State Government - State Elected Officials - Protection of Personal Information

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb0632*

SENATE BILL 632
P1 6lr2821
CF 6lr2822
By: Senators West and Hester , Hester, Brooks, Carozza, Feldman, Harris, and
Simonaire
Introduced and read first time: February 5, 2026
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 4, 2026

CHAPTER ______

AN ACT concerning 1

State Government – State Elected Officials – Protection of Personal Information 2

FOR the purpose of establishing the Office of State Elected Officials Information Privacy 3
in the Department of Legislative Services; authorizing a certain protected individual 4
or the Office of State Elected Officials Information Privacy in the Department of 5
Legislative Services to request that a governmental entity or person not publish 6
personal information of the individual on the Internet, social media, or social 7
networks or that the governmental entity or person remove the information from any 8
existing publication; specifying certain procedures for the protection of personal 9
information of a protected individual; authorizing certain relief for a violation of this 10
Act; authorizing a member of the General Assembly to use certain funds to aid in the 11
identification and removal of certain published personal information; establishing a 12
criminal penalty for publicly posting personal information of a protected individual 13
under certain circumstances; and generally relating to State elected officials and the 14
protection of personal information. 15

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 16
Article – Real Property 17
Section 3–114 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 20

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 21
Article – State Government 22
2 SENATE BILL 632

Section 2–1206 1
Annotated Code of Maryland 2
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 3

BY adding to 4
Article – State Government 5
Section 10 –1801 through 10 –1804 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 18. 6
Protected Individuals – Protected Information”; and 10 –1901 through 7
10–1907 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 19. Protected Individuals – 8
State Elected Officials Address Confidentiality Program” 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13

Article – Real Property 14

3–114. 15

(a) In this part the following words have the meanings indicated. 16

(b) “ACP number” means the unique identification number assigned to each 17
program participant by the Secretary [or], by the Office of Information Privacy, OR BY THE 18
OFFICE OF STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS INFORMATION PRIVACY. 19

(c) “Actual address” means a residential street address, school address, or work 20
address of an individual, as specified on the individual’s application to be a program 21
participant under Title 7, Subtitle 3 of the State Government Article. 22

(d) “Address Confidentiality Program” means [the]: 23

(1) THE Address Confidentiality Program for survivors of threatened, 24
attempted, or actual domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, harassment, or human 25
trafficking administered by the Secretary under Title 7, Subtitle 3 of the State Government 26
Article [and the]; 27

(2) THE Judicial Address Confidentiality Program administered by the 28
Administrative Office of the Courts under Title 3, Subtitle 24 of the Courts Article; AND 29

(3) THE STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY 30
PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES 31
UNDER TITLE 10, SUBTITLE 19 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 32

(e) (1) “Identity information” means information that may be used to identify 33
a program participant. 34
SENATE BILL 632 3

(2) “Identity information” includes a program participant’s: 1

(i) Name; 2

(ii) Phone number; 3

(iii) E–mail address; 4

(iv) Social Security number; and 5

(v) Driver’s license number. 6

(f) “Office of Information Privacy” means the Office of Information Privacy in the 7
Administrative Office of the Courts. 8

(G) “OFFICE OF STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS INFORMATION PRIVACY” 9
MEANS THE OFFICE OF STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS INFORMATION PRIVACY IN THE 10
DEPARTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES. 11

[(g)] (H) “Program participant” means an individual designated by the Secretary 12
[or], by the Office of Information Privacy , OR BY THE OFFICE OF STATE ELECTED 13
OFFICIALS INFORMATION PRIVACY as a participant in an address confidentiality 14
program. 15

[(h)] (I) “Real Property ACP Notice” means the notice required under this part 16
for a program participant to request the shielding of real property records. 17

[(i)] (J) “Real property record” means any record or data maintained by a clerk 18
of the circuit court or a State or local agency as part of the land or tax records. 19

[(j)] (K) “Secretary” means the Secretary of State. 20

[(k)] (L) “Shield” means to remove real property records from public inspection 21
in accordance with this part. 22

[(l)] (M) “Shielding” means, with respect to a real property record accepted for 23
recording by a clerk of the circuit court or a State or local agency, removing the record to a 24
separate secure area to which persons who do not have a legitimate reason for access are 25
denied access. 26

