Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland Senate Bill SB177 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3		EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4		[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5		-	Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
6		-	Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
7		-	amendment.
8	5		sb0177
9	6
10	7		SENATE BILL 177
11	8		P2, F1 5lr1677
12	9		(PRE–FILED) CF HB 56
13	10		By: Senator Hester
14	11		Requested: November 1, 2024
15	12		Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
16	13		Assigned to: Budget and Taxation
17		-	Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
18		-	Senate action: Adopted
19		-	Read second time: March 9, 2025
20	14
21		-	~~CHAPTER ______~~
	15	+	A BILL ENTITLED
22	16
23	17		AN ACT concerning 1
24	18
25	19		Procurement – State Department of Education – Control Authority – Local Food 2
26		-	Purchasing ~~Program~~ 3
	20	+	Purchasing 3
27	21
28		-	FOR the purpose of authorizing ~~requiring~~ the State Department of Education to engage in 4
29		-	~~or control~~ procurements of certain local food; altering the list of units exempt from 5
30		-	~~the~~ authority of the Board of Public Works to control procurement to include the 6
	22	+	FOR the purpose of authorizing the State Department of Education to engage in or control 4
	23	+	procurements of certain local food; altering the list of units exempt from the 5
	24	+	authority of the Board of Public Works to control procurement to include the 6
31	25		Department for the purpose of master contracting; altering the list of units that are 7
32	26		defined as designated procurement units to include the Department with respect to 8
33		-	master contracts related to local food, in coordination with the Department of 9
34		-	General Services and the Department of Agriculture, to establish a program to 10
35		-	procure certain local food for local school systems from certain providers under 11
36		-	certain circumstances; altering a certain percentage price preference adopted by the 12
37		-	Board of Public Works by regulation; requiring the Board to adopt certain 13
38		-	regulations relating to limiting responses for certain procurements; and generally 14
39		-	relating to the State Department of Education and State procurement. 15
	27	+	master contracts related to local food; and generally relating to the State Department 9
	28	+	of Education and State procurement. 10
40	29
41		-	BY adding to 16
42		-	Article – Education 17
43		-	Section 7–136 18
	30	+	BY adding to 11
	31	+	Article – Education 12
	32	+	Section 7–136 13
	33	+	Annotated Code of Maryland 14
	34	+	(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 15
	35	+
	36	+	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 16
	37	+	Article – State Finance and Procurement 17
	38	+	Section 12–101(a), 12–107(b)(4) and (5), 13–101(b), and 13–113(a) 18
44	39		Annotated Code of Maryland 19
45		-	(~~2022~~ Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 20
	40	+	(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 20
46	41
47		-	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 21
48		-	Article – State Finance and Procurement 22 2 SENATE BILL 177
	42	+	BY adding to 21
	43	+	Article – State Finance and Procurement 22
	44	+	Section 12–107(b)(6) 23
	45	+	Annotated Code of Maryland 24
	46	+	(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 25
	47	+
	48	+	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 26 2 SENATE BILL 177
49	49
50	50
51		-	~~Section 12~~–~~101(a), 12–107(b)(4)~~ and ~~(5), 13–101(b), and 13–113(a) 12–107(b)(2)(ix),~~ 1
52		-	14–~~407,~~ and 14–~~702~~ 2
	51	+	Article – State Finance and Procurement 1
	52	+	Section 13–101(a) and (e) and 14–701(a) through (d) 2
