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SB 107

Criminal Law – Distribution of Students’ Personal Information – Prohibition

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Shaneka Henson

SB 107 criminalizes unauthorized distribution of students' personal information without parental/guardian consent, establishing penalties for violations in Maryland.

First Reading Judicial Proceedings
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Bill Summary · SB 107

Legislative bill overview

SB 107 prohibits the distribution of students' personal information without explicit consent from parents or guardians (or students if 18+). The bill establishes criminal penalties for violations, making unauthorized sharing of student data a punishable offense under Maryland criminal law.

Why is this important

Student data breaches and unauthorized sharing have become increasingly common as schools digitize records. This bill creates legal recourse and deterrents against improper handling of sensitive information like social security numbers, addresses, and educational records that could expose minors to identity theft, harassment, or other harms.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition scope: Unclear whether "personal information" includes routine directory information (names, phone numbers) that schools traditionally share, or only sensitive data
  • Institutional burden: Schools and vendors may face compliance costs and complexity determining what requires consent, potentially affecting legitimate data-sharing for educational purposes
  • Enforcement challenges: Defining criminal intent and determining appropriate penalties for different violation severity levels; balancing public records laws with privacy protections
  • Third-party liability: Uncertainty about whether vendors, cloud providers, and educational technology companies face criminal exposure alongside schools

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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