ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore unveiled the fully rebuilt Maryland.gov, which transforms the state's official website into a user-friendly “digital front door,” improving how residents can access critical benefits, government services, and resources. Built on a modern platform centered on an accessible design, the new Maryland.gov is a major step forward in the administration's commitment to deliver world-class customer service and more efficient government for all Marylanders.
“In Maryland, we leave no one behind. This includes how we serve and connect with our people online,” said Gov. Moore. “This new website is proof that state government can be fast, efficient, and collaborative, replacing bureaucratic mazes with a simple, accessible path to the resources Marylanders need.”
The redesign of the State's flagship website was spearheaded by the Maryland Department of Information Technology's Maryland Digital Service, which Governor Moore created via executive action to enhance State websites and web applications. The work to transform Maryland.gov was guided by input from Maryland residents and personnel from dozens of state agencies, with the goal to help Marylanders more efficiently engage with the State’s most frequently used resources, including job and career support, food and nutrition benefits, and unemployment insurance.
“The new Maryland.gov is more than a visual redesign,” said Maryland Department of Information Technology Secretary Katie Savage. “It's a reflection of how we are rebuilding State websites to make them more accessible for the people we serve. You shouldn’t need a degree in state government to know everything Maryland can do for you—if you live or work here, Maryland.gov is the perfect place to learn more about everything our great state has to offer.”
The new Maryland.gov is built on a more modern and secure content management system. The system centers on accessibility, part of an ongoing effort led by the Maryland Digital Service to make state websites more readable, secure, and consistent for visitors. In addition to relaunching Maryland.gov, Maryland Digital Service is actively partnering with state agencies to improve their site architecture and content, ensuring that crucial webpages are modernized before they are moved to the new platform. The interagency partnership is ongoing, with dozens of new websites are on track to launch later this year.
Improvements made to the Maryland.gov website include:
- Consistent user experience: The overall user experience across state agency websites is often inconsistent, siloed, and cumbersome, hindering residents’ and businesses’ ability to find information and complete tasks. The redesigned websites leverage user-centered design to ensure Maryland websites provide a seamless path towards frequently-used resources.
- Built-in accessibility features: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1 million Marylanders have a disability, with many relying on assistive technology to access state benefits, resources, services, and opportunities online. Maryland’s new website technology has a stronger foundation of accessibility, ensuring that all Marylanders can take advantage of Maryland resources.
- Plain language content: Government websites can often contain jargon and technical language, which can be difficult for visitors to understand. To increase readability on frequently used webpages, the Maryland Digital Service is working in partnership with agencies to implement plain language content that is easy to understand and more clearly answers questions.
To simplify navigation, Maryland.gov now organizes resources into five clear categories: “Benefits;” “Services;” “Business and Work;” “Visit and Explore;” and “Your Government.” The “Benefits” section highlights the key benefits provided by the State of Maryland, grouped both by topic and by audience type, including families and children, and veterans.
“We were intentional about directing Marylanders to the most direct resources to get the help they deserve quickly,” said Maryland Human Services Secretary Rafael López. “This new site reflects an administration that prioritizes world-class customer service and putting people first.”
In addition to the benefits that eligible Marylanders can apply for, the state provides a wide range of services that people rely on to live in and travel in the state—from renewing a driver's license to filing taxes. The “Services” section on Maryland.gov makes it easier to access the government entities they interact with most in their daily lives.
“Transportation impacts nearly every part of our daily life, and Marylanders deserve simple, reliable access to the services they depend on,” said Maryland Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary for Planning and Project Development Joe McAndrew. “The redesigned site organizes state services by topic, helping connect people to MDOT and other essential state services easily and effortlessly.”
Easy access to information on how to start a business or seek better job opportunities is key to economic growth in Maryland. The new Maryland.gov “Business and Work” section empowers employees, employers, and prospective business owners by providing simple paths to permits and licenses, along with other essential services, including job and career support, volunteer opportunities, and resources for vendors looking to do business with Maryland’s government.
“The new Maryland.gov platform will help residents grow their careers, assist entrepreneurs with starting a business, and encourage individuals to explore the outdoors across our beautiful state,” said Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Harry Coker, Jr. “This improved and easy-to-navigate website is another step to ensuring that everyone, no matter what age or background, has equal opportunity to Maryland’s resources.”
The “Visit and Explore” section informs visitors about the process of moving to or enjoying the state, offering resources to help residents get to know Maryland, find new jobs and communities, and explore activities. The “Your Government” section provides easy access to Maryland government offices, State agencies, and election information.
The launch of the new Maryland.gov website is a bold step in the ongoing effort by the Moore-Miller Administration to make state government’s digital services more accessible, secure, reliable and easy to use—building on several landmark initiatives:
- One Application for Benefits: This streamlined, mobile-friendly tool allows Marylanders to apply for multiple critical benefits—including Medicaid, SNAP, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Women, Infants, Children (WIC) programming, and energy assistance—in a single, seamless application at MarylandBenefits.gov. Since its launch in July, Marylanders have completed more than 220,000 applications for vital support, proving the success of its human-centered design.
- AI Grants for Service Delivery: Maryland state agencies were awarded more than $2.6 million in grants to responsibly harness artificial intelligence to remove barriers to public services. The funding supports projects that will explore using AI to streamline complex processes like work verification for SNAP and Medicaid, and to improve agency staff support in navigating regulations and processing documents. The awards position Maryland as a national leader in using technology to deliver government services more efficiently and equitably.
- Modernized COMAR Platform: Through a partnership between the Maryland Digital Service and Maryland Secretary of State’s Office, the state launched a modernized online version of the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR), making state laws more accessible, transparent, and usable with enhanced search and automated publishing capabilities.
All those who live, work, and explore in our great state can learn more at Maryland.gov.