53	53		Annotated Code of Maryland 3
54	54		(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 4
55	55
56		-	BY adding to 5
57		-	Article – State Finance and Procurement 6
58		-	Section 12–107(b)(6) 7
59		-	Annotated Code of Maryland 8
60		-	(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 9
	56	+	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 5
	57	+	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 6
61	58
62		-	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 10
63		-	Article – State Finance and Procurement 11
64		-	Section 13–101(a) and (e) and 14–701(a) through (d) 12
65		-	Annotated Code of Maryland 13
66		-	(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 14
	59	+	Article – Education 7
67	60
68		-	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 15
69		-	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 16
	61	+	7–136. 8
70	62
71		-	Article – Education 17
	63	+	(A) IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 12–107(B) OF THE STATE FINANCE AND 9
	64	+	PROCUREMENT ARTICLE, THE DEPARTMENT , WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF ANY 10
	65	+	OTHER PRIMARY PROCUR EMENT UNIT , MAY ENGAGE IN OR CON TROL 11
	66	+	PROCUREMENT OF : 12
72	67
73		-	7–136. 18
	68	+	(1) FOOD GROWN WITHIN A 200–MILE RADIUS FROM AN ELEMENTARY 13
	69	+	OR SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR WHICH A LOCAL SC HOOL SYSTEM ENTERS I NTO A 14
	70	+	MASTER CONTRACT WITH THE DEPARTMENT ; 15
74	71
75		-	(A) (1) IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 12–107(B) OF THE STATE FINANCE AND 19
76		-	PROCUREMENT ARTICLE, THE DEPARTMENT , WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF ANY 20
77		-	OTHER PRIMARY PROCUR EMENT UNIT, MAY THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH A 21
78		-	PROGRAM, WHEN FUNDING IS AVAI LABLE, TO ENGAGE IN OR CONTROL 22
79		-	PROCUREMENT OF LOCAL FOOD FOR LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS .: 23
	72	+	(2) FOOD GROWN AT A CERTI FIED LOCAL FARM UNDE R § 14–701 OF 16
	73	+	THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE; AND 17
80	74
81		-	(1) ~~FOOD GROWN WITHIN~~ A ~~200–MILE RADIUS FROM AN ELEMENTARY 24~~
82		-	~~OR SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR WHICH A LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM ENTERS INTO A 25~~
83		-	~~MASTER CONTRACT WITH~~ THE ~~DEPARTMENT ; 26~~
	75	+	(3) CERTIFIED CHESAPEAKE INVASIVE S PECIES PROVIDED BY A 18
	76	+	CERTIFIED CHESAPEAKE INVASIVE S PECIES PROVIDER AS D EFINED IN § 14–701 OF 19
	77	+	THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE. 20
84	78
85		-	(2) FOOD GROWN AT A CERTI FIED LOCAL FARM UNDE R § 14–701 OF 27
86		-	THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE; AND 28
	79	+	(B) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL COOR DINATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF 21
	80	+	AGRICULTURE AND ANY O THER RELE VANT UNIT OF STATE GOVERNMENT TO 22
	81	+	ESTABLISH A CENTRALI ZED PLATFORM TO ENCO URAGE THE PARTICIPAT ION OF 23
	82	+	FARMERS AND DISTRIBU TORS IN PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN ACC ORDANCE 24
	83	+	WITH SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION. 25
87	84
88		-	(3) CERTIFIED CHESAPEAKE INVASIVE S PECIES PROVIDED BY A 29
89		-	CERTIFIED CHESAPEAKE INVASIVE SPECIES PRO VIDER AS DEFINED IN § 14–701 OF 30
90		-	THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE 31
	85	+	(C) SUBJECT TO § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE 26
	86	+	DEPARTMENT SHALL REPO RT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON OR BEFORE 27
	87	+	DECEMBER 1 EACH YEAR ON THE TOT AL NUMBER AND DOLLAR VALUE OF MASTER 28
	88	+	CONTRACTS IN ACCORDA NCE WITH THIS SECTIO N WITH: 29
