# General Provisions (GGP)

## Title 5. Maryland Public Ethics Law

### Subtitle 6. Financial Disclosure

#### Section 5-601

(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, and subject to subsections (d) and (e) of this section, each official and candidate for office as a State official shall file a statement as specified in Sec.Sec. 5-602 through 5-608 of this subtitle.

(b) Financial disclosure by a judge of a court under Article IV, Sec. 1 of the Maryland Constitution, a candidate for elective office as a judge, or a judicial appointee as defined in Maryland Rule 16-814 is governed by Sec. 5-610 of this subtitle.

(c) The requirement to file a financial disclosure statement under subsection (a) of this section does not apply to:

  (1) a deputy sheriff and any employee in the office of the sheriff of a county; and

  (2) a deputy or assistant State's Attorney and any employee in the office of the State's Attorney for a county.

(d)

  (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, an individual who is a public official only as a member of a board and who receives annual compensation that is less than 25% of the lowest annual compensation at State grade level 16 shall file the statement required by subsection (a) of this section in accordance with Sec. 5-609 of this subtitle.

  (2) A member of a board of license commissioners or of a liquor control board shall file a statement in accordance with Sec. 5-607 of this subtitle.

(e) A commissioner or an applicant for appointment as commissioner of a bicounty commission shall file the statement required by subsection (a) of this section in accordance with Subtitle 8, Part IV of this title.

#### Section 5-602

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, a statement filed under Sec. 5-601, Sec. 5-603, Sec. 5-604, or Sec. 5-605 of this subtitle shall:

  (1) be filed electronically with the Ethics Commission;

  (2) be filed under oath;

  (3) be filed on or before April 30 of each year;

  (4) cover the calendar year immediately preceding the year of filing; and

  (5) contain the information required in Sec. 5-607 of this subtitle.

(b) A member of the General Assembly shall file the statement with the Ethics Commission and the Joint Ethics Committee.

(c)

  (1) In addition to the statement filed under Sec. 5-601 of this subtitle, a member of the General Assembly shall file a preliminary disclosure on or before the seventh day of the regular legislative session if there will be a substantial change in the statement covering the calendar year immediately preceding the year of filing, as compared to the next preceding calendar year.

  (2) A member of the General Assembly whose statement under Sec. 5-601 of this subtitle will not contain a substantial change is not required to file a preliminary disclosure under paragraph (1) of this subsection.

  (3) The Joint Ethics Committee shall determine:

    (i) the form of a preliminary disclosure under this subsection; and

    (ii) which aspects of financial disclosure are subject to this subsection.

  (4) A preliminary disclosure shall be filed and maintained, and may be disclosed, in the same manner required for a statement filed under Sec. 5-601 of this subtitle.

(d)

  (1) The Ethics Commission shall develop and implement procedures for the electronic filing of a statement under this subtitle.

  (2)

    (i) To comply with the requirement of paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Ethics Commission may adopt regulations to modify the format for disclosure of information required under Sec. 5-607 of this subtitle.

    (ii) The regulations adopted under this paragraph shall be consistent with the intent of this title.

(e)

  (1) If the financial disclosure statement filed electronically under subsection (d) of this section is required to be made under oath or affirmation, the oath or affirmation shall be made by an electronic signature that is:

    (i) in the financial disclosure statement or attached to and made part of the financial disclosure statement; and

    (ii) made expressly under the penalties for perjury.

  (2) An electronic signature made under paragraph (1) of this subsection subjects the individual making it to the penalties for perjury to the same extent as an oath or affirmation made before an individual authorized to administer oaths.

(f) On or before January 15 of each year, a governmental unit shall provide an individual who is employed by the governmental unit and who is required to file a statement under this subtitle a list of entities that did business with the governmental unit during the preceding calendar year.

#### Section 5-603

An individual who is appointed to fill a vacancy in an office for which a statement is required by Sec. 5-601(a) of this subtitle, and who has not already filed a statement under Sec. 5-602 of this subtitle for the preceding calendar year, shall file the statement within 30 days after appointment.

#### Section 5-604

(a) Except as provided under subsection (c) of this section, an individual who, other than by reason of death, leaves an office for which a statement is required by Sec. 5-601(a) of this subtitle shall file the statement within 60 days after leaving the office.

(b) The statement shall cover:

  (1) the calendar year immediately preceding the year in which the individual left office, unless a statement covering that year has already been filed by the individual; and

  (2) the portion of the current calendar year during which the individual held the office.

(c) This section does not require the filing of a statement if:

  (1) the individual has left office to become an official in another office for which a statement is required under this subtitle; and

  (2) the disclosure requirements of the new office are at least as extensive as those of the old office.

#### Section 5-605

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a candidate who is required by Sec. 5-601(a) of this subtitle to file a statement shall file the statement each year beginning with the year in which the candidate files a certificate of candidacy through the year of the election.

