Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman joined Governor Wes Moore and Treasurer Dereck Davis today for a meeting of the Board of Public Works.  

During the meeting, the Board of Public Works approved a policy guidance establishing Maryland’s first climate advisory mandate. This advisory, originally proposed by former State Treasurer Nancy Kopp and outlined in Comptroller Lierman’s 2023 Transition Report, requires most State agencies and all public higher education institutions to include climate and sustainability information when submitting specific contracts for Board approval. Starting in July, qualifying agenda items will include details explaining how proposed actions align with Maryland’s environmental laws, climate goals, and resilience priorities, including the State’s goal of achieving 100% clean energy by 2035 and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.

“Maryland has some of the most ambitious climate goals in the nation, but goals only matter if they inform decisions,” said Comptroller Brooke Lierman. “By requiring agencies to outline how major contracts align with our climate commitments, we’re making sure those goals are reflected in the real, day-to-day investments that shape our state’s future.”

The new guidance applies to certain high-value contracts and large tenant leases across agencies, including, but not limited to, the Department of General Services, the Maryland Department of Transportation, the Maryland Stadium Authority, and all public higher education institutions. By incorporating this information into the Board’s review process, the policy strengthens transparency and ensures that long-term environmental and fiscal considerations are visible as taxpayer dollars are invested. The advisory will go into effect on July 1, 2026. All Board of Public Works advisories can be found here.

In all, the Board of Public Works approved 149 items, representing a total State expenditure of $627,238,712. This includes:

• Grant agreements for 58 recipients for 65 projects located in 14 counties and Baltimore City, with a total value of $48,995,500.
• 13 items awarding $50,635,602.96 to certified small business primes
• Five items awarding $35,596,160 to certified minority business enterprise primes
• One item awarding $3,485,861.44 to an Employment Works Program provider
• 13 items awarded with established participation goals for minority business enterprises
• Three items awarded with established participation goals for veteran-owned small business enterprises

Meeting documents for today’s meeting can be found here.

The next meeting of the Board of Public Works will be held on Wednesday, March 4, 2026