91	89
92		-	(2) ~~THE PROGRAM SHALL PRO CURE PRODUCTS THAT A RE: 32~~
	90	+	(1) LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS ; 30
93	91
94		-	(I) FOODS GROWN AT A CERT IFIED LOCAL FARM , AS DEFINED 33
95		-	IN § 14–701 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE; 34
96		-	SENATE BILL 177 3
	92	+	(2) CERTIFIED LOCAL FARMS ; AND 31
97	93
98		-
99		-	(II) CERTIFIED CHESAPEAKE INVASIVE S PECIES PROVIDED BY 1
100		-	A CERTIFIED CHESAPEAKE INVASIVE S PECIES PROVIDER , AS DEFINED IN § 14–701 2
101		-	OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE; AND 3
102		-
103		-	(III) FOODS GROWN WITHIN A 250–MILE RADIUS FROM AN 4
104		-	ELEMENTARY OR SECONDARY SCHOOL IN THE STATE. 5
105		-
106		-	(3) THE PROGRAM SHALL GIV E PREFERENCE TO PROV IDERS 6
107		-	QUALIFYING UNDER PAR AGRAPH (2)(I) AND (II) OF THIS SUBSECTION . 7
108		-
109		-	(B) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL COOR DINATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF 8
110		-	AGRICULTURE , THE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES, AND ANY OTHER 9
111		-	RELEVANT UNIT OF STATE GOVERNMENT TO E STABLISH THE PROGRAM , INCLUDING 10
112		-	A CENTRALIZED PLATFO RM TO ENCOURAGE THE PARTICIPATION OF FAR MERS AND 11
113		-	DISTRIBUTORS IN PROC UREMENT OPPORTUNITIE S IN ACCORDANCE WITH 12
114		-	SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION. 13
115		-
116		-	(C) SUBJECT TO § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE 14
117		-	DEPARTMENT SHALL REPO RT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON OR BEFORE 15
118		-	DECEMBER 1 EACH YEAR ON THE TOT AL NUMBER AND DOLLAR VALUE OF MASTER 16
119		-	CONTRACTS IN ACCORDA NCE WITH THIS SECTIO N WITH: 17
120		-
121		-	(1) LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS; 18
122		-
123		-	(2) CERTIFIED LOCAL FARMS ; AND 19
124		-
125		-	(3) CERTIFIED CHESAPEAKE INVASIVE S PECIES PROVIDERS 20
126		-	PROCUREMENT CONTRACT S FOR LOCAL FOOD AT LOCAL SCHOOLS , INCLUDING THE 21
127		-	NUMBER OF THESE CONT RACTS THAT ARE WITH CERTIFIED LOCAL FARM S OR 22
128		-	CERTIFIED CHESAPEAKE INV ASIVE SPECIES PROVID ERS. 23
129		-
130		-	Article – State Finance and Procurement 24
131		-
132		-	12–101. 25
133		-
134		-	(a) This section does not apply to: 26
135		-
136		-	(1) capital expenditures by the Department of Transportation or the 27
137		-	Maryland Transportation Authority, in connection with State roads, bridges, or highways, 28
138		-	as provided in § 12–202 of this title; [or] 29
139		-
140		-	(2) procurements by the Department of General Services for the purpose of 30
141		-	modernizing cybersecurity infrastructure for the State valued below $1,000,000; OR 31
142		-	4 SENATE BILL 177
143		-
144		-
145		-	(3) PROCUREMENTS BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 1
146		-	FOR THE PURPOSE OF M ASTER CONTRACTING AS DEFINED IN § 13–101 OF THIS 2
147		-	ARTICLE. 3
148		-
149		-	12–107. 4
150		-
151		-	(b) Subject to the authority of the Board, jurisdiction over procurement is as 5
152		-	follows: 6
153		-
154		-	(2) the Department of General Services may: 7
155		-
156		-	(ix) coordinate with governmental entities and local entities to 8
157		-	maximize use of intergovernmental purchasing agreements established in accordance with 9
158		-	§ 13–110 of this article, INCLUDING WORKING WI TH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF 10
159		-	EDUCATION TO PROCURE LOCAL FOOD FOR LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN 11
160		-	ACCORDANCE WITH § 7–136 OF THE EDUCATION ARTICLE; 12
161		-
162		-	(4) the Maryland Port Commission, without the approval of any of the 13
163		-	other primary procurement units, may engage in the procurement of: 14
164		-
