Bill would tighten blind‑trust, disclosure and non‑participation rules for Maryland governors

Chair Mark Corman presented House Bill 932 at the Feb. 20 Environment and Transportation Committee hearing as legislation to strengthen existing conflict‑of‑interest requirements for governors. The sponsor said the measure responds to a series of high‑profile incidents—some in Maryland—that raised questions about whether current laws are sufficient to prevent the appearance or reality of self‑dealing.

The bill would tighten blind‑trust rules by clarifying which assets must be placed into a blind trust and by establishing a deadline for a newly inaugurated governor to create one. It would also require public posting of non‑participation agreements and send copies of those agreements to the secretary of the Board of Public Works so the board staff can track recusals and ensure the governor does not participate in votes or decisions that implicate disqualified interests. The bill would also require bidders for state grants to declare whether a governor (or enumerated relatives) has an ownership interest in the applicant.

Testimony to the committee included informational testimony from the State Ethics Commission, which warned the bill would impose operational and fiscal burdens on the agency to implement new posting and review requirements. Common Cause Maryland supported the bill, saying it would improve public confidence by making possible conflicts more transparent. Committee members asked whether the proposal should be expanded to other highly powerful local executives such as charter county executives or the Baltimore City mayor; the sponsor responded he focused on the governor as the uniquely powerful statewide office but said he would consider amendments to address local executives in separate legislation.

Members asked about the bill’s penalties and whether violations could be criminal. The sponsor said knowing and willful violations of the Conflict of Interest Act could be prosecuted as misdemeanors and that technical amendments are being prepared with input from the governor’s office on civil penalties for missing blind‑trust deadlines.

No committee vote was recorded. State Ethics Commission staff noted a fiscal impact and operational changes would be required to implement the bill’s posting and review requirements.