Except as otherwise expressly provided by a law of the State, the State, its officers, and its units may not raise the defense of sovereign immunity in a contract action, in a court of the State, based on a written contract that an official or employee executed for the State or 1 of its units while the official or employee was acting within the scope of the authority of the official or employee. In an action under this subtitle, the State and its officers and units shall have the immunity from liability described under § 5–522(d) of the Courts Article.

A claim under this subtitle is barred unless the claimant files suit within 1 year after the later of: the date on which the claim arose; or the completion of the contract that gives rise to the claim.

Except as provided in Title 5 of the Education Article, to carry out this subtitle, the Governor shall include in the budget bill money that is adequate to satisfy a final judgment that, after the exhaustion of the rights of appeal, is rendered against the State or any of its officers or units.

This subtitle does not apply to a contract of the Legislative or Judicial Branch of State government, or any of their agencies, officers, or units.