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HOUSE SIMPLE RESOLUTION 1
P5 6lr2820
By: Delegates Buckel, Pippy, Adams, Anderson, Arentz, Baker, Beauchamp,
Chisholm, Ciliberti, Ghrist, Griffith, Hartman, Hinebaugh, Hornberger,
Hutchinson, Jacobs, Kipke, R. Long, Mangione, McComas, Metzgar, Miller,
T. Morgan, Nkongolo, Reilly, Rose, Schmidt, Stonko, Tomlinson, Valentine,
and Wivell
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Rules and Executive Nominations
HOUSE SIMPLE RESOLUTION
A House Resolution concerning 1
State Agencies – Misconduct Related to Federal Funding – Legislative 2
Investigating Committee 3
FOR the purpose of creating a legislative investigating committee in accordance with Title 4
2, Subtitle 16 of the State Government Article to investigate allegations of 5
misconduct by State agencies related to federal funding; and generally relating to a 6
legislative investigating committee to investigate allegations of misconduct by State 7
agencies. 8
WHEREAS, An audit of the State Highway Administration, triggered by a tip to the 9
waste, fraud, and abuse hotline, found th at the Administration had inappropriately 10
charged nearly $360 million in expenditures to federally funded projects that were deemed 11
unauthorized with the intent to minimize the deficit in the Transportation Trust Fund; and 12
WHEREAS, The investigation triggered by the tip found that, from June 2020 13
through August 2025, there was a 3,523% increase in unauthorized federal fund 14
expenditures, with the most significant increase occurring between July 2022 and August 15
2025; and 16
WHEREAS, The Department of Transportation generally agreed with the findings 17
and recommendations of the investigation; and 18
WHEREAS, A whistleblower report regarding the Maryland Department of Health 19
alleges that two senior officials in the Department had a plan to maintain a high error rate 20
on payments related to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to take 21
advantage of a loophole in federal law that allows states to delay the payment of penalties 22
related to the Program; and 23
2 HOUSE SIMPLE RESOLUTION 1
WHEREAS, The above–referenced examples alone could cost Maryland’s taxpayers 1
$600 million in declined charges and fines and may be evidence of a troubling pattern of 2
behavior that could be occurring at other State agencies; and 3
WHEREAS, The provisions of Title 2, Subtitle 16 of the State Government Article 4
provide that the only method by which a legislative investigating committee may be created 5
is by a resolution of the Senate or the House of Delegates; and 6
WHEREAS, Such a resolution is required to set forth the size of the m embership of 7
the legislative investigating committee and its powers, purpose, duties, duration, subject 8
matter, and scope of investigatory authority; now, therefore, be it 9
RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES, That , in accordance with the 10
provisions of Title 2, Subtitle 16 of the State Government Article, a legislative investigating 11
committee is established to investigate allegations of misconduct related to federal funding 12
by: 13
(1) the Department of Transportation; 14
(2) the Maryland Department of Health; and 15
(3) any other State agency for which the legislative investigating 16
committee receives a credible complaint alleging misconduct related to federal funding; and 17
be it further 18
RESOLVED, That the legislative investigating committee established by t his 19
Resolution: 20
(1) shall consist of: 21
(i) four members of the House of Delegates who are Democrats, 22
appointed by the Speaker of the House; and 23
(ii) four members of the House of Delegates who are Republicans, 24
appointed by the House Minority Leader; 25
(2) shall have the powers conferred on legislative investigating committees 26
by Title 2, Subtitle 16 of the State Government Article, including the power to issue 27
subpoenas, apply for contempt citations, administer oaths, conduct and record public 28
hearings, examine witnesses, and direct witnesses to answer questions; 29
(3) shall elect a chair and vice chair, adopt rules that govern the 30
committee’s procedures, including the conduct of hearings, and employ necessary staff for 31
which funds are available; 32
(4) is subject to the quorum and voting requirements of § 2 –1606 of the 33
State Government Article; and 34
HOUSE SIMPLE RESOLUTION 1 3
(5) may meet when the General Assembly is in session and when it is not 1
in session; and be it further 2
RESOLVED, That the legislative inv estigating committee established by this 3
Resolution shall submit a report on the committee’s findings, conclusions, and 4
recommendations to the House of Delegates at the earliest date it deems possible; and be 5
it further 6
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Reso lution be forwarded by the Department of 7
Legislative Services to the Governor of Maryland and the Speaker of the House of 8
Delegates. 9