Technology

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 1089: Consumer Protection - Data Broker Registry - Establishment

HB 1089 requires data brokers operating in Maryland or collecting data on Maryland residents to register annually with the Attorney General’s Office starting January 31, 2028. Data brokers must submit details about the personal data they collect, sources, third parties they share with, consumer contact information, and opt-out methods. The Attorney General will maintain a public, searchable database of registered brokers (excluding trade secrets) and set tiered fees based on the broker’s annual revenue. The law aims to increase transparency for consumers about data practices without restricting lawful data collection, with enforcement including civil penalties for non-compliance. It takes effect October 1, 2026, and requires the Attorney General to report compliance metrics and consumer complaints to the legislature by December 2029.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires data brokers to register, disclose data practices, and provide opt-out methods, strengthening consumer data privacy protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2026

HB 1456: Consumer Protection - Residential Property Advertisement - Ownership Verification

HB 1456 requires real estate websites, social media platforms, and other commercial entities to verify that the person advertising a residential property for sale or lease is either the legal owner or their authorized agent before publishing the listing. Commercial entities must maintain this verification for at least three years and immediately remove any listing published without proper verification. Violations would be treated as unfair, deceptive, or abusive trade practices under Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act, subject to enforcement and penalties. This bill directly affects online property listing services and real estate platforms that publish residential property advertisements. It aims to prevent fraudulent listings by mandating ownership verification as a standard practice.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires tech platforms to verify property owners, preventing deceptive listings under consumer protection laws, aligning with regulating tech for user safety.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Social Media

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

HB 1385: Health Insurance - Use of Artificial Intelligence - Human Evaluation

HB 1385 requires health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers using artificial intelligence (AI) for medical treatment reviews (utilization review) to include licensed healthcare professionals in key evaluations. Specifically, it mandates that AI decisions must be reviewed by a licensed professional who can question, modify, or override AI determinations based on a patient’s full medical history and individual circumstances. The bill also requires quarterly reviews of AI performance using human assessments of real-world health outcomes to improve accuracy and safety. These provisions apply to all AI tools used in utilization review processes within Maryland’s health insurance system, effective October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates human evaluation of AI medical decisions to ensure patient-specific care and protect patient rights in insurance coverage.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates human oversight for AI in healthcare decisions, ensuring patient safety and regulatory compliance per consumer protection indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 1510: Unemployment Insurance - Fraud Prevention, Detection, and Enforcement

HB 1510 requires unemployment insurance claimants in Maryland to use two-step verification (like a password plus a code) when accessing online claim services to prevent fraud. It mandates the Department of Labor to review claims with suspicious patterns - such as identical bank account details used across multiple claims - and refer suspected fraud cases to law enforcement. The bill also authorizes the Department to recover overpaid benefits by withholding from state income tax refunds and increases penalties for fraud, including extending disqualification periods for claimants found to have committed fraud.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPrevents fraud in unemployment benefits by recovering overpayments via tax refund withholdings, strengthening fiscal management and protecting state budget resources.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents fraud in unemployment claims, ensuring legitimate beneficiaries receive benefits and protecting the integrity of the unemployment insurance system.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates two-step verification and fraud pattern analysis for cybersecurity, directly enhancing digital security in unemployment systems per bill text.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Unemployment

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

HB 1596: Maryland Technology Development Corporation - Maryland Growth Initiative - Established

HB 1596 establishes the Maryland Growth Initiative within the Maryland Technology Development Corporation to support start-up companies in Maryland that are transitioning from early development to scaling. The Initiative will identify and prioritize companies in this growth phase, with special focus on those previously funded by Maryland Innovation Initiative, other Corporation programs, or minority-owned businesses. It creates a permanent $5 million annual fund administered by the Corporation, which may use private investment, interest earnings, and state appropriations to provide post-seed funding, business expertise, and infrastructure support - without replacing existing funding sources. The fund is designed to help companies scale locally instead of relocating.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyCreates $5M annual fund to support tech startups transitioning to scaling, prioritizing previously funded or minority-owned businesses.95% confidence

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passed both · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2026

HB 1037: Public Service Commission - Broadband and Voice Over Internet Protocol Service - Study

