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SB 121

Personal Information - Public Servant Protections

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Katie Hester

SB 121 restricts public access to personal information of Maryland public servants to enhance safety and privacy while balancing government transparency requirements.

Hearing 2/12 at 2:00 p.m.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 121

Legislative bill overview

SB 121 establishes protections for the personal information of public servants in Maryland, limiting public access to certain private details of government employees and officials. The bill appears designed to shield public employees from harassment or privacy violations while maintaining government transparency and accountability.

Why is this important

Public servants increasingly face doxxing, harassment, and safety threats when personal information becomes publicly accessible. Balancing privacy protections for government employees against the public's right to know about those in power is a significant governance challenge with real consequences for recruitment and retention of qualified public officials.

Potential points of contention

  • Transparency vs. Privacy: Critics may argue that broad privacy protections could shield misconduct or conflicts of interest, while supporters contend that home addresses and family information are irrelevant to job performance
  • Scope Definition: Unclear which information qualifies for protection and which public servants are covered—elected officials may warrant different treatment than civil servants
  • Enforcement Mechanisms: Questions about how violations would be penalized and whether protections apply to information already public or only newly released records

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

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