Technology

died · Maryland · Senate Mar 13, 2026

SB 761: Expansion of Commercial Gaming - Internet Gaming Referendum

SB 761 would allow Maryland to expand commercial gaming to include internet gaming, but only after voters approve it in a November 2026 referendum. The bill restricts internet gaming licenses to existing video lottery operators and their contracted entities, requiring new implementation laws to set application criteria and gaming rules. If approved by voters, revenues from internet gaming must fund public education. The bill mandates a voter referendum on the question "Do you favor the expansion of commercial gaming in the State of Maryland to authorize Internet gaming for dedicated purposes including the funding of public education?" before any licensing can occur.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly permits internet gaming expansion, advancing technology access for commercial gaming services within specified regulatory framework.95% confidence

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passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SB 661: Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance - Intercepted Communications - Admissibility of Evidence

SB 661 modifies Maryland law to clarify when intercepted communications (like phone calls or texts) can be used as evidence in criminal court. It allows such evidence if: (1) at least one party was outside Maryland during the communication, (2) the interception wasn’t done by Maryland law enforcement, and (3) all parties were co-conspirators in a violent crime. For other cases, it sets strict conditions for admissibility, including requiring prosecutors to notify defendants 14 days in advance and proving the evidence is more relevant than alternatives. The bill directly affects criminal defendants, prosecutors, and law enforcement handling wiretap evidence in Maryland courts. It takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires 14-day notice for intercepted evidence, protecting defendant rights in criminal proceedings per bill's admissibility conditions.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill restricts admissibility of intercepted communications without strict conditions, strengthening data privacy protections by limiting surveillance evidence use without proper notice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Violent Crime

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signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 810: Study to Evaluate Blockchain-Based Real Property Lease and Title Recordation and Verification

HB 810 establishes a two-year pilot program within Maryland's State Department of Assessments and Taxation to explore using blockchain technology for real property ownership records. The program, limited to up to three counties, will create a blockchain registry allowing property owners to opt in and receive digital titles that law enforcement and courts can verify in real time to resolve disputes like squatting. It requires the Department to coordinate with courts, police, and the Attorney General to develop secure systems, test smart contracts for title transfers, and educate users. The pilot must begin by January 1, 2027, and conclude with a final report by December 31, 2028, before the program automatically expires on July 1, 2029.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill establishes blockchain pilot program for property records, directly advancing technology application in government services through secure digital verification.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Emerging Technology

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 20, 2026

HB 1356: Labor and Employment - Civic and Related Activities - Protection (Maryland Employee Civic Activity and Lawful Expression Protection Act)

HB 1356, the Maryland Employee Civic Activity and Lawful Expression Protection Act, prohibits employers from taking adverse actions against employees for engaging in off-duty civic activities, political expression, or lawful online speech. It protects all employees - including interns, part-timers, and temporary workers - from retaliation such as termination, demotion, or denial of promotion for activities like protesting, volunteering, or sharing opinions online outside work hours. The law bans employers from coercing political contributions, forcing attendance at political events, or maintaining policies that restrict protected activities, with exceptions only for conduct that disrupts job duties or reveals trade secrets. Employees can pursue civil lawsuits for violations without exhausting administrative remedies first.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits employer retaliation for off-duty civic activities, political expression, and lawful online speech, directly protecting workers' rights as defined in the topic.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProtects lawful online speech as part of digital rights, preventing employer retaliation for employee expression on digital platforms, aligning with digital rights protection.85% confidence

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passed · Maryland · Senate Apr 8, 2026

SB 564: State Government - Office of the Attorney General - Data Protection

SB 564 creates a new Division of Data Protection within Maryland’s Office of the Attorney General. This division will investigate and enforce civil actions for violations of existing data privacy laws affecting businesses and consumers. It also establishes a Maryland Data Privacy Implementation and Innovation Workgroup, composed of state officials, consumer advocates, business representatives, and industry experts, to study implementation challenges and recommend improvements. The Workgroup must report its findings to the governor and legislature by January 1, 2027, and the bill’s provisions take effect on July 1, 2026, with the Workgroup structure expiring June 30, 2027.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyCreates Division of Data Protection and Workgroup to enforce data privacy laws, strengthening consumer protections and cybersecurity compliance per topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy

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signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 31, 2026

HB 1335: Department of Information Technology - Information Technology Staffing and Capability Assessment - Independent Study

