MD HB819

Authorizes the Maryland Stadium Authority, University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, St. Mary's College of Maryland, and Baltimore City Community College to establish a procurement preference program for companies with Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) approved under IRS Section 401(a)

Allows participating units to include an ESOP evaluation factor of up to 10% in the technical evaluation of competitive sealed proposals for procurements valued at less than $80,000,000

Requires contractors seeking the ESOP preference to submit written verification of their IRS determination letter for their employee stock ownership plan with their proposal

Mandates a report to the General Assembly by December 1, 2028 on the number and dollar value of contracts awarded to ESOP offerors during fiscal years 2026-2028 and an evaluation of the program's effectiveness

Takes effect July 1, 2025 as a 5-year pilot program, automatically expiring on June 30, 2030 without further legislative action