HB 1557 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Procurement - Real Estate Advisory Committee and Property Acquisition and Lease Requirements

HB 1557 creates a Real Estate Advisory Committee within Maryland's Department of General Services to review major state real estate transactions (leases, renewals, or purchases exceeding $500,000 annually). The committee, composed of state agency officials and appointed experts, must analyze cost-benefit comparisons, parking needs, and justifications for non-standard terms before recommending approval to the Board of Public Works. It requires state agencies to submit detailed documentation - including rent justification, renovation costs, and landlord payment history - with all proposals. The bill mandates annual committee reports to the Governor and legislature, aiming to ensure transparency and cost-effectiveness in state real estate procurement.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 13, 2026 Signed May 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Third - Procurement - Real Estate Advisory Committee and Property Acquisition and Lease Requirements → Enrolled - Procurement - Real Estate Advisory Committee and Property Acquisition and Lease Requirements · 3 edits · May 12, 2026

MINOR

The bill was finalized as an enrolled version, adding a formal seal and proofreading section. Substantively, the scope of the Real Estate Advisory Committee was expanded to include oversight of property sales, transfers, exchanges, and grants, not just acquisitions or leases. The committee's composition and appointment process remained consistent, but the bill's explanatory text was updated to reflect these broader powers over all real estate transactions.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from covering only the acquisition or lease of real property to also covering the sale, transfer, exchange, or grant of property under certain circumstances.

SCOPE

The bill now explicitly requires the Board of Public Works to consider restrictions on approving the sale, transfer, exchange, or grant of certain property, in addition to acquisitions and leases.

DEFINITION

The summary description of the bill's purpose was updated to reflect the inclusion of sales and transfers alongside acquisitions and leases.

TECHNICAL

Enrolled bill formatting elements, including a seal date line and proofreader signatures, were added to finalize the document.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 25, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 31, 2026

How they voted

47–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 49

Mar 25, 2026

D Democratic36

34 Yea 2

94% Yea

R Republican13

13 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 12, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 368

executive

Apr 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Enrolled

lower

Apr 13, 2026

Introduced

House Concurs Senate Amendments

lower

Apr 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Introduced

Floor Amendment {

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion Laid Over (Senator Hettleman) Adopted

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Budget and Taxation

upper

Mar 31, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (118-16-8)

house of delegates

Mar 25, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (47-0-2)

senate

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

Referred Budget and Taxation

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Government, Labor, and Elections

lower

Feb 13, 2026

Committee

First Reading Government, Labor, and Elections

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors