| Principal Executive Officer | ||||||
| Date | October 16, 2020 | |||||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| By | /s/ David Oestreicher | |||||
| David Oestreicher | ||||||
| Principal Executive Officer | ||||||
| Date | October 16, 2020 | |||||
| By | /s/ Alan S. Dupski | |||||
| Alan S. Dupski | ||||||
| Principal Financial Officer | ||||||
| Date | October 16, 2020 | |||||