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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0271*
HOUSE BILL 271
P2 6lr0286
(PRE–FILED) CF 6lr0285
By: Chair, Government, Labor, and Elections Committee (By Request –
Departmental – General Services)
Requested: September 26, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Government, Labor, and Elections
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
State Procurement – Streamlining Contract Modifications 2
FOR the purpose of authorizing the approval of certain contract modifications to State 3
contracts under certain circumstances; altering the definition of “contract 4
modification” for certain State procurements; requiring a procurement officer to 5
document certain contract modifications; an d generally relating to State 6
procurement. 7
BY renumbering 8
Article – State Finance and Procurement 9
Section 11–101(h) through (aa) 10
to be Section 11–101(i) through (bb), respectively 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 13
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 14
Article – State Finance and Procurement 15
Section 11–101(a) 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 18
BY adding to 19
Article – State Finance and Procurement 20
Section 11–101(h) and 15–112.1 21
Annotated Code of Maryland 22
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 23
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 24
Article – State Finance and Procurement 25
2 HOUSE BILL 271
Section 13–201 1
Annotated Code of Maryland 2
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 3
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 4
That Section(s) 11–101(h) through (aa) of Article – State Finance and Procurement of the 5
Annotated Code of Maryland be renumbered to be Section(s) 11 –101(i) throu gh (bb), 6
respectively. 7
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 8
as follows: 9
Article – State Finance and Procurement 10
11–101. 11
(a) In this Division II the following words have the meanings indicated unless: 12
(1) the context clearly requires a different meaning; or 13
(2) a different definition is provided for a particular title or provision. 14
(H) “CONTRACT MODIFICATION ” MEANS A WRITTEN ALTE RATION THAT 15
AFFECTS SPECIFICATIO NS, DELIVERY POINT , DATE OF DELIVERY , PERIOD O F 16
PERFORMANCE, PRICE, QUANTITY, OR OTHER PROVISIONS OF A PROCUREMENT 17
CONTRACT AND IS ACCOMPLISHED: 18
(1) IN ACCORDANCE WITH A CONTRACT PROVISION; OR 19
(2) BY MUTUAL ACTION OF THE PARTIES TO AN EX ISTING 20
PROCUREMENT CONTRACT. 21
13–201. 22
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 23
(b) “Change order” means a written order that: 24
(1) is signed by the procurement officer; and 25
(2) directs the contractor to make changes that the procurement contract 26
authorizes the procurement officer to order without the consent of the contractor. 27
(c) “Contract modification” [means a written alteration that: 28
HOUSE BILL 271 3
(1) affects specifications, delivery point, date of delivery, period of 1
performance, price, quantity, or other provisions of a procurement contract; and 2
(2) is accomplished by mutual action of the parties to the procurement 3
contract] HAS THE MEANING STATED IN § 11–101 OF THIS ARTICLE. 4
(d) “Cost–reimbursement contract” means a procurement contract under which 5
the State reimburses a contractor for fees and other costs that are: 6
(1) recognized as allowable and allocable under the regulations of the 7
Board on price and cost principles; and 8
(2) within a stated ceiling. 9
15–112.1. 10
(A) IN THIS SECTION , “CONTRACT MODIFIC ATION” HAS THE MEANING 11
STATED IN § 11–101 OF THIS ARTICLE. 12
(B) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO ALL STATE PROCUREMENT CONTRACTS. 13
(C) A PROCUREMENT OFFICER MAY APPROVE A CONTRACT MODIFICATION 14
IF: 15
(1) THE CONTRACT MODIFIC ATION DOES NOT MATER IALLY CHANGE 16
THE SCOPE OF WORK; AND 17
(2) THE CONTRACT MODIFICATION DOES NOT INCRE ASE THE VALUE 18
OF THE CONTRACT BY A N AMOUNT THAT EXCEED S THE SMALL PROCUREM ENT 19
AMOUNTS SPECIFIED IN § 13–109 OF THIS ARTICLE. 20
(D) THE HEAD OF A PRIMARY PROCUREMENT UNIT , THE CHIEF 21
PROCUREMENT OFFICER, OR THE HEAD OF A PRI MARY PROCUREMENT UNI T’S 22
DESIGNEE OR THE CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER’S DESIGNEE MAY APPRO VE A 23
CONTRACT MODIFICATION IF: 24
(1) THE CONTRACT MODIFIC ATION DOES NOT MATER IALLY CHANGE 25
THE SCOPE OF WORK; AND 26
(2) THE CONTRACT MODIFICATION DOES NOT INCREASE THE TOTAL 27
VALUE OF THE CONTRAC T BY MORE THAN FIVE TIMES THE SMALL PROC UREMENT 28
AMOUNTS SPECIFIED IN § 13–109 OF THIS ARTICLE. 29
4 HOUSE BILL 271
(E) A PROCUREMENT OFFICER SHALL DOCUMENT ANY C ONTRACT 1
MODIFICATION IN THE PROCUREMENT FILE. 2
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 3
October 1, 2026. 4