Legislation encouraging the use of public-private partnerships (P3s) to address Maryland’s growing infrastructure needs has been passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Martin O’Malley with bipartisan support. The 2013 P3 law, based on legislation introduced by the O’Malley-Brown administration on Jan. 30, 2013, followed momentum from similar legislation that was nearly enacted last year. The 2013 P3 law takes effect on July 1, 2013.

Efforts to pass P3 legislation in Maryland in 2012 gained national attention as a dialogue about the growing need for more innovative infrastructure financing evolved. Like many states across the country, Maryland has infrastructure needs that exceed the state’s ability to pay for them with traditional resources. The potential to leverage private sector resources and share the risks involved in development has become increasingly attractive.