Sponsor seeks annual reporting on where public dollars are spent to track economic impact
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Summary
Sen. Nick Charles's bill would require recipients of state and local funding and vendors paid with public dollars to report to the comptroller on work location, workforce size, and MBE participation; the senator said the onetime IT cost would be modest (~$100,000), while the Maryland Association of Counties warned of administrative burden.
Sen. Nick Charles presented legislation to create a uniform reporting structure so the comptroller can compile an annual report showing where taxpayer dollars are spent and how they support Maryland's economy. "Each year, funding recipients and contractors report to the comptroller whether work occurs in state or out of state, workforce size, MBE participation, and where the work is performed," Charles said, calling the proposal "about transparency and informed policy making."
Charles said the fiscal note reflected a modest, onetime IT cost—"a $100,000 to understand the impact on billions in spending." He framed the measure as non-punitive and not meant to restrict competition, and said sponsor amendments could add materiality thresholds and phase in reporting.
Carrington Anderson of the Maryland Association of Counties told the committee counties support transparency but that implementing mandatory reporting would impose administrative burdens. Anderson cited the volume of county transactions and the need to amend procurement policies and internal databases to comply, and testified in respectful opposition.
The committee heard both sides and did not record final action on the bill in the transcript; the sponsor signaled willingness to work on practical implementation details and thresholds.
