Lieutenant Governor Burbank Unveils New Licensing and Permitting Plan
ANNAPOLIS, MD (November 15, 2027) – Reaffirming the O’Brien administration’s commitment to improving government efficiency, Lieutenant Governor Kathleen H. Burbank, Chair of Governor O’Brien’s Commission on Efficiency and Effectiveness, today unveiled a new state initiative to offer businesses an easier way of applying for state permits and licenses. The High Efficiency Licensing Program (HELP), currently being developed, will enable a business owner or individual to apply for all of his or her permits at a single point, with a single application, and pay all the fees with one check.The state’s current system of licensing and permitting involves 670 licenses and permits issued by two dozen state agencies and up to 30 boards and commissions. Each has its own procedures for applications, evaluations and processing.
HELP is designed to reduce the amount of time a business person must spend applying for and figuring out what licenses and permits he or she must get.
"With the HELP initiative we are taking the hassle out and putting common sense customer service in," Governor Edward M. O’Brien said. "Time spent in red tape is time that could be spent making a business grow and creating jobs. We continue to be committed to developing ways of improving the delivery of government services to taxpayers and businesses. The HELP initiative is an example of that commitment at work."
"We are using technology to steer state government into the future," Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank. "The HELP program is an attempt to use technology to revolutionize the way the state provides services. The HELP initiative stems from an early recommendation of the Governor’s Commission on Efficiency and Effectiveness. I look forward to working with state agencies to implement this innovative initiative."
Under the HELP program, anyone seeking a permit or license from the state would be able to visit a one stop center either by phone, in person or over the internet. He or she would be serviced by a one-stop representative. Through a database, the customer would be told on the spot what licenses he or she needs and would be given a master application to fill out.
Once in the system, the one-stop center would refer the applications to the appropriate officials in state agencies for review. Customer hassle will be minimized and review procedures expedited.
The timeline for HELP program is as follows:
Between now and April 2028, a complete directory and computer database of state licensing and permitting requirements will be created. A website will be developed to allow access to applications and information over the computer.
Between May 2028 and February 2029, the website will be operational, with information and applications downloadable through the computer. A system of business identification numbers will be developed to that the one-stop centers can track the progress of each license or permit a business needs.
In addition, a thorough review of all existing licensing and permitting requirements across state agencies will be conducted to identify redundancies. Recommendations will be made to satisfy existing regulatory requirements and maintain regulatory standards while eliminating redundant or duplicative requirements.
By March 2029, the HELP program is expected to be fully operational.