Technology

SB 121 would create a program allowing specific public servants and their immediate family members (including prosecutors, law enforcement officers, elected officials, and their spouses/children) to request that government entities or individuals remove their personal information - including home addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, and license plate details - from public online platforms like government websites or social media. The bill requires government entities to remove such information within 72 hours of a written request and establishes legal remedies, including injunctions and attorney fees, for violations. It also imposes criminal penalties for knowingly publishing protected individuals' personal information. This bill, currently pre-filed and awaiting committee hearings, does not yet apply as law.

SB 107 prohibits individuals from intentionally sharing students' personal identifying information (like names, addresses, Social Security numbers, or school details) without the student's or parent's consent if the information could cause harm. It directly affects students in secondary schools (grades 6-12) and postsecondary institutions (colleges offering associate/bachelor's degrees). The law allows exceptions for journalists, academic activities, legal disclosures, and safety-related sharing with campus officials. Violations are misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail or a $5,000 fine.

HB 556 creates a property tax credit for Maryland households that spend a significant portion of their income on utilities. It allows Baltimore City or local counties to grant a credit against property taxes for "eligible individuals" who pay at least 25% of their household net income on utility services (electricity, gas, water, or internet) for their primary residence. Local governments would determine the credit amount, duration, and additional eligibility rules through their own ordinances. The credit applies to property taxes on the dwelling, not utility bills directly, and would take effect for taxable years starting after June 30, 2026.

SB 154 adds Article 12 to Maryland's Uniform Commercial Code to establish rules for property rights in certain digital assets, including controllable electronic records, accounts, and payment intangibles. It directly affects businesses and financial institutions handling digital transactions by defining how control and ownership transfer for these assets. The bill creates a new standard for "control" (requiring exclusive power to access benefits and transfer the asset) and ensures qualifying purchasers acquire rights free of competing claims. This changes how digital property rights are managed under Maryland law, replacing ambiguous state rules with a clear, standardized framework.

HB 21, the Child Influencers Protection Act, requires vloggers who feature minors in their social media content to compensate those children when the content generates at least $100 in earnings (10 cents per view) over a 12-month period. Vloggers must pay 10% of the gross earnings from child-inclusive content into separate trusts for each child, which will be released when the child turns 18. The bill also grants minors the right to request permanent deletion of their featured content from social media platforms starting October 1, 2026. These provisions apply to vloggers who monetize content featuring minors, directly affecting both the vloggers and the children featured in their videos.

HB 593 amends Maryland's criminal law to specifically prohibit unauthorized actions intended to disrupt critical infrastructure or public safety answering points. It makes it a crime to intentionally access, copy data from, or possess access codes for systems like power grids, emergency call centers, or transportation networks with the intent to impair their function. The bill defines "critical infrastructure" as systems vital to public security, health, safety, or utilities, and explicitly includes ransomware attacks as a prohibited act. This law directly affects individuals who interfere with these essential systems, imposing criminal penalties for intentional disruption.