Department of Commerce - Complaint Portal and Annual Report

HB 179 requires Maryland's Department of Commerce to create an online portal where businesses and nonprofits can report government delays exceeding 60 days in processing licenses, permits, or registrations. The bill mandates annual reports to legislative committees by September 15 each year, listing the government agencies involved in each complaint while anonymizing data to protect privacy. It excludes cases where state or local laws already permit longer processing times. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, aiming to increase transparency around bureaucratic delays.