Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB807 Latest Draft

Bill / Engrossed Version Filed 03/12/2025

                             
 
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW. 
        [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law. 
         Underlining indicates amendments to bill. 
         Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by 
amendment. 
          *hb0807*  
  
HOUSE BILL 807 
S1   	5lr0191 
    	CF 5lr0192 
By: Chair, Health and Government Operations Committee (By Request 	– 
Departmental – Information Technology) 
Introduced and read first time: January 29, 2025 
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations 
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments 
House action: Adopted 
Read second time: March 1, 2025 
 
CHAPTER ______ 
 
AN ACT concerning 1 
 
Information Technology – Modernizing Data Governance – Office of Enterprise 2 
Data and Council for Open Data Advancement 3 
 
FOR the purpose of establishing the position and responsibilities of the State Chief Data 4 
Officer; establishing the Office of Enterprise Data in the Department of Information 5 
Technology and the responsibilities of the Office; requiring each unit of State 6 
government to appoint an Agency Data Officer; renaming the Council on Open Data 7 
to be the Council for Open Data Advancement; altering the membership, member 8 
terms, and responsibilities of the Council; and generally relating to ensuring the 9 
efficient, secure, and ethical use of data in support of State goals and initiatives. 10 
 
BY adding to 11 
 Article – State Finance and Procurement 12 
Section 3.5–319 13 
 Annotated Code of Maryland 14 
 (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 15 
 
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 16 
 Article – State Government  17 
 Section 10–1501, 10–1503, and 10–1504 18 
 Annotated Code of Maryland 19 
 (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 20 
  2 	HOUSE BILL 807  
 
 
 SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1 
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 2 
 
Article – State Finance and Procurement 3 
 
3.5–319. 4 
 
 (A) IN THIS SECTION, “OFFICE” MEANS THE OFFICE OF ENTERPRISE DATA. 5 
 
 (B) (1) THERE IS A STATE CHIEF DATA OFFICER IN THE DEPARTMENT . 6 
 
 (2) THE STATE CHIEF DATA OFFICER SHALL BE APPO INTED BY THE 7 
GOVERNOR AND SUPERVIS ED BY THE SECRETARY. 8 
 
 (3) THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STATE CHIEF DATA OFFICER 9 
INCLUDE: 10 
 
 (I) DIRECTING, COORDINATING , AND IMPLEMENTING THE 11 
STATEWIDE DATA STRAT EGY AND POLICIES FOR UNITS OF STATE GOVERNMENT TO 12 
ENSURE RESPONSIBLE G OVERNANCE AND MANAGE MENT OF STATE DATA AND TO 13 
PROMOTE STANDARDIZAT ION, COLLABORATION , AND ESTABLISHMENT OF 14 
EFFICIENT DATA PRACT ICES; 15 
 
 (II) PROVIDING ADVICE , RECOMMENDATIONS , AND 16 
CONSULTATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR AND ANY UNIT OF STATE GOVERNMENT 17 
CONCERNING DATA POLI CIES, PROCEDURES , AND STANDARDS ; 18 
 
 (III) OVERSEEING THE USE , MANAGEMENT , AND SHARING OF 19 
STATE DATA BY UNITS O F STATE GOVERNMENT TO E NSURE COMPLIANCE WI TH ALL 20 
REQUIREMENTS , PROHIBITIONS, AND RESTRICTIONS ON DISCLOSURE OR RELEAS E 21 
OF THE DATA APPLICAB LE TO THE UNIT SHARI NG IT; 22 
 
 (IV) COMPILING AN AUTHORI TATIVE INVENTORY OF DATA 23 
COLLECTED, CREATED, OR MAINTAINED BY UNI TS OF STATE GOVERNMENT AS 24 
REQUIRED BY § 3.5–318 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 25 
 
 (V) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN LAW , DESIGNATING 26 
AND FACILITATING ACC ESS TO AUTHORITATIVE DATA SOURCES ; AND 27 
 
