Public Information Act – Public Access Ombudsman – Delegation of Powers

SB 296 allows Maryland's Public Access Ombudsman to delegate specific duties to staff within their office, clarifying that the Ombudsman may assign powers under the Public Information Act to qualified staff members. This amendment to the Public Information Act (specifically Section 4-1B-03) directly affects the Ombudsman's office and its staff by streamlining operations without requiring new legislative approval for each delegation. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, and does not change the Ombudsman's core responsibilities or public access procedures. It is a procedural update focused solely on internal office management.