MD HB1627

Howard County's Office of the Inspector General gains authority to access and inspect public records when state or local law authorizes such access and the office determines the records are necessary for an audit

Record custodians are prohibited from denying the Inspector General access to public records or portions of records that meet the access criteria

Audit authority covers the county government, county government agencies, and the county public school system

Any redisclosure of information obtained by the Inspector General's office or its employees/representatives remains subject to existing public records law restrictions

Effective date: October 1, 2026