Technology

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 293: Maryland Longitudinal Data System Center - External Data Sharing With Third-Party Data Centers for Multistate Reporting - Authorization

HB 293 authorizes Maryland’s Longitudinal Data System Center to share student and workforce data with external third-party data centers for multistate reporting, while requiring these centers to meet strict privacy and security standards. The bill repeals the Center’s prior authority to share data with the U.S. Census Bureau under certain circumstances and mandates written agreements with third parties before sharing. It directly affects the Center, state education agencies (like the State Department of Education), and external data platforms used for cross-state education and workforce analysis. The key change is establishing formal, secure protocols for sharing data beyond Maryland’s borders, ensuring compliance with privacy laws like FERPA. This focuses on data-sharing mechanisms, not new data collection or program changes.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates strict privacy/security standards for third-party data centers handling student/workforce data, directly protecting data privacy and enhancing security measures.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Data Privacy

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 9, 2026

HB 268: Information Technology - Establishment of the Office of Enterprise Data and State Chief Data Officer and Collaboration With Agency Data Officers

HB 268 establishes a State Chief Data Officer position within Maryland’s Department of Information Technology and creates the Office of Enterprise Data to oversee state data practices. It requires all state agencies to appoint an Agency Data Officer responsible for managing agency data, ensuring privacy, sharing information securely, and complying with statewide data standards. Key provisions include annual data strategy plans, agency data inventories, standardized data-sharing protocols, and mandatory training for data officers. The law aims to improve the ethical, secure, and efficient use of state data across all government operations, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates data privacy protections, secure sharing protocols, and agency compliance through Chief Data Officer role and Office of Enterprise Data.95% confidence

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passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 387: Food Retailers and Third-Party Food Delivery Service Providers - Dynamic Pricing and Personal Data (Protection From Predatory Pricing Act)

SB 387 prohibits large food retailers (15,000+ sq ft) in Maryland from using dynamic pricing (real-time price changes based on demand or AI) or consumer surveillance data (like location or biometric tracking) to set prices for individual customers. It also bans using protected class data (e.g., race, gender) to deny accommodations or advantages to consumers. The bill further prevents retailers from reducing union-guaranteed employee benefits without negotiating with union representatives. These provisions aim to regulate pricing practices, prevent discriminatory data use, and protect collective bargaining agreements, with violations subject to enforcement under Maryland’s consumer protection laws.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents unilateral reduction of union-guaranteed benefits without negotiation, directly supporting collective bargaining rights.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits AI-driven dynamic pricing and consumer surveillance data use, protecting privacy from tech exploitation per bill's explicit restrictions on data collection and algorithmic pricing.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Artificial Intelligence Data Privacy

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 28, 2026

HB 9: 3-1-1 Systems - Expansion Program and Oversight Board - Establishment

HB 9 establishes a Maryland 3-1-1 Oversight Board to manage a statewide program expanding non-emergency service access through AI-powered tools. The bill requires all Maryland counties to implement AI chatbots (by June 2027) and voicebots (by December 2028) that provide multilingual support, route calls to appropriate services using geographic data, and escalate complex requests to live agents. These systems must align with accessibility and equity standards, with counties without existing 3-1-1 systems required to adopt the program by July 2028. The Oversight Board, composed of state officials and county representatives, will oversee vendor selection, performance monitoring, and statewide data standards.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires counties to implement AI chatbots/voicebots with multilingual support and accessibility standards, promoting digital equity through technology adoption.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 471: Public Safety - State and Local Governments - Use of Unmanned Aircraft

HB 471 restricts how Maryland state and local governments can use drones (unmanned aircraft). It prohibits most deployments for surveillance or evidence collection, and bans using information gathered by drones unless specific exceptions apply. Evidence obtained through unauthorized drone use becomes inadmissible in court. Exceptions allow drone use only for activities like executing search warrants, active rescues, or responding to credible terrorism threats, as outlined in the bill. This directly affects state agencies and local governments operating drones for public safety purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts law enforcement drone surveillance, requires exceptions for evidence collection, and makes unauthorized evidence inadmissible, protecting civil rights and enhancing accountability in criminal justice.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRestricts government drone surveillance to prevent unauthorized data collection, protecting privacy rights through explicit prohibitions and inadmissible evidence rules.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Emerging Technology

