Lawmakers are weighing bills that would shape how Marylanders use — and are safeguarded against risks from — artificial intelligence.
Even under the looming executive order from the Trump administration’s push to rein in state-level AI regulation, legislators are pressing ahead with proposals targeting deepfakes, chatbot disclosures and other emerging tech concerns. Read on for a rundown of what they’re considering.
Plus, following an end-of-year shakeup at the Emerging Technology Centers (ETC), the organization has tapped a new leader to help reset its priorities and more power moves.
AI and data privacy bills to watch
Maryland lawmakers have rolled out a wave of bills aimed at regulating AI and tightening guardrails around federal immigration enforcement. Here are a few we’re watching.
SB 0141
This bill would crack down on AI-generated deepfakes used to spread election misinformation. The bill passed the Senate unanimously last week and would allow the state elections administrator to seek court-ordered removal of false content, pursue civil penalties of up to $5,000 and impose prison sentences of up to five years.
Sponsor Sen. Katie Fry Hester did not reply to Technical.ly’s request for comment.
SB 0504/HB 0711
These amendments to the Maryland Online Data Privacy Act would restrict third-party data brokers from sharing Marylanders’ personal data with federal immigration enforcement without a warrant.
The measure builds on a prior law barring federal authorities from accessing data held by the state without judicial approval, per sponsor Sen. Clarence Lam. It comes as lawmakers work to limit ICE’s reach in the state.
HB 0883
The legislation requires AI systems to clearly disclose when users are interacting with an AI product rather than a licensed behavioral health provider, such as a therapist or psychiatrist. The bill also mandates that AI tools learn to identify potential suicidal ideation and refer people to Maryland’s behavioral health services.
Sponsor Del. Lily Qi told Technical.ly the bill provides Maryland’s tech community with “clarity surrounding standards that helps both entrepreneurs and the users they serve.”
ETC names new director
Maggie McDonough is stepping in as director of ETC amid a broader restructuring of the Baltimore Development Corporation’s executive team under new leader Otis Rolley. She will also serve as senior vice president and chief innovation officer at the BDC.
McDonough, the former director of tech and innovation at Purdue University’s Applied Research Institute, said she plans to grow the ETC’s venture studio and broaden the organization’s niche beyond life sciences to Baltimore’s other key industries, including cybersecurity and port logistics.
“We are going to be myopically focused on becoming a startup factory,” McDonough told Technical.ly.
She takes over from Arti Santhanam, who stepped down from the role in December 2025 after serving two years as executive director.
More power moves:
- The Board of Regents approved the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s plans for a nearly $300 million mixed-use project to redevelop the city’s west downtown.
- Rachel Ransom won the HBCU Universe Summit’s rocket pitch competition at Morgan State University for Krave, a canned cocktail brand.
- Data center company Rowan Digital Infrastructure donated $120,000 to renovate Frederick Community College’s electrical trades lab at the Monroe Center.
- Baltimore-based Think Consulting, a tech advisory practice, appointed Kelsey Champion as chief of staff.
- IntelliGenesis, a Columbia-based cybersecurity firm, brought on Department of War veteran Peter Walker as chief innovation officer.
- ReBokeh Vision Technologies partnered with the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum to offer its accessibility tech for free to guests and staff.
- TechMatrix Corporation is partnering with Columbia-based Tenable on its cybersecurity operations in Japan.
