# Maryland HB 0242: Unemployment Insurance - Confidentiality of Information

Maryland HB 0242, Unemployment Insurance - Confidentiality of Information, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by no sponsor on record; status signed, last action 2026-04-14 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 129) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0242-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland HB 0242
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Unemployment Insurance - Confidentiality of Information
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-09-16
- Last action: 2026-04-14, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 129
- Sponsors: no sponsor on record
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Unemployment Insurance, Addresses, Administrative Agencies, Appeals -see also- Judicial Review, Claims, Cybersecurity, Data -see also- Census; Demographics, Disclosure, Education -see also- ContEd; DrvEd; HigherEd; etc., Ethics, Federal Government, Hearings, Higher Education -see also- Comm Colleges; Med Schools; etc., Insurance -see also- Health Ins; MAIF; Motor Vehicle Ins, Job Training -see also- Continuing Ed; Vocational Rehab, Labor, Department of, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Personal Identifying Information, Privacy, Public Information, Public Officials -see also- Atty Gen; Compt; Coun Admin; etc, Records -see also- Land Records; Vital Records, Rules and Regulations, Salaries and Compensation -see also- Overtime; Reimb. Rates, Signatures, Standards and Best Practices, Storage, Subpoenas, Unemployment, Work, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc.
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (176 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 6

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Stronger privacy for unemployment claim records: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, the law clearly defines what counts as unemployment claim information. It treats any UI or wage record that names you or could identify you as confidential. Claim information includes whether you applied or received UI, how much you get, and your current or last home addr…
- Criminal penalties for leaking UI data: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, a Department employee or former employee who breaks UI confidentiality commits a misdemeanor. Anyone who receives confidential UI data and re‑shares it without approval, or uses it for an unauthorized purpose, also commits a misdemeanor. The penalty is up to a $1,000 fine…
- Old child support access rules repealed: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, the law repeals older provisions that allowed inspection or publication of some employer identity and child support claim information. Access now runs through the new single confidentiality and disclosure rules.
- UI claim info shared for cases: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, the Department shares confidential UI information when needed to run the program and handle claims. A claimant and the involved employer can get information about their claim. At hearings, decision makers must give parties the records needed to present the case. The Secre…
- Tight rules for third party UI data: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, the Secretary may allow UI data to be shared for non‑UI purposes only with strict consent and limits. A third party must have a signed release that names the records, states state files will be used, lists who will get the data, and limits use to helping the person or run…
- Counties get data on local UI recipients: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, the Department gives a county’s top elected official, on request, demographic data and the addresses, jobs, and last employers of UI recipients living in that county. The official may share it with the county governing body and request or provide it for local subdivisions…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- (none)

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-06 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 46 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-20 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 130 | 0 | 2 |

## Actions (12)

- 2026-04-14: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 129
- 2026-04-07: Returned Passed (House)
- 2026-04-06: Third Reading Passed (46-0) (Senate)
- 2026-03-31: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Favorable Report by Finance (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Referred Finance (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Third Reading Passed (130-0) (House)
- 2026-02-18: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-02-17: Favorable Report by Economic Matters (House)
- 2026-01-19: Hearing 2/04 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-01-14: First Reading Economic Matters (House)
- 2025-09-16: Pre-filed (House)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-04-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_129_hb0242t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-02-18: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0242t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0242f.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law)
- SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law)
- SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)
- SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law)
- SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law)
- HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)

## Sources
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_129_hb0242t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0242t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0242f.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS)
- [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS)
- [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS)
- [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS)
- [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS)
- [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0242-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).