165		-	(i) supplies for port related activities, including motor vehicles and 15
166		-	information processing supplies, but excluding: 16
167		-
168		-	1. supplies funded by the proceeds from State general 17
169		-	obligation bonds; and 18
170		-
171		-	2. insurance; 19
172		-
173		-	(ii) services for port related activities, including information 20
174		-	processing services, but excluding banking and financial services under the authority of the 21
175		-	State Treasurer under item (1) of this subsection; 22
176		-
177		-	(iii) construction and construction related services for a port facility 23
178		-	as defined in § 6–101(e) of the Transportation Article; 24
179		-
180		-	(iv) port related architectural and engineering services under Title 25
181		-	13, Subtitle 3 of this article; and 26
182		-
183		-	(v) leases of real property for port related activities unless the lease 27
184		-	payments are from the General Fund of the State; [and] 28
185		-
186		-	(5) the Department of General Services, without the approval of any other 29
187		-	primary procurement unit, may engage in or control procurement of: 30
188		-
189		-	(i) information processing equipment, cloud computing equipment, 31
190		-	and associated services, as provided in Title 3.5, Subtitle 3 of this article; 32 SENATE BILL 177 5
	94	+	(3) CERTIFIED CHESAPEAKE INVASIVE S PECIES PROVIDERS . 32 SENATE BILL 177 3
191	95
192	96
193	97
194		-	(ii) information technology system modernization, as provided in 1
195		-	Title 3.5, Subtitle 3 of this article; 2
	98	+	Article – State Finance and Procurement 1
196	99
197		-	(iii) telecommunication equipment, systems, or services, as provided 3
198		-	in Title 3.5, Subtitle 4 of this article; and 4
	100	+	12–101. 2
199	101
200		-	(iv) cybersecurity upgrades and modernization, as provided in Title 5
201		-	3.5, Subtitle 3 of this article; AND 6
	102	+	(a) This section does not apply to: 3
202	103
203		-	(6) THE ~~STATE~~ DEPARTMENT OF ~~EDUCATION, WITHOUT~~ THE 7
204		-	~~APPROVAL OF ANY OTHE R PRIMARY PROCUREMEN T UNIT~~, ~~MAY ENGAGE~~ IN OR 8
205		-	~~CONTROL PROCUREMENT~~ OF~~: 9~~
	104	+	(1) capital expenditures by the Department of Transportation or the 4
	105	+	Maryland Transportation Authority, in connection with State roads, bridges, or highways, 5
	106	+	as provided in § 12–202 of this title; [or] 6
206	107
207		-	(I) FOOD GROWN WITHIN A 200–MILE RADIUS FROM AN 10
208		-	ELEMENTARY OR SECOND ARY SCHOOL FOR WHICH A LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTE M 11
209		-	ENTERS INTO A MASTER C ONTRACT WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; 12
	108	+	(2) procurements by the Department of General Services for the purpose of 7
	109	+	modernizing cybersecurity infrastructure for the State valued below $1,000,000; OR 8
210	110
211		-	(II) FOOD GROWN AT A CERT IFIED LOCAL FARM UND ER § 14–701 13
212		-	OF THIS ARTICLE; AND 14
	111	+	(3) PROCUREMENTS BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 9
	112	+	FOR THE PURPOSE OF M ASTER CONTRACTING AS DEFINED IN § 13–101 OF THIS 10
	113	+	ARTICLE. 11
213	114
214		-	(III) CERTIFIED CHESAPEAKE INVASIVE S PECIES PROVIDED BY 15
215		-	A CERTIFIED CHESAPEAKE INVASIVE S PECIES PROVIDER AS DEFINED IN § 14–701 16
216		-	OF THIS ARTICLE . 17
	115	+	12–107. 12
217	116
218		-	13–101. 18
	117	+	(b) Subject to the authority of the Board, jurisdiction over procurement is as 13
	118	+	follows: 14
219	119
220		-	(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 19
	120	+	(4) the Maryland Port Commission, without the approval of any of the 15
	121	+	other primary procurement units, may engage in the procurement of: 16
221	122
222		-	(b) “Designated procurement unit” means: 20
	123	+	(i) supplies for port related activities, including motor vehicles and 17