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 427: Property Taxes - Authority of Counties to Establish a Subclass and Set a Special Rate for Personal Property of Data Centers

SB 427 allows Maryland counties and Baltimore City to create a special tax subclass for qualified data centers' personal property (like servers and equipment), setting a separate tax rate for these facilities. To qualify, a data center must invest $2 million (in Tier I areas) or $5 million (elsewhere) and create at least five jobs within three years. Local governments can set a special tax rate for this subclass, though it must remain within the existing 2.5x cap for personal property taxes. The law takes effect June 1, 2026, applying to tax years beginning after June 30, 2026. This directly affects data centers meeting the investment and job criteria in participating jurisdictions.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProvides tax incentives for data centers to encourage infrastructure investment, aligning with promoting technology sector growth through economic support.85% confidence

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 712: Civil Actions - Product Liability - Artificial Intelligence Systems

HB 712 establishes new rules for holding AI developers and deployers liable when their systems cause harm. It creates a legal path for people harmed by "high-impact" AI systems - like those used in criminal justice, housing, or medical devices - to sue for defective design, lack of warnings, or broken promises. The bill includes key protections: if developers followed safety testing, courts would assume the AI was safe unless proven otherwise, and small businesses (under 20 employees or 10,000 users) are exempt. It also removes "contributory negligence" as a defense in such cases and allows the state attorney general to sue for widespread harm.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill establishes liability for harmful AI systems, enabling lawsuits for defects in high-impact areas like healthcare and criminal justice, aligning with consumer protection regulations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 398: Public Safety - Persistent Aerial Surveillance

HB 398 prohibits Maryland state and local law enforcement agencies from using persistent aerial surveillance (like drones recording continuous video of people's movements) in criminal investigations, except under seven specific exceptions. These exceptions include having a valid search warrant, executing arrest warrants, conducting active search/rescue operations, locating escaped prisoners, preventing imminent harm, or responding to specific terrorism threats with federal approval. The law directly affects police departments and state agencies that previously used such surveillance methods. It takes effect October 1, 2026, and defines "persistent aerial surveillance" as recording video/images showing a person's actions over time.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill restricts warrantless aerial surveillance, protecting civil rights and enhancing police accountability in criminal investigations, aligning with reform goals.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill restricts persistent aerial surveillance by law enforcement, protecting data privacy through limits on continuous tracking technology.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 460: State Department of Assessments and Taxation and Department of General Services - Property Appraisal Aids - Geographic Images

SB 460 requires Maryland's State Department of Assessments and Taxation to create and maintain a database of geographic images (including maps and aerial photos) for property appraisal. It mandates that counties and Baltimore City reimburse the state for these costs - 100% for the first $1 million and 50% for amounts exceeding that - under Section 2-106(b)(2). The bill also directs the Department to develop privacy policies protecting individuals' identities in captured images (Section 2-210(a)(3)), effective June 1, 2026. This directly affects local governments through reimbursement obligations and state agencies through new data management requirements.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates privacy policies for geographic images in property appraisal database, aligning with data privacy protections in technology policy.90% confidence

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passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SB 310: Criminal Records - Maryland Judiciary Case Search - Traffic Violation by a Minor

SB 310 prohibits the Maryland Judiciary Case Search system from referencing records of traffic violations committed by minors (under 18) under the Maryland Vehicle Law or other traffic laws. It directly affects minors who receive traffic citations, ensuring these records are not displayed in public online searches. The bill amends Maryland's Criminal Procedure law to require the case search system to omit all references to such minor traffic violations. This change takes effect October 1, 2026, and does not alter the existence of the underlying records.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves minor traffic violations from public searches to prevent long-term barriers for youth, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing recidivism and protecting minors' opportunities.92% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill removes minors' traffic violation data from public online case searches, directly enhancing data privacy protections within digital systems.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

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