Despite project financial and execution issues that have gained nationwide attention, Maryland lawmakers turned back two proposals to modify the state’s 2013 public-private partnership law—averting at least for now added scrutiny of major state and developer infrastructure collaborations.
Two bills, the MDOT Promises Act (HB67/SB843) and P3 Reform (HB485/SB361), passed the House but lagged in Senate committees before the legislature adjourned on April 12. They called for creation of a gubernatorially appointed oversight review board that would analyze P3 proposals and provide a separate required financial risk analysis before any large P3 contract could be approved, among other mandates.