	124	+	information processing supplies, but excluding: 18
223	125
224		-	(1) the Department of General Services; 21
	126	+	1. supplies funded by the proceeds from State general 19
	127	+	obligation bonds; and 20
225	128
226		-	(2~~) the Department of Transportation~~; ~~[or] 22~~
	129	+	2. insurance; 21
227	130
228		-	(3) the Department of Information Technology, only with respect to an 23
229		-	information technology master contract executed before July 1, 2022, until the earlier of: 24
	131	+	(ii) services for port related activities, including information 22
	132	+	processing services, but excluding banking and financial services under the authority of the 23
	133	+	State Treasurer under item (1) of this subsection; 24
230	134
231		-	(i) ~~the expiration date of all information technology master~~ 25
232		-	~~contracts~~; or 26
	135	+	(iii) construction and construction related services for a port facility 25
	136	+	as defined in § 6–101(e) of the Transportation Article; 26
233	137
234		-	(ii) June 30, 2027; OR 27
	138	+	(iv) port related architectural and engineering services under Title 27
	139	+	13, Subtitle 3 of this article; and 28
235	140
236		-	(4) THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, ONLY WITH RESPECT 28
237		-	TO A MASTER CONTRACT RELATED TO LOCAL FOO D. 29
238		-	6 SENATE BILL 177
239		-
240		-
241		-	(e) “Master contracting” means a streamlined procurement method that provides 1
242		-	for the qualification of bidders and offerors for the procurement of services, supplies, or 2
243		-	commodities. 3
244		-
245		-	13–113. 4
246		-
247		-	(a) (1) The designated procurement units may adopt master contracting, a 5
248		-	streamlined procurement method, to provide for the qualification of an offeror in one or 6
249		-	more categories of services, supplies, or commodities. 7
250		-
251		-	(2) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY R EQUIREMENTS OF A LOC AL SCHOOL 8
252		-	SYSTEM, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION MAY NOT REQ UIRE 9
253		-	CERTIFICATION FOR GO OD AGRICULTURAL PRAC TICES FOR MASTER CON TRACTING. 10
254		-
255		-	14–407. 11
256		-
257		-	(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 12
258		-
259		-	(2) “Locally grown food” means food grown [in the State] AT A CERTIFIED 13
260		-	LOCAL FARM DEFINED I N § 14–701 OF THIS TITLE. 14
261		-
262		-	(3) “Percentage price preference” means the percent by which a responsive 15
263		-	bid from a responsible bidder whose product is a locally grown food may exceed the lowest 16
264		-	responsive bid submitted by a responsible bidder whose product is not a locally grown food. 17
265		-
266		-	(b) (1) The Board shall adopt regulations that require State schools and 18
267		-	facilities to establish a percentage price preference, not to exceed [5%] 10%, for the 19
268		-	purchase of locally grown food. 20
269		-
270		-	(2) NOTWITHSTANDING PARAG RAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE 21
271		-	BOARD SHALL ADOPT REG ULATIONS AUTH ORIZING STATE SCHOOLS AND 22
272		-	FACILITIES TO CONDUC T AN INDIVIDUAL PROC UREMENT THAT IS LIMI TED TO 23
273		-	RESPONSES FROM CERTI FIED LOCAL FARMS AS DEFINED IN § 14–701 OF THIS TITLE. 24
274		-
275		-	(c) A percentage price preference under this section may not be used in 25
276		-	conjunction with any other percentage price preference established under this title. 26
277		-
278		-	(d) Each State school and facility shall review the procurement specifications 27
279		-	currently used and, to the extent practicable, require the use of a percentage price 28
280		-	preference in their purchase of locally grown food. 29
281		-
282		-	(e) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, this section is 30
