Substitute House Bill No. 5251 mandates that any state agency contracting for consultant services valued at $100,000 or more must submit a report to the Government Oversight Committee within one year of receiving the consultant's study results or final report. This report must summarize the findings of the consultant's report, indicate whether any recommendations have been implemented, and outline any future implementation plans along with applicable dates. The bill defines "consultant" as a licensed professional or specialist providing services to state agencies, and "consultant services" includes a range of administrative and analytical tasks aimed at guiding agency actions.

The bill introduces new legal language to clarify the definitions of "consultant," "consultant services," and "firm," while also specifying the types of state agencies affected by this requirement. It also includes a provision that the report must be submitted to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly that oversees government matters, ensuring accountability in the implementation of consultant recommendations. The bill is expected to create potential costs for various state agencies due to the administrative burden of compliance and possible amendments to existing contracts.