EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G 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.
*sb0639*
SENATE BILL 639
L2 5lr1995
CF HB 1334
By: Senator McKay
Introduced and read first time: January 25, 2025
Assigned to: Budget and Taxation
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 21, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Garrett County – Bids and Contracts – Advertisement Exceptions 2
FOR the purpose of providing that, in Garrett County, a certain requirement to advertise 3
for bids does not apply to a certain contract for goods or services procured on an 4
as–needed basis over time or for certain vehicles; and generally relating to 5
procurement in Garrett County. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
The Public Local Laws of Garrett County 8
Section 30.21(A) 9
Article 12 – Public Local Laws of Maryland 10
(2005 Edition and 2022 Supplement, as amended) 11
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13
Article 12 – Garrett County 14
30.21. 15
(A) (1) Except for transactions under PARAGRAPHS (5) AND (6) OF THIS 16
DIVISION OR division (D) of this section, professional services required to be licensed by 17
the State of Maryland, or as otherwise authorized by law, the County Commissioners, or 18
any employee of Garrett County, may not enter into any contract of sale or purchase to 19
which the county is a party where the amount involved under the contract exceeds $50,000 20 2 SENATE BILL 639
without advertising for bids in one or more newspapers circulated in the county. 1
Professional services required to be licensed by the State of Maryland may be solicited by 2
written bids. 3
(2) The advertisement for bids shall appear at least a week prior to the date 4
on which bids are to be filed. 5
(3) Any contract of sale shall be awarded to the highest responsible bidder, 6
and any contract of purchase shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, but the 7
County Commissioners shall have the right to reject any and all bids. 8
(4) Any contract entered into in violation of the provisions of this section 9
shall be null and void. The provisions of this section shall not apply to necessary repairs 10
made in case of emergency. 11
(5) THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS , OR ANY EMPLOYEE OF GARRETT 12
COUNTY, MAY ENTER INTO A PURCHAS E OR WORK PROJECT CONTRACT FOR AN 13
INDETERMINATE AMOUNT OF GOODS OR SERVICES PROCURED ON AN AS –NEEDED 14
BASIS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME WITHOUT ADVERTISING FOR BIDS UNDER 15
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS DIVISION. THIS PARAGRAPH APPLIE S REGARDLESS OF 16
WHETHER THE CUMULATIVE TOTAL EXCEEDS $50,000. 17
(6) THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS , OR ANY EMPLOYEE OF GARRETT 18
COUNTY, MAY ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR THE PUR CHASE OF ONE OR MORE 19
VEHICLES FOR AN AMOUNT UP TO $100,000 WITHOUT A DVERTISING FOR BIDS 20
UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS DIVISION. 21
[(5)] (7) If any County Commissioner shall violate any provisions of this 22
division, the Commissioner shall be liable to indictment, and, upon conviction, shall forfeit 23
the office. 24
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 25
October 1, 2025. 26
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.