MD HB179

Department of Commerce must create and maintain a website portal for the public to file complaints when a governmental unit takes longer than 60 days to process business or nonprofit applications for licenses, forms, certificates, certifications, permits, or registrations

Governmental units covered include counties, municipal corporations, state units, local units, and any other public body established by state or local law

Complaints cannot be filed if state or local law explicitly authorizes the governmental unit to take longer than 60 days to process the application

Department must submit annual reports by September 15 (starting 2026) to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and House Ways and Means Committee identifying which governmental units were responsible for delayed applications

Reports must anonymize data to protect the privacy of the businesses or nonprofit organizations filing complaints

Effective date: July 1, 2026