Department of Social and Economic Mobility – Individuals With Disabilities

HB 1462 renames Maryland's Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs to include "Disability" and updates the Special Secretary title to reflect this change. It expands the Special Secretary's duties to specifically address matters concerning individuals with disabilities and adjusts the purpose of the Department of Social and Economic Mobility Special Fund. The bill updates several sections of Maryland law to ensure disability-owned businesses are explicitly included in procurement processes for state contracts and community service providers. This directly affects disability-owned businesses and the Department of Social and Economic Mobility, clarifying their role in state procurement and support programs. The changes aim to integrate disability business support into existing state government structures without creating new programs.