Article – State Government 27

2–1206. 28

(a) The following units are in the Department: 29
4 SENATE BILL 632

(1) the Office of Legislative Audits; 1

(2) the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability; 2

(3) the Office of Policy Analysis; 3

(4) the Office of Operations and Support Services; [and] 4

(5) THE OFFICE OF STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS INFORMATION 5
PRIVACY; AND 6

[(5)] (6) any other offices as may be designated by the President and the 7
Speaker. 8

(b) With the approval of the President and t he Speaker and in consultation with 9
the minority leader of the Senate and the minority leader of the House of Delegates, the 10
Executive Director shall appoint the following office directors: 11

(1) the director of the Office of Legislative Audits; 12

(2) the director of the Office of Program Evaluation and Government 13
Accountability; 14

(3) the director of the Office of Policy Analysis; 15

(4) the director of the Office of Operations and Support Services; [and] 16

(5) THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS 17
INFORMATION PRIVACY; AND 18

[(5)] (6) any director of an office designated by the President and the 19
Speaker under subsection [(a)(5)] (A)(6) of this section. 20

(c) Each office director serves without a fixed term and, subject to the approval of 21
the President and the Speaker and in consultation with the minority leader of the Senate 22
and the minority leader of the House of Delegates, may be removed by the Executive 23
Director. 24

(d) Each office director shall serve in a nonpartisan capacity and e nsure that all 25
activities of the office are conducted in a nonpartisan manner. 26

(e) Each office director is entitled to the salary provided in the State budget. 27

SENATE BILL 632 5

(f) After consultation with the Executive Director, each office director may 1
appoint an appropriate number of qualified individuals to serve in management functions 2
in the respective offices. 3

SUBTITLE 18. PROTECTED INDIVIDUALS – PROTECTED INFORMATION. 4

10–1801. 5

(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 6
INDICATED. 7

(B) “GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY” HAS THE MEANING STATED IN § 10–1501 OF 8
THIS TITLE. 9

(C) “OFFICE” MEANS THE OFFICE OF STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS 10
INFORMATION PRIVACY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES. 11

(D) (1) “PERSONAL INFORMATION” MEANS: 12

(I) A HOME ADDRESS; 13

(II) A HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER; 14

(III) A MOBILE TELEPHONE NUMBER; 15

(IV) A PERSONAL E–MAIL ADDRESS; 16

(V) A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER; 17

(VI) A DRIVER’S LICENSE NUMBER; 18

(VII) A FEDERAL TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER; 19

(VIII) A BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER; 20

(IX) A CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD NUMBER; 21

(X) A LICENSE PLATE NUMB ER OR UNIQUE IDENTIF IER OF A 22
VEHICLE; 23

(XI) A BIRTH OR MARITAL RECORD; 24

(XII) A CHILD’S NAME; 25

6 SENATE BILL 632

(XIII) A SCHOOL OR DAYCARE; 1

(XIV) A PLACE OF WORSHIP; OR 2

(XV) A PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. 3

(2) “PERSONAL INFORMATION” DOES NOT INCLUDE: 4

(I) INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN PUBLICLY DISCLOSED WITH 5
THE CONSENT OF THE PROTECTED INDIVIDUAL; OR 6

(II) INFORMATION THAT IS RELEVANT TO AND DISP LAYED AS 7
PART OF A NEWS STORY, A COMMENTARY, AN EDITORIAL, OR ANY OTHER SPEECH ON 8
MATTERS OF PUBLIC CONCERN; OR 9

(III) INFORMATION THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE PUBLISHED UNDER 10
TITLE 5 OF THE GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE. 11

(E) “PROTECTED INDIVIDUAL” MEANS: 12

(1) A CURRENT OR FORMER GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND; 13

(2) A CURRENT OR FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND; 14

(3) A CURRENT OR FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MARYLAND; 15

(4) A CURRENT OR FORMER COMPTROLLER OF MARYLAND; 16

(5) A CURRENT OR FORMER MEMBER OF THE MARYLAND SENATE; 17

(6) A CURRENT OR FORMER MEMBER OF THE MARYLAND HOUSE OF 18
DELEGATES; OR 19

(7) A SPOUSE , CHILD, OR DEPENDENT WHO RES IDES IN THE SAME 20
HOUSEHOLD AS AN INDI VIDUAL DESCRIBED IN ITEMS (1) THROUGH (6) OF THIS 21
SUBSECTION. 22

(F) “PUBLISH” MEANS TO POST OR OTH ERWISE MAKE AVAILABL E TO THE 23
GENERAL PUBLIC ON THE INTERNET, SOCIAL MEDIA, OR SOCIAL NETWORKS. 24

