Environment
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
StateMarylandIntroduced
SB 426: Public Information Act - Divorce Records
Charles Sydnor
SB 426 status: Introduced — Gubernatorial Veto Override (Legislative date: 8/4/2026) - Chapter 880 (updated Aug 4, 2026).
Source
OpenStates
Confidence
Low
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
01
What this bill does
Official summary alongside an AI-generated read on where it stands and why.
Overall Score
55OUT OF 100
Score:55/100 civic fit
Risk:Moderate Risk
Impact:Moderate Impact 40/100
Constitutionality75%
Bipartisan50%
Public opinion50%
Bill summary
What changes
The bill updates the Public Information Act to redefine the public accessibility of divorce records.
Who is affected
The general public, individuals seeking divorce, and state/local entities maintaining court records.
Requirements and enforcement
Not stated in the available source.
Costs and funding
Not stated in the available source.
When it takes effect
Effective following gubernatorial veto override (Chapter 880).
Potential benefits
Enhanced privacy for individuals undergoing divorce proceedings.
Risks and tradeoffs
Reduction in transparency for judicial and family law records.
What is still unknown
The exact scope of information classified as non-public and the impact on existing data access for legal professionals.
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Society
Mixed / Neutral
50%
Benefits
- Protects sensitive personal information of divorcees
- Reduces potential for identity theft in public records
- Limits non-essential public exposure of family matters
Risks
- Limits access for family law research
- Reduces public insight into judicial outcomes
- May obscure trends in family law litigation
Technology Industry
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Civic Accountability
Mixed / Neutral
60%
Benefits
- Establishes a clear legal standard for access
- Provides legislative control over information scope
- Codifies privacy protections in state statute
Risks
- Reduces transparency of government-held records
- Creates a barrier to public information requests
- Limits access for independent audit of court records
Public Health & Safety
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
03
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Sourcing already shown above, this is what the analysis found worth flagging.
Source
OpenStates
Official bill text or data from OpenStates.
Confidence
Low
Information is limited or incomplete.
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
Source used for this bill's analysis.
Source note
Specific categories of sensitive information being restricted from public view are not listed.
Analysis scope
Source provided is a brief summary; specific text of the access change is not included.
04
Where it stands
Official record- IntroducedCurrent
- CommitteeUpcoming
- Chamber votesUpcoming
- Final agreementUpcoming
- GovernorUpcoming
- EnactedUpcoming
05
How it affects your district
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06
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