Maryland Office of the Inspector General - Establishment (Maryland Government Efficiency and Accountability Act of 2026)

HB 1085 establishes the Maryland Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to enhance state government efficiency and accountability. It creates a State Transparency Commission (comprising the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker) to appoint and oversee the Inspector General (IG), who must have qualifications in auditing, public administration, or related fields and serve a 6-year term. The bill requires all state agencies to cooperate with the IG during investigations and audits, protects IG records from public disclosure under the Public Information Act, and extends whistleblower protections to state employees reporting issues to the OIG. The IG will have authority to conduct efficiency reviews and track key performance indicators across state units.