SB 387 prohibits large food retailers (15,000+ sq ft) in Maryland from using dynamic pricing (real-time price changes based on demand or AI) or consumer surveillance data (like location or biometric tracking) to set prices for individual customers. It also bans using protected class data (e.g., race, gender) to deny accommodations or advantages to consumers. The bill further prevents retailers from reducing union-guaranteed employee benefits without negotiating with union representatives. These provisions aim to regulate pricing practices, prevent discriminatory data use, and protect collective bargaining agreements, with violations subject to enforcement under Maryland’s consumer protection laws.
HB 9 establishes a Maryland 3-1-1 Oversight Board to manage a statewide program expanding non-emergency service access through AI-powered tools. The bill requires all Maryland counties to implement AI chatbots (by June 2027) and voicebots (by December 2028) that provide multilingual support, route calls to appropriate services using geographic data, and escalate complex requests to live agents. These systems must align with accessibility and equity standards, with counties without existing 3-1-1 systems required to adopt the program by July 2028. The Oversight Board, composed of state officials and county representatives, will oversee vendor selection, performance monitoring, and statewide data standards.
HB 471 restricts how Maryland state and local governments can use drones (unmanned aircraft). It prohibits most deployments for surveillance or evidence collection, and bans using information gathered by drones unless specific exceptions apply. Evidence obtained through unauthorized drone use becomes inadmissible in court. Exceptions allow drone use only for activities like executing search warrants, active rescues, or responding to credible terrorism threats, as outlined in the bill. This directly affects state agencies and local governments operating drones for public safety purposes.
SB 427 allows Maryland counties and Baltimore City to create a special tax subclass for qualified data centers' personal property (like servers and equipment), setting a separate tax rate for these facilities. To qualify, a data center must invest $2 million (in Tier I areas) or $5 million (elsewhere) and create at least five jobs within three years. Local governments can set a special tax rate for this subclass, though it must remain within the existing 2.5x cap for personal property taxes. The law takes effect June 1, 2026, applying to tax years beginning after June 30, 2026. This directly affects data centers meeting the investment and job criteria in participating jurisdictions.
HB 712 establishes new rules for holding AI developers and deployers liable when their systems cause harm. It creates a legal path for people harmed by "high-impact" AI systems - like those used in criminal justice, housing, or medical devices - to sue for defective design, lack of warnings, or broken promises. The bill includes key protections: if developers followed safety testing, courts would assume the AI was safe unless proven otherwise, and small businesses (under 20 employees or 10,000 users) are exempt. It also removes "contributory negligence" as a defense in such cases and allows the state attorney general to sue for widespread harm.
HB 398 prohibits Maryland state and local law enforcement agencies from using persistent aerial surveillance (like drones recording continuous video of people's movements) in criminal investigations, except under seven specific exceptions. These exceptions include having a valid search warrant, executing arrest warrants, conducting active search/rescue operations, locating escaped prisoners, preventing imminent harm, or responding to specific terrorism threats with federal approval. The law directly affects police departments and state agencies that previously used such surveillance methods. It takes effect October 1, 2026, and defines "persistent aerial surveillance" as recording video/images showing a person's actions over time.
SB 460 requires Maryland's State Department of Assessments and Taxation to create and maintain a database of geographic images (including maps and aerial photos) for property appraisal. It mandates that counties and Baltimore City reimburse the state for these costs - 100% for the first $1 million and 50% for amounts exceeding that - under Section 2-106(b)(2). The bill also directs the Department to develop privacy policies protecting individuals' identities in captured images (Section 2-210(a)(3)), effective June 1, 2026. This directly affects local governments through reimbursement obligations and state agencies through new data management requirements.
SB 310 prohibits the Maryland Judiciary Case Search system from referencing records of traffic violations committed by minors (under 18) under the Maryland Vehicle Law or other traffic laws. It directly affects minors who receive traffic citations, ensuring these records are not displayed in public online searches. The bill amends Maryland's Criminal Procedure law to require the case search system to omit all references to such minor traffic violations. This change takes effect October 1, 2026, and does not alter the existence of the underlying records.
SB 216 updates Maryland's unemployment insurance confidentiality rules to align with federal requirements. It clarifies that claim details (including benefit amounts, address, and work refusal history), wage information, and other personal data are protected as "confidential unemployment insurance information." The bill allows limited disclosure to child support enforcement agencies when permitted under federal law, while adding penalties for unauthorized leaks by current or former Maryland Department of Labor employees. These changes directly affect unemployment claimants, employers, and child support agencies by defining how personal financial data may be shared.
HB 487 amends Maryland law to give the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) more flexibility regarding investments in businesses that no longer qualify under program rules. Specifically, it changes the requirement that MTDC must divest such investments to an authorization allowing it to choose whether to divest or pursue other remedies (like repayment) when a business no longer meets "qualified business" criteria. The bill also updates procedures for the MTDC's investment committee to consider these remedies. This directly affects MTDC and businesses that previously received MTDC equity investments but no longer qualify under the program.