10–1802. 25

SENATE BILL 632 7

(A) A PROTECTED INDIVIDUAL , OR THE OFFICE ON BEHALF OF A 1
PROTECTED INDIVIDUAL, MAY REQUEST THAT A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY: 2

(1) NOT PUBLISH THE PROT ECTED INDIVIDUAL ’S PERSONAL 3
INFORMATION; OR 4

(2) REMOVE THE PROTECTED INDIVIDUAL’S PERSONAL 5
INFORMATION FROM ANY EXISTING PUBLICATION. 6

(B) A REQUEST MADE UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL: 7

(1) BE IN WRITING; 8

(2) BE SENT BY CERTIFIED MAIL OR BY E–MAIL; 9

(3) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED I N SUBSECTI ON (C) OF THIS SECTION , 10
PROVIDE SUFFICIENT I NFORMATION TO CONFIR M THAT THE REQUESTER IS A 11
PROTECTED INDIVIDUAL; AND 12

(4) ADEQUATELY IDENTIFY THE DOCUMENT , POSTING, OR OTHER 13
PUBLICATION CONTAINING THE PERSONAL INFORMATION. 14

(C) A REQUEST MADE BY THE OFFICE CERTIFIES THAT A REQUESTER IS A 15
PROTECTED INDIVIDUAL AND NO FURTHER INFOR MATION MAY BE REQUIR ED TO 16
CONFIRM THAT THE REQUESTER IS A PROTECTED INDIVIDUAL. 17

(D) ON RECEIPT OF A REQUE ST UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION, 18
A GOVERNMENTAL ENTIT Y SHALL PROMPTLY ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF THE 19
REQUEST IN WRITING BY CERTIFIED MAIL OR BY E–MAIL AND: 20

(1) TAKE STEPS REASONABL Y NECESSARY TO ENSUR E THAT THE 21
PERSONAL INFORMATION IS NOT PUBLISHED; OR 22

(2) IF THE PERSONAL INFO RMATION IS ALREADY P UBLISHED, 23
PROVIDE FOR THE REMOVAL OF T HE PERSONAL INFORMAT ION WITHIN 72 HOURS 24
AFTER RECEIPT OF THE REQUEST. 25

(E) A PROTECTED INDIVIDUAL OR THE OFFICE MAY BRING AN ACTION FOR 26
A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION AGAINST A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY FOR: 27

(1) DECLARATORY RELIEF; 28

(2) INJUNCTIVE RELIEF; OR 29
8 SENATE BILL 632

(3) REASONABLE ATTORNEY’S FEES. 1

10–1803. 2

(A) A PROTECTED INDIVIDUAL , OR THE OFFICE ON BEHALF OF A 3
PROTECTED INDIVIDUAL, MAY REQUEST THAT A PERSON WHO HAS PUBLISHED THE 4
PROTECTED INDIVIDUAL ’S PERSONAL INFORMATI ON REMOVE THE PROTE CTED 5
INDIVIDUAL’S PERSONAL INFORMATION FROM PUBLICATION. 6

(B) A REQUEST MADE UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL: 7

(1) BE IN WRITING; 8

(2) BE SENT BY CERTIFIED MAIL OR BY E–MAIL; 9

(3) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED I N SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION , 10
PROVIDE SUFFICIENT I NFORMATION TO CONFIRM THAT THE REQUESTER I S A 11
PROTECTED INDIVIDUAL; AND 12

(4) ADEQUATELY IDENTIFY THE DOCUMENT , POSTING, OR OTHER 13
PUBLICATION CONTAINING THE PERSONAL INFORMATION. 14

(C) A REQUEST MADE BY THE OFFICE CERTIFIES THAT A REQUESTER IS A 15
PROTECTED INDIVIDUAL AND NO FU RTHER INFORMATION MA Y BE REQUIRED TO 16
CONFIRM THAT THE REQUESTER IS A PROTECTED INDIVIDUAL. 17

(D) THE PERSON TO WHOM THE REQUEST IS MADE SHALL: 18

(1) PROVIDE FOR THE REMO VAL OF THE PERSONAL INFORMATION 19
WITHIN 72 HOURS AFTER RECEIPT OF THE REQUEST; AND 20

(2) NOTIFY THE PROTECTED INDIVIDUAL OR THE OFFICE BY 21
CERTIFIED MAIL OR BY E–MAIL OF THE REMOVAL. 22

(E) (1) A PROTECTED INDIVIDUAL OR THE OFFICE MAY BRING AN ACTION 23
FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION AGAINST A PERSON FOR: 24