283		-	broadly applicable to all procurements by State schools and facilities if the locally grown 31
284		-	food is consistent with the requirements of the bid specification. 32
285		-	SENATE BILL 177 7
286		-
287		-
288		-	(2) Only to the extent necessary to prevent the denial of federal money or 1
289		-	eliminate the inconsistency with federal law, this section does not apply to a procurement 2
290		-	by a State school or facility if it is determined that compliance with this section would: 3
291		-
292		-	(i) cause denial of federal money; or 4
293		-
294		-	(ii) be inconsistent with the requirements of federal law. 5
295		-
296		-	14–701. 6
297		-
298		-	(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 7
299		-
300		-	(b) “Certified Chesapeake invasive species” means a finfish species that is: 8
301		-
302		-	(1) ranked as high priority in the Maryland Aquatic Nuisance Species 9
303		-	Management Plan; and 10
304		-
305		-	(2) harvested from the Chesapeake Bay or its tributaries. 11
306		-
307		-	(c) “Certified Chesapeake invasive species provider” means a person licensed and 12
308		-	authorized as a seafood dealer under § 4–701 of the Natural Resources Article that: 13
309		-
310		-	(1) is certified by the Department in accordance with regulations adopted 14
311		-	under this subtitle; and 15
312		-
313		-	(2) can demonstrate that the person’s product is a certified Chesapeake 16
314		-	invasive species. 17
315		-
316		-	(d) “Certified local farm” means a local farm enterprise that: 18
317		-
318		-	(1) meets the nutrient management requirements established under Title 19
319		-	8, Subtitle 8 of the Agriculture Article; and 20
320		-
321		-	(2) is certified by the Department in accordance with regulations adopted 21
322		-	under this subtitle. 22
323		-
324		-	14–702. 23
325		-
326		-	(a) (1) There is an Office for the Certified Local Farm and Fish Program in the 24
327		-	Department. 25
328		-
329		-	(2) The purpose of the Office is to administer the Program and facilitate 26
330		-	the participation of certified local farms and certified Chesapeake invasive species 27
331		-	providers in the Program. 28
332		-
333		-	(b) (1) There is a Certified Local Farm and Fish Program in the Office. 29
334		-	8 SENATE BILL 177
335		-
336		-
337		-	(2) The purpose of the Program is to encourage each unit to try to achieve 1
338		-	an overall percentage goal of 20% of the unit’s total dollar value of procurement contracts 2
339		-	for food from certified local farms and certified Chesapeake invasive species providers. 3
340		-
341		-	(c) The Department shall create two positions to provide staff for the Office. 4
342		-
343		-	(D) THE DEPARTMENT , ALONG WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL 5
344		-	SERVICES, SHALL COORDINATE WIT H THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO 6
345		-	PROCURE LOCAL FOOD F OR LOCAL SCHOOL SYST EMS IN ACCORDANCE WI TH § 7–136 7
346		-	OF THE EDUCATION ARTICLE. 8
347		-
348		-	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 9
349		-	1, 2025. 10
	141	+	(v) leases of real property for port related activities unless the lease 29
	142	+	payments are from the General Fund of the State; [and] 30 4 SENATE BILL 177
350	143
351	144
352	145
	146	+	(5) the Department of General Services, without the approval of any other 1
	147	+	primary procurement unit, may engage in or control procurement of: 2
353	148
354		-	Approved:
355		-	________________________________________________________________________________
356		-	Governor.
357		-	________________________________________________________________________________
358		-	President of the Senate.
359		-	________________________________________________________________________________
360		-	Speaker of the House of Delegates.
