EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0221*
HOUSE BILL 221
P1 5lr0196
(PRE–FILED) CF SB 242
By: Chair, Health and Government Operations Committee (By Request –
Departmental – Information Technology)
Requested: September 19, 2024
Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 18, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Department of Information Technology – Maryland Digital Service 2
– Establishment 3
FOR the purpose of establishing the Maryland Digital Service within the Department of 4
Information Technology to support improved service delivery to Maryland residents 5
and agency staff through user–centered design, software development, and product 6
management best practices; and generally relating to the Maryland Digital Service. 7
BY adding to 8
Article – State Finance and Procurement 9
Section 3.5–901 through 3.5–905 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 9. Maryland 10
Digital Service” 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15
Article – State Finance and Procurement 16
SUBTITLE 9. MARYLAND DIGITAL SERVICE. 17
3.5–901. 18 2 HOUSE BILL 221
IN THIS SUBTITLE, “SERVICE” MEANS THE MARYLAND DIGITAL SERVICE. 1
3.5–902. 2
(A) THERE IS A MARYLAND DIGITAL SERVICE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT . 3
(B) THE SERVICE IS A CENTRALI ZED UNIT WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT THAT 4
COLLABORATES WITH UN ITS OF STATE GOVERNMENT TO S UPPORT IMPROVED 5
SERVICE DELIVERY TO MARYLAND RESIDENTS AN D AGENCY STAFF THROU GH 6
USER–CENTERED DESIGN , SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT , AND PRODUCT MANAGEME NT 7
BEST PRACTICES . 8
3.5–903. 9
THE SERVICE IS RESPONSIBL E FOR: 10
(1) ASSISTING UNITS OF STATE GOVERNMENT TO P RIORITIZE THE 11
DEVELOPMENT AND PROC UREMENT OF USER –FRIENDLY, ACCESSIBLE, AND 12
MULTILINGUAL DIGITAL PLATFORMS TO ENSURE THAT ALL MARYLAND RESIDENTS , 13
INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES , CAN EASILY ACCESS AN D USE 14
GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND INFORMATION ; 15
(2) WORKING COLLABORATIV ELY WITH UNITS OF STATE 16
GOVERNMENT TO : 17
(I) CONSOLIDATE AND STRE AMLINE MARYLAND’S WEBSITES 18
AND DIGITAL APPLICAT IONS TO REDUC E REDUNDANCY , COMPLEXITY, AND 19
MAINTENANCE COSTS ; AND 20
(II) PRIORITIZE PROJECTS THAT ARE FINANCIALLY EFFICIENT 21
AND DRIVE POSITIVE O UTCOMES FOR MARYLAND RESIDENTS ; AND 22
(3) OVERSEEING THE IMPLE MENTATION OF USER –CENTERED DESIGN 23
PRINCIPLES, ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS, AND BEST PRACTICES I N DIGITAL 24
SERVICE DELIVERY ACR OSS UNITS OF STATE GOVERNMENT . 25
3.5–904. 26
THE SECRETARY SHALL APPOI NT A CHIEF DIGITAL EXPERIENCE OFFICER TO 27
LEAD THE SERVICE. 28
3.5–905. 29 HOUSE BILL 221 3
UNITS OF STATE GOVERNMENT SHAL L COLLABORATE WITH T HE SERVICE TO 1
ENSURE THE ALIGNMENT AND FUNDING OF DIGIT AL INITIATIVES WITH THE 2
OVERALL GOALS AND PR IORITIES OF THE STATE CONSISTENT WITH THE STATEWIDE 3
INFORMATION TECHNOLO GY MASTER PLAN . 4
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 5
1, 2025. 6
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.