 (VI) OVERSEEING THE DATA LITERACY OF STATE EMPLOYEES 28 
TO ENSURE STATE DATA ARE RESPON SIBLY UNDERSTOOD , ANALYZED, AND 29 
COMMUNICATED . 30 
 
 (C) (1) THERE IS AN OFFICE OF ENTERPRISE DATA IN THE 31 
DEPARTMENT . 32   	HOUSE BILL 807 	3 
 
 
 
 (2) THE HEAD OF THE OFFICE IS THE STATE CHIEF DATA OFFICER. 1 
 
 (3) THE OFFICE SHALL ESTABLIS H A STATEWIDE DATA G OVERNANCE 2 
PROGRAM TO : 3 
 
 (I) ESTABLISH A STAT EWIDE FRAMEWORK BY W HICH THE 4 
MANAGEMENT , USE, AND SHARING OF DATA WITHIN AND BETWEEN U NITS OF STATE 5 
GOVERNMENT IS GOVERN ED; 6 
 
 (II) ESTABLISH STANDARDS BY WHICH DATA ARE MA NAGED IN 7 
COMPLIANCE WITH DEFI NED POLICIES; 8 
 
 (III) DEVELOP GUIDANCE ON 	THE EFFECTIVE USE , 9 
MANAGEMENT , AND SHARING OF DATA WITHIN AND BETWEEN U NITS OF STATE 10 
GOVERNMENT AND WITH THIRD PARTIES; 11 
 
 (IV) PROVIDE SERVICES AND ADVISE UNITS OF STATE 12 
GOVERNMENT ON HOW TO MATURE THEIR DATA PR OGRAMS; AND 13 
 
 (V) ENSURE UNITS OF STATE GOVER NMENT ARE LEVERAGING 14 
STATE DATA AS A STRAT EGIC ASSET. 15 
 
 (4) THE OFFICE SHALL ESTABLIS H A DATA SHARING PRO GRAM TO: 16 
 
 (I) ESTABLISH A STATEWID E FRAMEWORK THAT PRO MOTES 17 
DATA SHARING AND IMP ROVES ACCESS TO STATE DATA; 18 
 
 (II) ESTABLISH STANDARDS BY WHICH D ATA ARE SHARED IN 19 
COMPLIANCE WITH EXIS TING LAWS AND DEFINE D POLICIES; 20 
 
 (III) DEVELOP PROCESSES FO R UNITS OF STATE GOVERNMENT 21 
TO ACHIEVE AND MAINT AIN DATA READINESS F OR ARTIFICIAL INTELL IGENCE; 22 
 
 (IV) ADMINISTER A SECURE , MULTISTAKEHOLDER DAT A 23 
EXCHANGE AND ANALYTICS PLATFO RM APPLYING COMMON R ULES FOR DATA 24 
SECURITY, PRIVACY, AND CONFIDENTIALITY ; AND 25 
 
 (V) PROVIDE SERVICES AND ADVISE UNITS OF STATE 26 
GOVERNMENT ON HOW TO MAXIMIZE THE VALUE O F DATA THROUGH COLLE CTIVE 27 
INVESTMENT AND EFFEC TIVE INTEROPERABILITY OF DATA SOURCES . 28 
 
 (5) THE OFFICE SHALL ESTABLIS H A DATA LITERACY PR OGRAM TO: 29 
  4 	HOUSE BILL 807  
 
 
 (I) ESTABLISH A STATEWID E FRAMEWORK TO FOSTE R A 1 
CULTURE OF ANALYTICA L THINKING AND EVIDE NCE–BASED DECISION MAKIN G 2 
WITHIN UNITS OF STATE GOVERNMENT ; 3 
 
 (II) ADMINISTER A SECURE , MULTISTAKEHOLDER DAT A 4 
ACADEMY PLATFORM WIT H CURATED CONTENT ; 5 
 
 (III) DEVELOP GUIDANCE ON THE EFFECTIVE UNDERS TANDING, 6 
ANALYSIS, PRIVACY SAFEGUARDING , AND PROTECTION OF STATE DATA FOR ALL 7 
APPROPRIATE EMPLOYEE S OF UNITS OF STATE GOVER NMENT; 8 
 
