Md. Code, Local Government § 1–402

(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

(2) “Nonresident bidder” means a bidder whose principal office is

outside the State.

(3) “Preference” includes:

(i) a percentage preference;

(ii) an employee residency requirement; or

(iii) any other provision that favors a resident over a

nonresident.

(4) “Resident bidder” means a bidder whose principal office is in the

State.

(b) When a political subdivision or an instrumentality of government in the

State uses competitive bidding to award a procurement contract, the political

subdivision or instrumentality may give a preference to the resident bidder who

submits the lowest responsive bid of any resident bidder if:

(1) the resident bidder is a responsible bidder;

(2) a responsible nonresident bidder submits the lowest responsive

bid of all bidders; and

(3) the state in which the nonresident bidder’s principal office is

located gives a preference to its residents.

(c) A preference under this section shall be identical to the preference that

the state in which the nonresident bidder’s principal office is located gives to its

residents.