	149	+	(i) information processing equipment, cloud computing equipment, 3
	150	+	and associated services, as provided in Title 3.5, Subtitle 3 of this article; 4
	151	+
	152	+	(ii) information technology system modernization, as provided in 5
	153	+	Title 3.5, Subtitle 3 of this article; 6
	154	+
	155	+	(iii) telecommunication equipment, systems, or services, as provided 7
	156	+	in Title 3.5, Subtitle 4 of this article; and 8
	157	+
	158	+	(iv) cybersecurity upgrades and modernization, as provided in Title 9
	159	+	3.5, Subtitle 3 of this article; AND 10
	160	+
	161	+	(6) THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, WITHOUT THE 11
	162	+	APPROVAL OF ANY OTHE R PRIMARY PROCUREMEN T UNIT, MAY ENGAGE IN OR 12
	163	+	CONTROL PROCUREME NT OF: 13
	164	+
	165	+	(I) FOOD GROWN WITHIN A 200–MILE RADIUS FROM AN 14
	166	+	ELEMENTARY OR SECOND ARY SCHOOL FOR WHICH A LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTE M 15
	167	+	ENTERS INTO A MASTER CONTRACT WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; 16
	168	+
	169	+	(II) FOOD GROWN AT A CERT IFIED LOCAL FARM UND ER § 14–701 17
	170	+	OF THIS ARTICLE; AND 18
	171	+
	172	+	(III) CERTIFIED CHESAPEAKE INVASIVE S PECIES PROVIDED BY 19
	173	+	A CERTIFIED CHESAPEAKE INVASIVE S PECIES PROVIDER AS D EFINED IN § 14–701 20
	174	+	OF THIS ARTICLE . 21
	175	+
	176	+	13–101. 22
	177	+
	178	+	(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 23
	179	+
	180	+	(b) “Designated procurement unit” means: 24
	181	+
	182	+	(1) the Department of General Services; 25
	183	+
	184	+	(2) the Department of Transportation; [or] 26
	185	+
	186	+	(3) the Department of Information Technology, only with respect to an 27
	187	+	information technology master contract executed before July 1, 2022, until the earlier of: 28
	188	+
	189	+	(i) the expiration date of all information technology master 29
	190	+	contracts; or 30 SENATE BILL 177 5
	191	+
	192	+
	193	+
	194	+	(ii) June 30, 2027; OR 1
	195	+
	196	+	(4) THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, ONLY WITH RESPECT 2
	197	+	TO A MASTER CONTRACT RELATED TO LOCAL FOO D. 3
	198	+
	199	+	(e) “Master contracting” means a streamlined procurement method that provides 4
	200	+	for the qualification of bidders and offerors for the procurement of services, supplies, or 5
	201	+	commodities. 6
	202	+
	203	+	13–113. 7
	204	+
	205	+	(a) (1) The designated procurement units may adopt master contracting, a 8
	206	+	streamlined procurement method, to provide for the qualification of an offeror in one or 9
	207	+	more categories of services, supplies, or commodities. 10
	208	+
	209	+	(2) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY R EQUIREMENTS OF A LOC AL SCHOOL 11
	210	+	SYSTEM, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION MAY NOT REQ UIRE 12
	211	+	CERTIFICATION FOR GO OD AGRICULTURAL PRAC TICES FOR MASTER CON TRACTING. 13
	212	+
	213	+	14–701. 14
	214	+
	215	+	(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 15
	216	+
	217	+	(b) “Certified Chesapeake invasive species” means a finfish species that is: 16
	218	+
	219	+	(1) ranked as high priority in the Maryland Aquatic Nuisance Species 17
	220	+	Management Plan; and 18
	221	+
	222	+	(2) harvested from the Chesapeake Bay or its tributaries. 19
	223	+
	224	+	(c) “Certified Chesapeake invasive species provider” means a person licensed and 20
	225	+	authorized as a seafood dealer under § 4–701 of the Natural Resources Article that: 21
	226	+
	227	+	(1) is certified by the Department in accordance with regulations adopted 22
	228	+	under this subtitle; and 23
	229	+
	230	+	(2) can demonstrate that the person’s product is a certified Chesapeake 24
	231	+	invasive species. 25
	232	+
	233	+	(d) “Certified local farm” means a local farm enterprise that: 26
	234	+
	235	+	(1) meets the nutrient management requirements established under Title 27
	236	+	8, Subtitle 8 of the Agriculture Article; and 28
	237	+
	238	+	(2) is certified by the Department in accordance with regulations adopted 29 6 SENATE BILL 177
	239	+
	240	+
	241	+	under this subtitle. 1
	242	+
	243	+	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 2
	244	+	1, 2025. 3
	245	+