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SB 828MARYLANDSession 2026State BillSigned into law

Enacted

Maryland authorizes State agencies to withhold payments and place liens for delinquent federal funds

Original title: State Finance - Delinquent Federal Funds (Federal Obligations Enforcement Act)

Last action · April 28, 2026: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 248Sponsors: Katie Hester and 22 others

Companion · HB 706same policy, House version

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.

What This Bill Does

Maryland enacted the Federal Obligations Enforcement Act, allowing the state to withhold payments to the federal government, place s on federal property, and collect delinquent federal funds when the federal government fails to comply with court decisions upholding congressionally approved spending. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Why it matters

Establishes a financial enforcement mechanism allowing the state to recover unpaid federal funds by interrupting transactions and placing claims on federal assets within Maryland borders.

Background

The Board of Public Works in Maryland consists of the Governor, the Comptroller, and the State Treasurer, exercising executive oversight over state public works and financial transactions. context
The Central Collection Unit is a division within the Maryland Department of Budget and Management responsible for centralizing the collection of all delinquent debts owed to state agencies. context

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Central Collection Unit

The unit is newly authorized to collect delinquent federal funds, place liens on federal property, and direct payment withholdings.

Directly affected

Board of Public Works

The board is granted the authority to determine by majority vote when the federal government is delinquent in federal funds.

Directly affected

Comptroller

The Comptroller is authorized to withhold state payments to the federal government upon direction from the Central Collection Unit.

Directly affected

Federal Government

Federal property within the state is subject to liens, and federal funds owed to or from the state may be withheld or collected by state authorities.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What triggers the State's authority to withhold payments from the federal government?

The Board of Public Works must determine by a majority vote that the federal government is delinquent in federal funds due to noncompliance with court decisions upholding congressionally approved spending.

Which agency is responsible for collecting the delinquent federal funds?

The of the Department of Budget and Management is responsible for collecting the delinquent federal funds.

Can the State place liens on federal property under this law?

Yes, the , in consultation with the Attorney General, may place s on federal property in the State under the specified circumstances.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

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Votes, people, money & the original source

Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

21 actions

Apr 28, 2026Governor of MarylandEnrolled
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 248
Apr 13, 2026SenateFloor
Returned Passed
Apr 13, 2026HouseFloor
Third Reading Passed (92-33)
Apr 9, 2026HouseFloor
Second Reading Passed
Apr 8, 2026HouseFloor
Motion Special Order until 04/09 (Delegate Pippy) Adopted
Apr 8, 2026HouseFloor
Favorable Adopted

Show 15 earlier actions

Apr 8, 2026HouseCommittee
Favorable Report by Appropriations
Mar 26, 2026House
Hearing 3/31 at 1:00 p.m.
Mar 20, 2026HouseCommittee
Referred Appropriations
Mar 19, 2026SenateFloor
Third Reading Passed (32-13)
Mar 18, 2026SenateFloor
Second Reading Passed with Amendments
Mar 18, 2026Senate
Floor Amendment { 853825/1 (Senator Hester) Adopted
Mar 18, 2026Senate
Floor Amendment { 543628/1 (Senator Gallion) Rejected (15-26)
Mar 18, 2026Senate
Floor Amendment { 603425/1 (Senator Ready) Rejected (12-28)
Mar 18, 2026Senate
Floor Amendment { 103520/1 (Senator Ready) Rejected (13-28)
Mar 18, 2026SenateFloor
Favorable Adopted
Mar 13, 2026SenateFloor
Motion Special Order until 3/17 (Senator Ready) Adopted
Mar 13, 2026Senate
Favorable
Mar 13, 2026SenateCommittee
Favorable Report by Budget and Taxation
Feb 11, 2026Senate
Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.
Feb 6, 2026SenateIntroduced
First Reading Budget and Taxation

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Intergovernmental Financial Retaliation

The legislation establishes a formal framework for a state to treat the federal government as a debtor, utilizing liens and payment withholdings.

Board of Public Works Central Collection Unit Comptroller

Connected Entities

Attorney General, Department of Budget and Management, Central Collection Unit and 3 more

PersonAttorney General“Legal adviser providing assistance to the Central Collection Unit and Department”Map →

OrganizationDepartment of Budget and Management“Houses the Central Collection Unit.”Map →

OrganizationCentral Collection Unit“Responsible for collecting delinquent accounts and debts owed to the State.”Map →

OrganizationComptroller“Authorized to withhold state payments to the federal government.”Map →

OrganizationState Lottery and Gaming Control Agency“Receives certification of debts for lottery prize interception.”Map →

OrganizationBoard of Public Works“Authorized to determine by majority vote if the federal government is delinquent”Map →

Sources

Open source document

mgaleg.maryland.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance85
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy80
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment25
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz75
Current news / social attention level

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What This Bill Does

Who It Affects

Key Facts

Frequently Asked Questions

News Coverage

Where This Stands

Procedural history

Version history

Lobbying Activity

Full breakdown

Sponsors

Discoveries

Intergovernmental Financial Retaliation

Connected Entities

Sources

Analysis Score

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