HB 566

Criminal Law – Distribution of Students’ Personal Information – Prohibition

Sponsor: Ashanti Martinez (District 22)Committee: JudiciarySubject: Criminal Law - Substantive CrimesStatus: Hearing 2/19 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Prohibiting a person from distributing personal identifying information or images of a student enrolled in an institution of secondary education or an institution of postsecondary education with intent or knowledge that the information will be used to harm the student or with reckless disregard for the risk the information will be used to harm the student; and providing that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to imprisonment of up to 1 year or a fine of up to $5,000 or both.

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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 (19)

MGA witness list

FAV 13FavorableFWA 2Favorable with amendmentsUNF 3UnfavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Wilt, Laura	Maryland Crime Victims' Resource Center	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Othman, Ronza	National Federation of the Blind of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Harris, Rhea	OAG	Written (PDF)
FAV	Farah, Phillip	Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace (PCAP)	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Carter, Alita-Geri	Qualequity Access	Position only
FAV	McNair, Lee	Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice Ministry	Position only
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Agnihotri, Shubh	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Chaudry, Zainab	Individual	Oral
FAV	Chaudry, Zainab	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Martinez, Delegate Martinezlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Shinnawi, Abeer	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Dollar, Lauren	Maryland Office of the Public Defender	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Proctor, Karessa	NASW Maryland	Written (PDF)
UNF	Martin, Gail	National Association of Social Workers - Maryland Chapter	Oral
FWA	ORear, Grady	Green Advantage	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	durkin, margaretlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
INFO	Peck, Beatrix	Maryland Independent College & University Association	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Green AdvantageFWA 1

Maryland Crime Victims' Resource CenterFAV 1

Maryland Independent College & University AssociationINFO 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Office of the Public DefenderUNF 1

NASW MarylandUNF 1

National Association of Social Workers - Maryland ChapterUNF 1

National Federation of the Blind of MarylandFAV 1

OAGFAV 1

Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace (PCAP)FAV 1

Qualequity AccessFAV 1

Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice MinistryFAV 1

YearFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FWAdurkin, margaretRegistered for: TechNet