HB 1335 requires Maryland's Department of Information Technology to hire an outside expert to conduct a study on state IT and cybersecurity workforce compensation. The study must compare salaries of state IT professionals with federal, local, and private-sector roles, evaluate the impact of current pay adjustments and benefits, and provide recommendations to improve recruitment and retention. The department must submit the findings to the Governor and legislature by November 1, 2027, and the law expires automatically on June 30, 2028. This bill does not change pay rates but mandates research to inform future decisions affecting state IT and cybersecurity staff.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates study to evaluate state IT pay competitiveness and improve recruitment/retention, supporting fair compensation standards for workers.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates study to improve IT/cybersecurity workforce compensation, aiming to strengthen cybersecurity staffing and retention through competitive pay analysis.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Cybersecurity

passed both · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1341: Immigration Enforcement - Expanding Sensitive Locations, Notification, and Guidance (Maryland Values Act of 2026)

HB 1341 prohibits public school security personnel - including school resource officers, security employees, and certain law enforcement officers - from engaging in federal immigration enforcement or sharing student/employee records for immigration purposes. The bill requires security staff to immediately contact school officials if presented with a valid judicial warrant, subpoena, or legal order for immigration-related information. It amends Maryland's Education Code to clarify that school security cannot be used for immigration investigations under federal §287(G) and must comply with state privacy laws. This directly affects school security staff and protects students, employees, and their families from immigration enforcement activities within public schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits school security from engaging in immigration enforcement, protecting immigrant students' access to schools and creating safer educational environments.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits school staff from engaging in federal immigration enforcement and sharing student records, limiting state cooperation with federal immigration efforts per Maryland Values Act.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill prohibits sharing student records for immigration without warrant, protecting data privacy per technology topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 3, 2026

HB 1045: Prescription Drug Monitoring Program - Data Disclosure to Federal Law Enforcement - Limitation

HB 1045 modifies Maryland’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) by adding a restriction on sharing prescription data with federal law enforcement. Specifically, it amends Section 21-2A-06(b)(4) of the Maryland Annotated Code to prohibit disclosure to federal agencies unless the data does not involve "sensitive health services" designated by the new Protected Health Care Commission. This Commission, established under Section 4-310, will identify health services (like reproductive care) where data sharing could risk patient safety or privacy. The bill directly affects healthcare providers and patients whose data might be monitored, particularly for sensitive health services, by requiring a review before federal disclosure.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRestricts federal data sharing for sensitive health services (e.g., reproductive care), protecting patient privacy and rights under healthcare services as defined in the bill.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRestricts federal disclosure of sensitive health data under PDMP, strengthening data privacy protections for health information.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 571: Commercial Law - Broadband Access - Low-Income Consumer Programs (Maryland Broadband Opportunity and Fairness Act)

SB 571 requires large broadband providers (serving 10,000+ customers) in Maryland to establish a low-cost broadband program for eligible low-income residents by December 1, 2026. The program must offer at least 100 Mbps download speed (200 Mbps for households of three or more), 1.2 terabytes of data, and limit annual network outages to an average of 48 hours. Eligibility is defined by income (at or below 350% of federal poverty guidelines) or participation in programs like SNAP, Medicaid, or free school meals. Providers may adjust prices every three years by up to 2% or the Consumer Price Index change, with 30 days' notice to customers.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides affordable broadband access for low-income households, enabling educational access to online resources and remote learning, aligning with 'educational access' under topic description.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates affordable high-speed broadband access for low-income residents, expanding internet access and promoting digital equity per bill's requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Broadband Access Telecommunications

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 569: Commercial Law - Online Data Privacy - Limits on Data Collection

SB 569 limits how businesses (called "controllers") in Maryland can collect, process, or share personal data. It specifically prohibits selling or collecting sensitive data unless strictly necessary for a requested service, bans using precise geolocation data for targeted ads without consent, and forbids processing data for targeted advertising or selling data of consumers under 18. The bill also prohibits discrimination based on protected characteristics when handling data and bans denying services to consumers who exercise privacy rights. These changes directly affect businesses that collect personal data in Maryland, requiring them to adjust data practices to comply with the new restrictions starting October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologySB 569 explicitly limits data collection, bans selling sensitive data without necessity, and prohibits targeted ads without consent, directly strengthening data privacy protections in technology policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy

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