Moratorium on Construction of New Data Centers – Co-Location and Generation Contingency
Prohibiting a person from constructing a data center in the State; prohibiting a unit of State or local government from approving a proposal for the construction of a data center in the State; providing for the termination of the Act if the General Assembly enacts legislation regarding the co-location of data centers with a new or existing natural gas power generation facility, nuclear power generation facility, or small module reactor; applying the Act prospectively; etc.
Prohibiting a person from utilizing certain personal identifying information or engaging in certain conduct in order to cause physical injury, serious emotional distress, or economic damages; prohibiting a person from using certain artificial intelligence or certain deepfake representations for certain purposes; providing penalties of 5 years of imprisonment and a fine of up $10,000 or both where one victim is involved, and for two or more victims the term of imprisonment is up to 10 years and the fine is up to $15,000 or both; etc.
Repealing and establishing the methodology used to calculate the weekly benefit amount; altering the taxable wage base used to determine employer contributions to the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and the amount of earned wages subtracted from a weekly benefit amount; requiring the Maryland Department of Labor to determine and make available online the State annual average wage applicable to the rate of contribution; requiring beginning in 2027, the maximum weekly benefit to be 40% of the State average weekly wage; etc.
Prohibiting a person from knowingly making or using, or causing to be made or used, a false record or statement resulting in underpayments of unemployment insurance contributions or payment of unemployment insurance benefits of more than $15,000; altering the enforcement mechanisms related to workplace fraud laws, living wage laws, and prevailing wage laws, including authorizing the Attorney General to investigate and bring suit in a certain manner; etc.
Authorizing the Governing Board of the Maryland Longitudinal Data System Center to provide certain student and workforce data to a third-party data center under certain circumstances; requiring each third-party data center to agree to comply with certain requirements relating to the data the center receives; requiring the Center to enter into a written data sharing agreement with certain third-party data centers; etc.
Establishing the Buy Maryland Cybersecurity Tax Credit; stating the purpose of the credit is to promote the cybersecurity industry in the State by helping Maryland businesses and nonprofits purchase cybersecurity technology services from Maryland companies; altering eligibility for the credit; increasing from $200,000 to $1,000,000 the aggregate amount of credits that may be issued for certain cybersecurity purchases; making the credit refundable; etc.
Maryland Data Privacy and Protection Act of 2026
Limiting the personal information that may be collected, maintained, processed, and retained by units of State government under certain circumstances; requiring certain personal information to be deleted or de-identified under certain circumstances; requiring each unit to post a certain privacy notice on its Internet website and establishing certain requirements for privacy notices and privacy policies; requiring each unit of State government to designate a Privacy Officer; etc.
Repealing and establishing the methodology used to calculate the weekly benefit amount; altering the taxable wage base used to determine employer contributions to the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and the amount of earned wages subtracted from a weekly benefit amount; requiring the Maryland Department of Labor to determine and make available online the State annual average wage applicable to the rate of contribution; requiring, beginning in 2027, the maximum weekly benefit to be 40% of the state average weekly wage; etc.
Prohibiting a person from utilizing certain personal identifying information or engaging in certain conduct in order to cause physical injury, serious emotional distress, or economic damages; prohibiting a person from using certain artificial intelligence or certain deepfake representations for certain purposes; providing penalties of 5 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000 or both where one victim is involved, and for two or more victims the term of imprisonment is up to 10 years and the fine is up to $15,000 or both; etc.
Consumer Protection and Labor and Employment – Surveillance-Based Price and Wage Setting – Prohibition
Prohibiting a person from engaging in certain surveillance-based price setting; making a certain violation of the Act an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice that is subject to enforcement and penalties under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act; and prohibiting an employer from engaging in certain surveillance-based wage setting.
Establishing the Buy Maryland Cybersecurity Tax Credit; providing the purpose of the credit is to promote the cybersecurity industry in the State by helping Maryland businesses and nonprofits purchase cybersecurity technologies and services from Maryland companies; altering eligibility for the credit; altering the aggregate amount of credits that may be issued for certain cybersecurity purchases from $200,000 to $1,000,000; making the credit refundable; etc.
Authorizing the Governing Board of the Maryland Longitudinal Data System Center to provide certain student and workforce data to a third-party data center under certain circumstances; requiring each third-party data center to agree to comply with certain requirements relating to the data the center receives; requiring the Center to enter into a written data sharing agreement with certain third-party data centers; etc.
Prohibiting a person from knowingly making or using, or causing to be made or used, a false record or statement resulting in underpayments of unemployment insurance contributions or payment of unemployment insurance benefits of more than $15,000 in a calendar year; altering the enforcement mechanisms related to workplace fraud laws, living wage laws, and prevailing wage laws, including authorizing the Attorney General to investigate and bring suit in a certain manner; etc.
State Department of Assessments and Taxation – Blockchain-Based Real Property Title Pilot Program – Establishment
Establishing the Blockchain-Based Real Property Title Pilot Program in the State Department of Assessments and Taxation to explore the use of blockchain technology for securely recording and verifying real property ownership and to assess its potential for use by law enforcement and courts in resolving real property disputes involving squatting.