SB 554

Public Information Act - Frivolous, Vexatious, or Abusive Requests - Remedies

Sponsor: Chair, Education, Energy, and the Environment CommitteeCommittee: Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentSubject: State Government - Regulations and ProceduresStatus: Hearing 2/20 at 1:00 p.m. (Education, Energy, and the Environment) (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Authorizing the custodian of a record to file a certain complaint relating to a Public Information Act request or pattern of requests with the Public Information Act Compliance Board or circuit court; authorizing the Compliance Board to issue a certain order or dismiss a complaint under certain circumstances; authorizing a complainant to appeal a certain decision of the Compliance Board; and authorizing the circuit court to issue a certain order under certain circumstances.

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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (0)

MGA witness list

FAV 8FavorableFWA 1Favorable with amendmentsUNF 12Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Hunt, Ethan	Anne Arundel County	Written (PDF)
FAV	Sample, Sarah	Maryland Association of Counties	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Fiore, Justin	Maryland Municipal League	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kershner, Lisa	Public Access Ombudsman	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mansfield, Andrealobbyist	Towing & Recovery Professionals of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Anderson White, Laura	Univ of Md College Park	Written (PDF)
FAV	Chair, Education, Energy, and the Environment Comm, Chair, Education, Energy, and the Environment Comm	Individual	Oral
FAV	Clark, Andy	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Josselyn, Johnlobbyist	2A Maryland	Position only
UNF	Nelson, Timothylobbyist	Brooks Pierce LLP / Maryland-DC-Delaware Broadcasters Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Antoine, Joannelobbyist	Common Cause Maryland	Position only
UNF	Bogley, Laura	Maryland Right to Life	Position only
UNF	Gardner, Debra	Public Justice Center	Oral
UNF	Mulvey, Ryan	Right on Transparency Coalition	Written (PDF)
UNF	Wieland, Tom	Ritchie Pharmacy , Brooklyn Park, Md.	Position only
UNF	BURTON, Greg	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Bienenfeld, Dr. Paula	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Galbreath, John	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Lang, Alan	Individual	Position only
UNF	Snyder, Rebeccalobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Hughes, Patrick	Office of the Attorney General	Oral + Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

2A MarylandUNF 1

Anne Arundel CountyFAV 1

Brooks Pierce LLP / Maryland-DC-Delaware Broadcasters AssociationUNF 1

Common Cause MarylandUNF 1

Maryland Association of CountiesFAV 1

Maryland Municipal LeagueFAV 1

Maryland Right to LifeUNF 1

Office of the Attorney GeneralFWA 1

Public Access OmbudsmanFAV 1

Public Justice CenterUNF 1

Right on Transparency CoalitionUNF 1

Ritchie Pharmacy , Brooklyn Park, Md.UNF 1

Towing & Recovery Professionals of MarylandFAV 1

Univ of Md College ParkFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVMansfield, AndreaTowing & Recovery Professionals of MarylandRegistered for: HDR Engineering, Inc.; Adventist HealthCare, Inc.; Alkermes; Alterwood Health, Inc.; American Chemistry Council; Amrize North America Inc., formerly Holcim Participations (US) Inc.…

UNFJosselyn, John2A MarylandRegistered for: 2A Maryland; Baltimore County Game & Fish Protective Association

UNFNelson, TimothyBrooks Pierce LLP / Maryland-DC-Delaware Broadcasters AssociationRegistered for: Maryland D.C. Delaware Broadcasters Association

UNFAntoine, JoanneCommon Cause MarylandRegistered for: Common Cause Maryland

UNFSnyder, RebeccaRegistered for: MD/DC Press Association