Technology

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 1295: Vehicle Laws - Fully Autonomous Vehicles

HB 1295 establishes new rules for fully autonomous vehicles (Level 4/5 systems) operating on Maryland highways without human drivers. It requires these vehicles to achieve a "minimal risk condition" (like safely stopping) if their automated system fails, and mandates compliance with Maryland's vehicle laws unless exempted by regulations. The bill also explicitly states that data collected by these vehicles (e.g., location, sensor data) falls under the state's Online Data Privacy Act, requiring protection similar to other personal information. This directly affects manufacturers, operators, and passengers of fully autonomous vehicles operating in Maryland.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly requires autonomous vehicle data to comply with Maryland's Online Data Privacy Act, protecting consumer data privacy under technology policy.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRequires safety protocols (minimal risk condition) for autonomous vehicles, directly enhancing transportation safety standards under vehicle regulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Data Privacy Autonomous Vehicles Driver Licensing

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passed both · Maryland · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 247: Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit - Conversion to Grant Program

SB 247 converts Maryland's Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit into a direct grant program administered by the Department of Commerce. It replaces tax credits with cash grants for qualifying biotechnology companies engaged in research, development, or commercialization of biological technologies. The bill requires the Department to disburse grants within a specified timeframe and allows recipients to deduct these grants from their Maryland income tax for the same year. This change shifts the incentive from tax savings to immediate funding, directly affecting eligible biotech firms in Maryland.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesConverts tax credit to direct grants, increasing state spending on biotech incentives instead of reducing tax revenue, advancing fiscal support for the sector.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyConverts tax credits to direct grants for biotech R&D, funding innovation in biological technologies per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 22, 2026

HB 400: Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit - Conversion to Grant Program

HB 400 converts Maryland's Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit into a direct grant program administered by the Department of Commerce. It affects biotechnology companies (defined as firms primarily researching, developing, or commercializing biological technologies) by replacing tax credits with cash grants paid within a specified timeframe. The bill also allows recipients to subtract grant amounts from their Maryland income tax liability for the year received. This changes the program's structure from a tax benefit to a grant disbursement, moving it from the Tax Article to the Economic Development Article in Maryland law.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyConverts tax credits to direct grants for biotech companies, providing financial support to advance research/development in biological technologies, a key technology sector.85% confidence

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 24, 2026

HB 172: Municipalities - Enforcement Officers - Body-Worn Cameras

HB 172 allows Maryland municipalities to authorize code, parking, and traffic enforcement officers to use body-worn cameras during their duties. It expands the legal definition of "law enforcement officer" to include these municipal officers for camera use, requiring cities to adopt policies that align with state standards for body-worn camera use. The bill mandates that municipalities publishing such policies must follow guidelines similar to those for police body cameras, including notifying individuals when recording is occurring. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and does not require municipalities to implement the policy.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands body-worn camera use for municipal enforcement officers to enhance accountability, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of transparency and oversight in law enforcement.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates policies for body camera use with state standards, requiring data handling protocols that protect privacy, aligning with data privacy protections under the topic.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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died · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 23, 2026

HB 418: Prince George's County - Courts - Remote Public Access to Bail Review Hearings PG 302-26

HB 418 requires all courts in Prince George’s County to provide remote audio-visual access for the public to attend bail review hearings, effective October 1, 2026. This applies unless a hearing is legally closed, confidential, or restricted by federal/state law. Judges may temporarily block specific parts of a hearing upon request from a party, witness, or attorney, but only if no overriding public interest requires disclosure. The bill directly affects Prince George’s County courts, defendants, attorneys, and the public seeking to observe bail proceedings.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires public remote access to bail hearings, enhancing transparency and accountability in court proceedings per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires remote audio-visual access for public court hearings, expanding digital access to judicial proceedings via technology.85% confidence

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 23, 2026

HB 723: Electric Companies - Cost Containment Plans - Requirement (Securing Affordable, Valuable Investments in Next Generation Grid Solutions (SAVINGS) Act)

HB 723 requires Maryland electric companies to submit cost containment plans to the Public Service Commission by January 1, 2027, and every three years thereafter. These plans must detail strategies to reduce peak electricity demand through specific mechanisms, including "nonwires solutions" (like distributed energy resources and grid-enhancing technologies), demand flexibility programs, and grid flexibility-enabled building electrification. The bill mandates that plans avoid or minimize capital spending on infrastructure while improving system reliability and efficiency. This directly affects all electric distribution and transmission companies operating in Maryland.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates cost containment plans using distributed energy resources, grid-enhancing tech, and demand flexibility to reduce peak demand, directly advancing renewable integration and grid efficiency per bill language.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates nonwires solutions (distributed energy, grid tech) and building electrification, reducing emissions and advancing clean energy transition.80% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires electric companies to use grid-enhancing technologies and distributed energy resources in cost containment plans, directly advancing energy technology solutions per bill language.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Utility Regulation

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 16, 2026

HB 133: Income Tax and Sales and Use Tax - Rate Reductions and Alterations

HB 133 reduces Maryland's individual and corporate income tax rates, with key changes to capital gains taxation. It exempts the first $10,000 of net capital gains from tax for residents aged 65 or older and removes income tax on capital gains from primary home sales (under $1.5 million), retirement accounts, and certain agricultural or conservation land. The bill also repeals the sales tax on data, information technology services, and software publishing. These changes directly affect Maryland residents and businesses subject to state income and sales tax.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReduces income tax rates for individuals/corporations and exempts capital gains for seniors, providing direct tax relief per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRepeals sales tax on data, IT services, and software publishing, lowering costs for tech providers and indirectly supporting the technology sector.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax Sales Tax

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 19, 2026

HB 148: Consumer Protection and Labor and Employment - Surveillance-Based Price and Wage Setting - Prohibition

HB 148 prohibits businesses from using surveillance data (like personal behavior or biometric information) with automated systems to set customized prices for individual consumers or groups. It also bans employers from using such data to set customized wages for employees. The bill allows price/wage customization based on actual costs or standard, publicly available discounts (e.g., student or senior rates) that are openly disclosed. Violations would be enforced under Maryland’s existing consumer protection laws, with remedies including fines or injunctions. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBans employers from using surveillance data to set customized wages, protecting workers from discriminatory pay practices while allowing standard discounts. Directly advances worker rights in wage setting.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits surveillance data use for personalized pricing/wages, strengthening data privacy protections per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection

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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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