Bill > HB990

This bill establishes new educational and professional requirements for municipal financial officials in Maryland, effective July 1, 2025. Starting June 30, 2030, municipalities must ensure that individuals appointed or employed in roles responsible for financial oversight, fund management, or financial reporting meet specific qualifications. These qualifications include completing 27 semester hours of undergraduate or graduate accounting coursework (with specific emphases on accounting information systems, ethics, auditing, and financial accounting), holding a bachelor's degree or higher in accounting, business administration, finance, public administration, or a related field from an accredited institution, and possessing at least 5 years of full-time employment experience in accounting or finance, including 3 years in a supervisory role. Additionally, municipalities must establish annual continuing education requirements focused on professional development in ethics, financial management, government accounting, or municipal finance. Municipalities are also required to maintain and make publicly available records of their financial officials' qualifications and include these records in their reports to the Legislative Auditor. The Legislative Auditor will now be mandated to include information about each municipality's compliance with these new requirements in their annual report, adding a layer of accountability and transparency to municipal financial administration.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0990?ys=2025RS