Bill

Bill > HB821


MD HB821

Public Information Act - Denials - Pending Litigation


summary

Introduced
01/29/2025
In Committee
01/29/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
04/08/2025

Introduced Session

2025 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Establishing that a custodian may deny inspection of records pertaining to pending or reasonably anticipated litigation to which the State or an officer or employee of the State is or may be a party.

AI Summary

This bill modifies Maryland's Public Information Act by clarifying when government records can be withheld during pending or anticipated litigation. Specifically, the bill allows government custodians (record keepers) to deny public inspection of records related to legal proceedings in which the State, a State agency, a political subdivision, or a State/local government employee (acting in their official capacity) is or may become a party. The bill explicitly excludes court records and litigation that has already been fully resolved from this provision. Importantly, the bill also includes a provision ensuring that this new rule does not limit any existing legal rights to discovery in litigation, meaning that parties involved in a lawsuit can still access relevant information through standard legal procedures. The new law is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, and is designed to protect the state's legal interests by allowing some confidentiality for records directly related to ongoing or potential legal matters.

Committee Categories

Health and Social Services

Sponsors (0)

No sponsors listed

Other Sponsors (1)

Health and Government Operations (H)

Last Action

House Health and Government Operations Hearing (13:00:00 2/11/2025 ) (on 02/11/2025)

bill text


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