 (IV) MANAGE DATA TRAINING FOR ALL APPROPRIATE 9 
EMPLOYEES OF UNITS O F STATE GOVERNMENT ; AND 10 
 
 (V) ESTABLISH A LIST OF DEFINED DATA TERMS A ND CREATE A 11 
UNIFIED DATA LANGUAG E IN THE STATE. 12 
 
 (D) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROV IDE THE OFFICE WITH SUFFICIE NT 13 
STAFF TO PERFORM THE FUNCTIONS REQUIRED U NDER THIS SECTION . 14 
 
 (E) (1) EACH UNIT OF STATE GOVERNMENT SHAL L APPOINT AN AGENCY 15 
DATA OFFICER WHO SHALL REP ORT DIRECTLY TO THE UNIT HEAD OR AN 16 
APPROPRIATE SENIOR O FFICIAL WITHIN THE U NIT OF STATE GOVERNMENT . 17 
 
 (2) EACH AGENCY DATA OFFICER SHALL BE RESP ONSIBLE FOR: 18 
 
 (I) COLLABORATING WITH T HE STATE CHIEF DATA OFFICER 19 
TO ENSURE THAT DATA INITIATIVES ARE CONS ISTENT WITH THE STAT EWIDE DATA 20 
STRATEGY; 21 
 
 (II) DEVELOPING AND IMPLE MENTING DATA GOVERNA NCE 22 
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES , INCLUDING THOSE PERT AINING TO DATA PRIVA CY, 23 
WITHIN THE AGENCY DATA OFFICER’S UNIT OF STATE GOVERNMENT THAT ENSURE 24 
COMPLIANCE WITH THE POLICIES ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE CHIEF DATA 25 
OFFICER AND WITH LAWS , REGULATIONS , AND POLICIES; 26 
 
 (III) OVERSEEING DATA QUALIT Y INITIATIVES AND EN SURING 27 
DATA ACCURACY , RELIABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND RETENTION OF STATE DATA 28 
THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH STANDARDS AND G UIDANCE ESTABLISHED BY THE 29 
OFFICE AND IN COMPLIA NCE WITH LAWS , REGULATIONS , AND POLICIES; 30 
 
 (IV) FACILITATING DATA SH ARING WITHIN AND BET WEEN UNITS 31 
OF STATE GOVERNMENT AND WITH EXTERNAL PARTNE RS THAT IS CONSISTEN T 32   	HOUSE BILL 807 	5 
 
 
WITH STANDARDS AND G UIDANCE ESTABLISHED BY THE OFFICE AND IN 1 
COMPLIANCE WITH EXIS TING LAWS, REGULATIONS , AND POLICIES; 2 
 
 (V) ASSISTING WITH FACILITATING PAR TICIPATION OF STATE 3 
EMPLOYEES IN DATA TR AINING PROVIDED BY T HE OFFICE; 4 
 
 (VI) ADOPTING A DATA PRIVACY GOVERNANCE A ND RISK 5 
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM A ND IMPLEMENTATION OF REASONABLE PRIVACY 6 
PROCEDURES AND PRACT ICES, CONSISTENT WITH EXIS TING LAWS, REGULATIONS , 7 
AND POLICIES, AND BEST PRACTICES E STABLISHED BY THE OFFICE, TO ENSURE 8 
THAT CONFIDENTIALITY , INTEGRITY, AND AVAILABILITY OF ALL PERSONALLY 9 
IDENTIFIABLE INFORMA TION ARE MAINTAINED ; 10 
 
 (VII) REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF PERSONALLY IDENTI FIABLE 11 
INFORMATION COLLECTED AND RETAINED TO ONLY THAT NECESSARY FOR T HE 12 
PROPER PERFORMANCE O F THE AUTHORIZED FUN CTIONS OF THE UNIT O F STATE 13 
GOVERNMENT ; 14 
 
