Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott has announced a multi-step legislative proposal to restructure how the City’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG)
accesses information, conducts oversight, and interacts with existing public records laws.
The proposal comes amid ongoing public discussion and litigation surrounding Baltimore’s OIG and broader questions about transparency, investigatory authority, and accountability structures in local government. According to the City, the package is intended to “strengthen residents’ trust in City government” while clarifying oversight procedures and ensuring compliance with state law.
Additionally, both immediate local legislative actions and longer-term state-level changes would affect how inspectors general operate across Maryland. Among the immediate proposals are changes to Baltimore City Code that would establish a more formal process for OIG investigatory requests, document access, and dispute resolution related to Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) requirements. The City also proposes creating a designated legal representative position for the OIG and requiring the OIG to undergo quarterly performance reviews by the OIG Advisory Board.
The proposal also calls for an independent forensic review of Baltimore’s former “SideStep” pilot program through an outside firm specializing in forensic accounting and legal services.
Beyond Baltimore-specific changes, the administration is signaling interest in statewide policy changes during the 2027 Maryland General Assembly session. Those proposals include amendments to the MPIA that would allow inspectors general to access certain currently protected information during investigations while maintaining confidentiality requirements for public release of records.
The administration is also proposing companion legislation to establish a statewide oversight framework for inspectors general across local jurisdictions.
The concept includes:
- a statewide oversight body
- standardized professional conduct expectations
- local oversight board requirements
- annual training requirements related to data protection and sensitive information handling
If state law changes are ultimately adopted, Baltimore officials say they would also pursue a future City Charter amendment to further revise the City’s OIG oversight structure and investigatory procedures.
