SB 654 — Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission — Raw Water Pipeline Project — Audit
Summary
SB 654 requires the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) to retain an independent third‑party auditor, working in consultation with the Office of Legislative Audits (OLA), to audit a specific raw water pipeline project (Contract No. BF1582E91). The audit must examine project schedule, delays, and costs and report findings to specified legislative committees. The measure is a time‑limited mandate that directs WSSC action and public reporting.
Key purpose and intent
- Provide an independent, transparent review of WSSC’s raw water pipeline project that runs from the Rocky Gorge Pumping Station (Brooklyn Bridge Road) to the Patuxent Water Filtration Plant (Sandy Spring Road).
- Identify why the project was delayed beyond its stated completion date (March 2023), produce a detailed timeline and cost accounting, and surface any additional items recommended by OLA.
Major provisions
- Requires WSSC to retain an independent third‑party auditor to conduct the audit of Contract No. BF1582E91 (the Rocky Gorge → Patuxent pipeline).
- Mandates the third‑party auditor to consult with the Office of Legislative Audits during the audit.
- Specifies audit deliverables:
- Detailed project timeline.
- Reasons for delays past the March 2023 completion date.
- Detailed accounting of project costs.
- Any other items recommended by OLA.
- Requires WSSC to report the audit findings to the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee and the House Economic Matters Committee by October 1, 2026 (in accordance with State Government reporting requirements).
- Effective date and termination: the Act takes effect October 1, 2025, and automatically terminates (is abrogated) on September 30, 2027.
Who is affected
- Primary: Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) — obligated to hire the auditor and produce the report.
- Secondary: WSSC ratepayers and residents served by WSSC in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties (potential downstream interest in project cost/management).
- Oversight/receiving bodies: Office of Legislative Audits (consulting role) and the General Assembly committees specified to receive the report.
Fiscal and administrative impacts
- State effect: no material effect on State finances or operations per fiscal analysis.
- Local effect: WSSC expenditures estimated to increase by approximately $40,000 in FY 2026 to procure auditing services. WSSC revenues are not affected. The bill is a mandate on a local governmental unit (WSSC).
- Small business effect: none indicated.
Procedural status and timeline
- Introduced in the 2025 session (first reading and referral to relevant committees).
- Hearing scheduled: February 25 (1:00 p.m.) — (per provided schedule).
- Audit report due to the Legislature by October 1, 2026.
- Bill becomes effective October 1, 2025, and expires September 30, 2027.
Practical effect
If enacted, SB 654 forces an independent, OLA‑consulted review of a high‑profile WSSC capital project to clarify schedule and cost overruns and provide the General Assembly and public with a documented account of what occurred and why, at a modest projected local cost.