 (VIII) REPORTING TO THE OFFICE AT INTERVALS E STABLISHED 15 
BY THE STATE CHIEF DATA OFFICER ON DATA –RELATED ACTI VITIES, INCLUDING 16 
COMPLIANCE WITH STAT EWIDE DATA STRATEGY AND POLICIES , USING 17 
QUANTIFIABLE METRICS ; AND 18 
 
 (IX) MAKING AVAILABLE TO THE STATE CHIEF DATA OFFICER 19 
ANY DATA OR METADATA REQUESTED. 20 
 
Article – State Government 21 
 
10–1501. 22 
 
 (a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 23 
 
 (b) “Council” means the Council [on] FOR Open Data ADVANCEMENT . 24 
 
 (c) [(1)] “Data” means [final versions of] statistical or factual information that: 25 
 
 [(i)] (1) [are] IS in alphanumeric or geospatial form reflected in a 26 
list, table, graph, chart, map, or other nonnarrative format that can be digitally transmitted 27 
or processed; 28 
 
 [(ii)] (2) [are] IS regularly created or maintained by or on behalf of 29 
a governmental entity; and 30 
  6 	HOUSE BILL 807  
 
 
 [(iii)] (3) [record] RECORDS a measurement, transaction, or 1 
determination or [provide] PROVIDES information on government services, initiatives, and 2 
resources related to the mission of the covered governmental entity. 3 
 
 [(2) “Data” does not include draft versions of statistical or factual 4 
information that are used for internal analysis by a governmental entity.] 5 
 
 (d) “Data portal” means a website where governmental entities can post data sets 6 
and other data [as identified by the Council]. 7 
 
 (e) “Data set” means a named collection of related records maintained on a 8 
storage device, with the collection containing data organized or formatted in a specific or 9 
prescribed way. 10 
 
 (f) “Governmental entity” means a State or local entity. 11 
 
 (g) (1) “Local entity” means a county, municipal corporation, bicounty or 12 
multicounty agency, public authority, special taxing district, or other political subdivision 13 
or unit of a political subdivision of this State. 14 
 
 (2) “Local entity” includes boards of education and library boards that 15 
receive funding from the State. 16 
 
 (h) “Mapping and geographic information systems portal” means a website that 17 
provides: 18 
 
 (1) data regarding services provided by and policy initiatives of 19 
governmental entities; and 20 
 
 (2) other data provided in geospatial form [as identified by the Council]. 21 
 
 (i) (1) “Open data” means data that, consistent with any applicable laws, 22 
rules, regulations, ordinances, resolutions, policies, or other restrictions including 23 
requirements or rights associated with the data, a State entity: 24 
 
 (i) has collected; and 25 
 
 (ii) is permitted, required, or able to make available to the public. 26 
 
 (2) “Open data” includes contractual or other legal orders, restrictions, or 27 
requirements. 28 
 
 (3) “Open data” does not include data that if made public would: 29 
 
 (i) violate another law or regulation that prohibits the data from 30 
being made public; 31   	HOUSE BILL 807 	7 
 
 
 
 (ii) endanger the public health, safety, or welfare; 1 
 
 (iii) hinder the operation of government, including criminal and civil 2 
investigations; 3 
 
 (iv) impose an undue financial, operational, or administrative 4 
burden on a State entity; or 5 
 
 (v) disclose proprietary or confidential information. 6 
 
 (j) “Open data portal” means a mapping and geographic information systems 7 
portal or data portal. 8 
 
 (k) “State entity” means a department, a board, a commission, an agency, or a 9 
subunit in the Executive Branch of State government. 10 
 