(I) DECLARATORY RELIEF; 25

(II) INJUNCTIVE RELIEF; OR 26

(III) REASONABLE ATTORNEY’S FEES. 27
SENATE BILL 632 9

(2) IN ADDITION TO THE RE LIEF PROVIDED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) 1
OF THIS SUBSECTION, IF A COURT FINDS THA T A PERSON WILLFULLY REFUSED TO 2
PROVIDE FOR THE REMO VAL OF PERSONAL INFO RMATION KNOWING THAT THE 3
INDIVIDUAL ON BEHALF OF WHOM THE REQUEST WAS MADE WAS A PROTE CTED 4
INDIVIDUAL, THE COURT MAY AWARD PUNITIVE DAMAGES. 5

(F) A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAY USE FUNDS ALLOTTED TO 6
THE MEMBER UNDER § 2–102 OF THIS ARTICLE TO E NGAGE AN INDIVIDUAL OR A 7
SERVICE TO AID IN TH E IDENTIFICATION AND REMOVAL OF PUBLISHED PERSONAL 8
INFORMATION. 9

10–1804. 10

(A) AN INDIVIDUAL MAY NOT KNOWINGLY PUBLISH TH E PERSONAL 11
INFORMATION OF A PROTECTED INDIVIDUAL IF: 12

(1) THE INDIVIDUAL KNOWS OR REASONABLY SHO ULD KNOW THAT 13
PUBLISHING THE PERSO NAL INFORMATION POSE S AN IMMINENT AND SE RIOUS 14
THREAT TO THE PROTECTED INDIVIDUAL; AND 15

(2) THE PUBLISHING OF THE PERSONAL INFORMATION RESULTS IN: 16

(I) AN ASSAULT IN ANY DEGREE; 17

(II) HARASSMENT; 18

(III) TRESPASS; OR 19

(IV) MALICIOUS DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY. 20

(B) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO VIO LATES THIS SECTION I S GUILTY OF A 21
MISDEMEANOR AND ON C ONVICTION IS SUBJECT TO IMPRISONMENT NOT 22
EXCEEDING 18 MONTHS OR A FINE NOT EXCEEDING $5,000 OR BOTH. 23

SUBTITLE 19. PROTECTED INDIVIDUALS – STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS ADDRESS 24
CONFIDENTIALITY PROGRAM. 25

10–1901. 26

(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 27
INDICATED. 28

10 SENATE BILL 632

(B) “ACTUAL ADDRESS ” MEANS A RESIDENTIAL STREET ADDRESS , 1
INCLUDING PRIMARY OR SECONDARY RESIDENCE, OF A PROTECTED INDIVIDUAL AS 2
SPECIFIED ON THE PRO TECTED INDIVIDUAL ’S APPLICATION TO BE A PROGRAM 3
PARTICIPANT UNDER THIS SUBTITLE. 4

(C) “GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY” HAS THE MEANING STATED IN § 10–1501 OF 5
THIS TITLE. 6

(D) “OFFICE” HAS THE MEANING STATED IN § 10–1801 OF THIS TITLE. 7

(E) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS ADDRESS 8
CONFIDENTIALITY PROGRAM. 9

(F) “PROGRAM PARTICIPANT ” MEANS A PROTECTED IN DIVIDUAL 10
DESIGNATED AS A PROGRAM PARTICIPANT UNDER THIS SUBTITLE. 11

(G) “PROTECTED INDIVIDUAL” HAS THE MEANING STATED IN § 10–1801 OF 12
THIS TITLE. 13

10–1902. 14

THE PURPOSE OF THIS SUBTITLE IS TO: 15

(1) ENABLE STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES TO RESPOND TO REQUESTS 16
FOR PUBLIC RECORDS WITHOUT DISCLOSING THE ACTUAL ADDRESS OF A PROGRAM 17
PARTICIPANT; 18

(2) ENCOURAGE INTERAGENC Y COOPERATION IN PRO VIDING 19
ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS; 20

(3) ALLOW GOVERNMENTAL E NTITIES AND PERSONS TO ACCEPT A 21
PROGRAM PARTICIPANT’S USE OF AN ADDRESS DESIGNATED BY THE OFFICE AS A 22
SUBSTITUTE ADDRESS; AND 23

