HB 718 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Information Technology – State and Higher Education E–Mail – Requirements

HB 718 requires public institutions of higher education in Maryland (excluding Morgan State University, the University System of Maryland, St. Mary’s College, and Baltimore City Community College) to adopt email security policies aligned with state government standards. It mandates that all employee email systems automatically filter spam and non-state-business emails (like unsolicited marketing) while permitting minimal personal use that doesn’t impact resources or violate professional norms. The bill extends existing state IT requirements to these institutions, ensuring email systems support official work only and include specific security measures. This directly affects higher education employees and administrators responsible for managing institutional email systems.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 2, 2026 Signed May 12, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Information Technology – State and Higher Education E–Mail – Requirements Third - Information Technology – State and Higher Education E–Mail – Requirements · 1 edit
MINOR
The bill was formally adopted and read a second time, moving it closer to becoming law. The text was reformatted to remove internal deletion markers and add standard legislative formatting, such as the Governor's signature line, without altering the actual policy content.
TECHNICAL

Removed internal deletion markers and inserted standard legislative formatting, including the Governor's signature line and committee report status, to reflect the bill's adoption.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 22, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 3, 2026

How they voted

350
Passed · 14 other
Total votes 49
Mar 22, 2026
D Democratic36
25 Yea 11
69% Yea
R Republican13
10 Yea 3
76% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
11
Committee
6
May 12, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 438
executive
Apr 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Returned Passed
lower
Apr 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Apr 8, 2026
Upper · Passed
Motion Special Order until 4/9 (Senator Muse) Adopted
upper
Apr 7, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
upper
Apr 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
Mar 22, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (35-0-14)
senate
Mar 18, 2026
Committee
Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
Mar 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Mar 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
lower
Mar 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable Report by Appropriations
lower
Mar 3, 2026
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (133-0-9)
house of delegates
Feb 2, 2026
Committee
First Reading Appropriations
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Vaughn Stewart
Vaughn Stewart
DDemocratic
MD
19