10–1503. 11 
 
 (a) There is a Council [on] FOR Open Data ADVANCEMENT . 12 
 
 (b) The Council consists of the following [37] 11 members: 13 
 
 [(1) the Secretary of Agriculture; 14 
 
 (2) the Secretary of the Environment; 15 
 
 (3) the Secretary of Natural Resources; 16 
 
 (4) the Secretary of Planning; 17 
 
 (5) the Secretary of Transportation; 18 
 
 (6) the Secretary of Housing and Community Development; 19 
 
 (7) the Secretary of Commerce; 20 
 
 (8) the Secretary of General Services; 21 
 
 (9) the State Superintendent of Schools; 22 
 
 (10) the Secretary of Health; 23 
 
 (11) the Secretary of Information Technology; 24 
 
 (12) the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services; 25 
  8 	HOUSE BILL 807  
 
 
 (13) the Secretary of State Police; 1 
 
 (14) the Director of Assessments and Taxation; 2 
 
 (15) the Secretary of Budget and Management; 3 
 
 (16) the Adjutant General of the Military Department; 4 
 
 (17) the Secretary of Emergency Management; 5 
 
 (18) the Secretary of Labor; 6 
 
 (19) the Secretary of Human Services; 7 
 
 (20) the Director of the Governor’s Office of Performance Improvement; 8 
 
 (21) the Governor’s Homeland Security Advisor; 9 
 
 (22) the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and 10 
Policy; 11 
 
 (23) the Executive Director of the Maryland Institute for Emergency 12 
Medical Services Systems; 13 
 
 (24) the Executive Director of the Department of Legislative Services; 14 
 
 (25) the State Archivist;] 15 
 
 [(26)] (1) one member of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the 16 
President of the Senate; 17 
 
 [(27)] (2) one member of the House of Delegates of Maryland, appointed by 18 
the Speaker of the House; 19 
 
 (3) THE STATE CHIEF DATA OFFICER; 20 
 
 [(28)] (4) [five] THREE elected officials or employees from local entities 21 
who have knowledge of and interest in open data, appointed by the Governor in accordance 22 
with subsections (d) and (e) of this section; and 23 
 
 [(29)] (5) five members from the private, private utility, academic, or 24 
nonprofit sectors who have knowledge of and interest in open data, appointed by the 25 
Governor in accordance with subsection (e) of this section. 26 
 
 (c) If a member of the Council [listed in subsection (b)(1) through (24) of this 27 
section] is unable to attend a meeting of the Council, the member may: 28   	HOUSE BILL 807 	9 
 
 
 
 (1) IF THE MEMBER IS LIS TED IN SUBSECTION (B)(1) OR (2) OF THIS 1 
SECTION, DESIGNATE A STAFF ME MBER WHO REPORTS DIR ECTLY TO THE MEMBER 2 
TO ATTEND THE MEETIN G; OR 3 
 
 (2) IF THE MEMBER IS LIS TED IN SUBSECTION (B)(3) OR (4) OF THIS 4 
SECTION, designate [the Chief Information Officer or] another senior management staff 5 
member of the agency or organization to attend the meeting. 6 
 
 (d) Of the [five] THREE elected officials or employees from local entities 7 
appointed by the Governor under subsection [(b)(28)] (B)(4) of this section, one shall 8 
represent each of the following groups of counties: 9 
 
 (1) Allegany County, CARROLL COUNTY, Frederick County, Garrett 10 
County, and Washington County; 11 
 
 (2) [Caroline County, Cecil County, Dorchester County, Kent County, 12 
Queen Anne’s County, Somerset County, Talbot County, Wicomico County, and Worcester 13 
County; 14 
 
 (3)] Anne Arundel County, BALTIMORE CITY, BALTIMORE COUNTY, 15 
Calvert County, Charles County, [and] HOWARD COUNTY, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, 16 
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, AND St. Mary’s [County; 17 
 
 (4) Montgomery County and Prince George’s] County; and 18 
 
 [(5)] (3) [Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County,] CAROLINE 19 
COUNTY, CECIL COUNTY, DORCHESTER COUNTY, Harford County, KENT COUNTY, 20 
QUEEN ANNE’S COUNTY, SOMERSET COUNTY, TALBOT COUNTY, WICOMICO 21 
COUNTY, and [Howard] WORCESTER County. 22 
 
