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Supreme Court of Maryland project delayed; DLS recommends shifting FY26 bond funding amid higher cost estimate
Summary
DLS reported procurement delays for the new Supreme Court of Maryland building, recommended a $25 million FY26 reduction tied to the revised construction schedule, and noted the project’s estimated total cost rose by $11.1 million.
Jacob Polikov, budget analyst for the Department of Legislative Services, told the Capital Budget Subcommittee that the fiscal 2026 capital improvement program includes $51,117,000 for the new Supreme Court of Maryland building but that delays in procuring construction services have pushed the project schedule and increased the estimated total cost to about $204,100,000 — an $11,100,000 increase from the prior estimate.
Polikov said a protest of the original construction bid led the Department of General Services to cancel the first procurement and proceed with a second solicitation. DGS prepared a new solicitation expected to post in May 2025, with a Board of Public Works approval anticipated no sooner than October 2025; that schedule could further delay construction from May to October 2025 and change fiscal‑year funding needs.
“DLS recommends reducing $25,000,000 in general obligation bonds for the new Supreme Court of Maryland building for fiscal 2026 to account for the revised schedule,” Polikov said, and recommended increasing amounts preauthorized for later years so BPW will have sufficient authorization when the construction contract comes forward.
Polikov described the facility as intended to house the Supreme Court, the Appellate Court of Maryland, the Thurgood Marshall State Law Library and other judiciary units, and said the existing 1972 building has functional and ADA and security deficiencies. Chief Justice Matthew Fader and Chief Judge John Morrissey told the subcommittee the judiciary accepts the recommendations and did not add to their written submission.
Polikov also briefed subcommittee members on other judiciary projects — Hartford County District Court, Washington County District Court renovation, and a new Anne Arundel County District Court — noting schedule delays tied to property acquisitions and terminated architect contracts.
