Courts - Expunged Records - Disclosure

HB 365 clarifies that expunging a criminal record does not automatically prevent certain disclosures. It modifies Maryland law to require court orders for accessing expunged records, with limited exceptions: law enforcement may obtain immediate access via ex parte orders (without notifying the individual) only for active criminal investigations where delay would endanger life or property, and copies of records cannot be made. The bill explicitly allows disclosure of de-identified research data and records containing duplicate information already publicly available. This directly affects individuals with expunged records (by limiting unauthorized access), law enforcement (by defining narrow access rules), and court systems (which must process disclosure requests). The law takes effect October 1, 2025.