 (e) (1) This subsection applies to members of the Council appointed under 23 
subsection [(b)(28)] (B)(4) and [(29)] (5) of this section. 24 
 
 (2) The term of a member is 4 years[, except that five members may serve 25 
an initial 3–year term as required by the terms provided for staggered members of the 26 
Council on July 1, 2014]. 27 
 
 (3) At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is 28 
appointed and qualifies. 29 
 
 (4) A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the 30 
rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies. 31 
 
 (5) A member may not serve more than two consecutive terms. 32  10 	HOUSE BILL 807  
 
 
 
 (6) The Governor may remove a member for neglect of duty, incompetence, 1 
or misconduct. 2 
 
 (f) A member of the Council may not receive compensation but is entitled to 3 
reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations as provided in 4 
the State budget. 5 
 
 (g) [(1)] The [Secretary of Information Technology] STATE CHIEF DATA 6 
OFFICER is the Chair of the Council. 7 
 
 [(2) The Director of the Governor’s Office of Performance Improvement is 8 
the Vice Chair of the Council.] 9 
 
 (h) The staffing responsibilities of the Council shall be shared by the Department 10 
of Information Technology[, the Governor’s Office of Performance Improvement,] and any 11 
[other] staff designated by the Governor. 12 
 
 (i) The Council may establish workgroups as necessary to complete the duties of 13 
the Council. 14 
 
 (j) The Council shall meet at least twice each year. 15 
 
10–1504.  16 
 
 (a) The Council shall promote the policy established under § 10–1502 of this 17 
subtitle by: 18 
 
 (1) providing guidance and policy recommendations and when appropriate 19 
recommend legislation and regulations for: 20 
 
 (i) procedures, standards, and other deliverables for open data, 21 
including for open data portals; 22 
 
 (ii) promotion, advertising, and marketing of open data; and 23 
 
 (iii) best practices for sharing open data while taking into account 24 
privacy and security concerns; 25 
 
 (2) [coordinating the appropriate staff at each State entity for the 26 
development, maintenance, and use of open data and open data portals] ADVISING ON 27 
DATA INITIATIVES AND PRIORITIES; 28 
 
 (3) (i) [identifying the collective cost of operating and investing in open 29 
data and funding mechanisms to support open data] IDENTIFYING AND EXPL ORING THE 30 
MEANS BY WHICH PARTN ERSHIPS MAY BE DEVEL OPED AND STRENGTHENE D TO 31   	HOUSE BILL 807 	11 
 
 
CONNECT MARYLAND DATA WITH CO	MMUNITIES AND S OCIAL SERVICE 1 
ORGANIZATIONS ; and 2 
 
 (ii) advising the Governor and General Assembly on budget matters 3 
related to open data; 4 
 
 (4) inviting and encouraging local entities and the legislative and judicial 5 
branches to: 6 
 
 (i) use open data portals established by State entities; 7 
 
 (ii) create their own open data portals; and 8 
 
 (iii) adopt policies consistent with the policy established under §  9 
10–1502 of this subtitle; 10 
 
 (5) establishing a plan for providing all open data to the public at no cost; 11 
 
 (6) advocating for sound records management and data preservation 12 
practices; and 13 
 
 (7) making recommendations to ensure that the purchase of new data 14 
processing devices, systems, and software by the State includes a review of compliance with 15 
the open data policy established under § 10–1502 of this subtitle and interoperability with 16 
current technology used by the State. 17 
 
 (b) On or before January 10 of each year, the Council shall report to the Governor 18 
and the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of this article, on the activities of 19 
the Council for the previous year and any recommendations for legislation. 20 
 
 SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 21 
1, 2025. 22 
 
 
 
 
Approved: 
________________________________________________________________________________  
 Governor. 
________________________________________________________________________________  
  Speaker of the House of Delegates. 
________________________________________________________________________________  
         President of the Senate.