SB 216 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Unemployment Insurance - Confidentiality of Information

SB 216 updates Maryland's unemployment insurance confidentiality rules to align with federal requirements. It clarifies that claim details (including benefit amounts, address, and work refusal history), wage information, and other personal data are protected as "confidential unemployment insurance information." The bill allows limited disclosure to child support enforcement agencies when permitted under federal law, while adding penalties for unauthorized leaks by current or former Maryland Department of Labor employees. These changes directly affect unemployment claimants, employers, and child support agencies by defining how personal financial data may be shared.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Sep 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Sep 16, 2025 Signed Apr 14, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Unemployment Insurance - Confidentiality of Information Third - Unemployment Insurance - Confidentiality of Information · 6 edits
MODERATE
The bill underwent significant formatting and structural reorganization, including the addition of committee approval status and a change in the introductory text. The core definitions regarding unemployment insurance confidentiality and base period calculations remain substantively unchanged, though the layout of the text was altered.
Scope change
The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; the text was restructured for clarity and procedural tracking.
TECHNICAL

Added a 'Committee Report: Favorable' and 'Senate action: Adopted' status line to the header.

Changed the introductory text from 'A BILL ENTITLED' to 'CHAPTER ______'.

Reordered the introductory section to place the repeal of existing laws before the enactment clause.

Added an instruction stating that 'Underlining indicates amendments to bill' to the explanatory notes.

Reformatted the layout of the 'Base period' and 'Benefit year' definitions, shifting line breaks and indentation without changing the legal meaning.

Reformatted the layout of the 'Confidential Unemployment Insurance Information' definitions, adjusting spacing and line breaks.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 9, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 17, 2026

How they voted

460
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 49
Feb 9, 2026
D Democratic36
33 Yea 3
91% Yea
R Republican13
13 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
10
Committee
6
Apr 14, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 130
executive
Apr 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Returned Passed
upper
Apr 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable Report by Economic Matters
lower
Mar 17, 2026
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (133-0-9)
house of delegates
Feb 13, 2026
Committee
Referred Economic Matters
lower
Feb 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Feb 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable Adopted
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable Report by Finance
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (46-0-3)
senate
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
First Reading Finance
upper
Sep 16, 2025
Introduced
Pre-filed
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.