(4) PROVIDE A PROGRAM P ARTICIPANT WITH PROT ECTIONS IN 24
ADDITION TO THOSE PROVIDED UNDER SUBTITLE 18 OF THIS TITLE. 25

10–1903. 26

THE OFFICE SHALL ESTABLIS H AND ADMINISTER A STATE ELECTED 27
OFFICIALS ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY PROGRAM FOR PROTECTED INDIVIDUALS. 28

10–1904. 29
SENATE BILL 632 11

(A) A PROTECTED INDIVIDUAL MAY APP LY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 1
PROGRAM IN THE MANNER REQUIRED BY THE OFFICE. 2

(B) ON RECEIPT OF AN APPL ICATION TO PARTICIPA TE IN THE PROGRAM, 3
THE OFFICE SHALL DETERMIN E WHETHER THE APPLIC ANT QUALIFIES AS A 4
PROGRAM PARTICIPANT. 5

10–1905. 6

(A) THE OFFICE MAY: 7

(1) REQUEST THAT A PERSO N OR GOVERNMENTAL EN TITY USE A 8
SUBSTITUTE ADDRESS D ESIGNATED BY THE OFFICE AS THE PROGRAM 9
PARTICIPANT’S ADDRESS; 10

(2) REQUEST THE SHIELDIN G OF REAL PROPERTY R ECORDS ON 11
BEHALF OF A PROGRAM PARTICIPANT WHO HAS AN OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN REAL 12
PROPERTY IN ACCORDAN CE WITH TITLE 3, SUBTITLE 1, PART II OF THE REAL 13
PROPERTY ARTICLE; AND 14

(3) REQUEST THAT A PROGRAM PARTICIPANT’S ACTUAL ADDRESS BE 15
SHIELDED FROM PUBLIC INSPECTION IN A RECO RD MAINTAINED BY A 16
GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY. 17

(B) A REQUEST MADE BY THE OFFICE UNDER THIS SUB TITLE CERTIFIES 18
THAT A REQUESTER IS A PROGRAM PARTICIPANT. 19

(C) ON RECEIPT OF A REQUE ST BY THE OFFICE, A PERSON OR 20
GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY SHALL: 21

(1) PROMPTLY ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF THE REQUE ST IN 22
WRITING BY CERTIFIED MAIL OR BY E–MAIL; AND 23

(2) TAKE STEPS REASONABLY NECESSARY TO COMPLY. 24

(D) NOTWITHSTANDING SUBSE CTION (A)(3) OF THIS SECTION , A 25
CUSTODIAN OF RECORD MAY: 26

(1) MAINTAIN A COPY OF A RECORD CONTAINING A PROGRAM 27
PARTICIPANT’S ACTUAL AD DRESS IN A SEPARATE SECURE AREA TO WHICH THE 28
PERSONS WHO DO NOT H AVE A LEGITIMATE REA SON FOR ACCESS ARE D ENIED 29
ACCESS; 30
12 SENATE BILL 632

(2) PERMIT PUBLIC INSPECTION OF A RECORD WITH THE CONSENT OF 1
THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANT; 2

(3) PERMIT PUBLIC INSPEC TION OF A RECORD WIT H THE ACTUAL 3
ADDRESS REDACTED FROM THE RECORD; OR 4

(4) AFTER NOTIFICATION T O THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANT, PERMIT 5
PUBLIC INSPECTION OF A RECORD IF THE INSP ECTION WILL FURTHER A 6
SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC INTEREST OR A LEGITIMATE BUSINESS NEED. 7

10–1906. 8

A RECORD OF A PROGRAM PARTICIPANT’S ACTUAL ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE 9
NUMBER MAINTAINED BY THE OFFICE OR A GOVERNMEN TAL ENTITY IS NOT A 10
PUBLIC RECORD UNDER § 4–101 OF THE GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE. 11

10–1907. 12

(A) A PERSON MAY NOT KNOWINGLY DISCLOSE A PROGRAM PARTICIPANT’S 13
ACTUAL ADDRESS. 14

(B) A PROTECTED INDIVIDUAL OR THE OFFICE MAY BRING AN ACTION FOR 15
A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION FOR: 16

(1) DECLARATORY RELIEF; 17

(2) INJUNCTIVE RELIEF; OR 18

(3) REASONABLE ATTORNEY’S FEES. 19

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That th is Act shall take effect 20
October 1, 2026. 21