Maryland2026Active
HB0015
HB0015: Public Records Rules for Nonprofits
Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 4:24 AM
In one sentence
This bill changes Maryland law to treat certain documents from nonprofits that receive $50,000 or more annually in specific state or local funding as public records.
What it does
- Changes the definition of a 'public record' to include materials made by nonprofit organizations receiving at least $50,000 annually from State grants, State bond proceeds, or local impact grants.
- Requires these nonprofits to keep only information needed for authorized governmental purposes that is relevant to those purposes.
- Includes salary lists of employees at covered nonprofits as public records.
- Allows nonprofits to create policies for sharing public records on their websites based on available staff and budget.
Who it affects
- Nonprofit organizations receiving $50,000 or more annually from State grants, State bond proceeds, or local impact grants.
- Employees of these nonprofit organizations whose salary information may become public records.
- The general public who can request to see records held by these nonprofits.
Limits and unknowns
- The law only applies if a nonprofit receives $50,000 or more annually from the specific grant types listed.
- Nonprofits can adjust how they share records based on their available staff and budget resources.
- The bill does not define exactly which local impact grants count toward the $50,000 limit.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Public record
- Any document, file, or data made by a government unit or covered nonprofit that must be open for people to inspect and copy.
- State bond proceeds
- Money raised through State bonds used as funding sources mentioned in the bill.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Altering the definition of a "public record" under the Public Information Act to include certain documentary material made by a nonprofit organization that receives $50,000 or more annually from State grants, State bond proceeds, or local impact grants; and altering the applicability of certain rules and limitations under the Public Information Act to include certain nonprofit organizations.
Official activity
Bill history
- In the House - Hearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m.