HB 1037 (Broadband Accountability and Affordability Act) gives Maryland's Public Service Commission authority to oversee broadband and internet-based phone service (VoIP), which it previously could not regulate. The bill requires Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to report on network reliability, outages, pricing, and emergency preparedness plans, and to maintain infrastructure meeting safety and reliability standards. The Commission can audit providers and order corrective actions if services are deemed unsafe, unreliable, or inadequate. ISPs must submit annual reports on progress, with the Commission reporting to the legislature each year starting in 2028 on improvements in service quality and network resilience.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires ISPs to report on reliability, pricing, and infrastructure, enhancing consumer transparency and service standards for broadband access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Broadband Access Telecommunications

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

HB 1032: Prekindergarten Programs and Primary and Secondary Schools - Student Privacy Policy Requirements and Discrimination Reporting

HB 1032 requires all public and nonpublic primary and secondary schools in Maryland to adopt written policies protecting student privacy, including procedures for parents to access records, limits on sharing personal information without consent, and documentation of record reviews. It also mandates that nonpublic prekindergarten programs and schools report annually (starting September 1, 2027) the number of alleged discrimination incidents based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics. These provisions directly affect all K-12 schools, with specific exemptions for religiously affiliated schools that meet existing legal standards under federal law. The bill updates privacy requirements and adds new reporting obligations without altering existing anti-discrimination protections.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates student privacy protections and anti-discrimination reporting in K-12 schools, supporting educational safety and access.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires schools to adopt privacy policies limiting data sharing without consent, directly protecting student data privacy per tech policy indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety Data Privacy

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 9, 2026

SB 602: Algorithmic Addiction Fund - Establishment

SB 602 establishes the Algorithmic Addiction Fund in Maryland to use settlement funds from cases where social media algorithms harmed children. The fund, administered by the Maryland Department of Health, is financed by civil penalties from settlements related to social media harm and earns interest. It directly supports children by funding prevention programs (like school digital literacy campaigns), treatment services for mental health impacts (such as depression and anxiety), research, and evidence-based interventions. The fund is non-lapsing, meaning unused money rolls over annually, and all spending must align with the state budget.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesUses settlement funds (not new taxes) to directly fund children's programs like mental health services and digital literacy, advancing public service funding under fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds school digital literacy campaigns and mental health services for students, directly supporting K-12 educational programs and student well-being.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds mental health treatment services (depression/anxiety) and prevention programs under Maryland Department of Health, directly supporting mental health services within healthcare.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRegulates social media algorithms for child safety, using settlements to fund harm mitigation programs per bill's focus on algorithmic harm cases.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Mental Health Substance Abuse Social Media

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SB 989: Child Exploitation Material - Civil and Criminal Actions (Safe Kids Act)

SB 989 (Safe Kids Act) creates a civil cause of action allowing parents or legal guardians of minors depicted in unlawful child exploitation material to sue online platforms that knowingly distribute such material. The bill defines "unlawful child exploitation material" to include AI-generated images that appear indistinguishable from real children, criminalizing platforms that knowingly issue, sell, or distribute these materials. It establishes remedies including actual damages, attorney fees, and punitive damages for affected families, while exempting platforms acting solely as transmission services. The law applies to social media, apps, and websites that create or distribute content featuring minors in sexual situations, including AI-generated depictions.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRegulates platforms for distributing AI-generated child exploitation material, strengthening consumer protection and digital safety for minors.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Online Safety Social Media

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 1399: Consumer Protection - Consumer Reporting Agencies - Use of Algorithmic Systems

HB 1399 requires credit bureaus and other consumer reporting agencies in Maryland to meet strict standards when using algorithms to evaluate credit data. It mandates that agencies explain algorithmic decisions in plain language (meeting an 8.0 Flesch-Kincaid readability score), maintain public algorithm registries, and achieve error rates below 0.5% and discriminatory bias below 0.1% when compared to human reviews. Agencies must also conduct quarterly bias audits by independent third parties, implement data governance with minimum data point requirements (1,000-10,000 per category), and require human review within 24 hours before final credit decisions. This bill directly affects agencies that compile credit reports for lenders, insurers, or employers, aiming to ensure transparency and fairness in automated credit evaluations.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRegulates algorithmic use in credit reporting for transparency, bias reduction, and consumer protection, aligning with data privacy and fair tech practices.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Consumer Data Protection

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