(b) This section does not require the filing of a statement for any full year covered by a statement filed by the individual under Sec. 5-602 of this subtitle.

(c) A statement under this section shall be filed with the election board with which the certificate of candidacy is required to be filed.

(d)

  (1) The first statement required under this section shall be filed no later than the filing of the certificate of candidacy.

  (2) In the year of the election the statement shall be filed on or before the earlier of:

    (i) April 30; or

    (ii) the last day for the withdrawal of a candidacy under Sec. 5-502 of the Election Law Article.

(e) If a statement required by this section is overdue and is not filed within 8 days after the candidate receives from the election board written notice of the failure to file, the candidate is deemed to have withdrawn the candidacy.

(f)

  (1) An election board may not accept a certificate of candidacy or certificate of nomination of a candidate covered by this section unless the candidate has filed a statement required by this section or Sec. 5-602 of this subtitle.

  (2) An election board, within 30 days after receiving a statement, shall forward the statement to the Ethics Commission.

#### Section 5-606

(a)

  (1)

    (i) Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection or subsection (c) of this section, the Ethics Commission and the Joint Ethics Committee shall maintain the statements submitted under this subtitle and, during normal office hours, make the statements available to the public for examination and copying.

    (ii) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Ethics Commission and the Joint Ethics Committee may charge a reasonable fee and adopt administrative procedures for the examination and copying of a statement.

  (2) Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, for statements submitted on or after January 1, 2019, the Ethics Commission shall make freely available to the public on the Internet, through an online registration program, a statement required under Sec. 5-601(a) of this subtitle and a preliminary disclosure required under Sec. 5-602(c) of this subtitle that is filed by:

    (i) a State official of the Executive Branch or the Legislative Branch;

    (ii) a candidate for office as a State official of the Executive Branch or the Legislative Branch; or

    (iii) a secretary of a principal department in the Executive Branch.

  (3) The Ethics Commission and the Joint Ethics Committee may not:

    (i) provide public access to a portion of a statement that is filed after January 1, 2019, and that includes an individual's home address that the individual has identified as the individual's home address; or

    (ii) post on the Internet information related to consideration received that is reported under Sec. 5-607(j) of this subtitle.

(b)

  (1) The Ethics Commission and the Joint Ethics Committee shall maintain a record of:

    (i) the name and home address of each individual who examines or copies a statement under subsection (a) of this section; and

    (ii) the name of the individual whose statement was examined or copied.

  (2) On the request of the individual whose statement was examined or copied, the Ethics Commission or the Joint Ethics Committee shall forward to that individual a copy of the record specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(c) The Administrative Office of the Courts or another body designated by the Supreme Court of Maryland shall:

  (1) maintain the records of State officials of the Judicial Branch and candidates to be a State official of the Judicial Branch; and

  (2) make the statements submitted under this subtitle available to the public for examination and copying during normal office hours.

#### Section 5-607

(a) A statement that is required under Sec. 5-601(a) of this subtitle shall contain schedules disclosing the information and interests specified in this section, if known, for the individual making the statement for the applicable period.

(a-1) An individual who is required to disclose the name of a business under this section shall disclose any other names that the business is trading as or doing business as.

(b)

  (1) The statement shall include a schedule of each interest in real property, wherever located, including each interest held in the name of a partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited liability company in which the individual held an interest.

  (2) For each interest reported, the schedule shall include:

    (i) the nature of the property;

    (ii) the street address, mailing address, or legal description of the property;

    (iii) the nature and extent of the interest in the property, including any conditions to and encumbrances on the interest;

    (iv) the date and manner in which the interest was acquired;

    (v) the identity of the entity from which the interest was acquired;

    (vi) if the interest was acquired by purchase, the nature and amount of the consideration given for the interest;

    (vii) if the interest was acquired in any other manner, the fair market value of the interest when acquired;

    (viii) if any interest was transferred, in whole or in part, during the applicable period:

      (1) a description of the interest transferred;

      (2) the nature and amount of the consideration received for the interest; and

      (3) the identity of the entity to which the interest was transferred; and

    (ix) the identity of any other entity with an interest in the property.

(c)

  (1) The statement shall include a schedule of each interest held by the individual in a corporation, partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited liability company, whether or not the corporation, partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited liability company does business with the State.

  (2) For each interest reported, the schedule shall include:

    (i) the name and address of the principal office of the corporation, partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited liability company;

    (ii) subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, the nature and amount of the interest held, including any conditions to and encumbrances on the interest;

    (iii) except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, if any interest was acquired during the applicable period:

      (1) the date and manner in which the interest was acquired;

      (2) the identity of the entity from which the interest was acquired;

      (3) if the interest was acquired by purchase, the nature and amount of the consideration given for the interest; and

      (4) if the interest was acquired in any other manner, the fair market value of the interest when it was acquired; and

    (iv) if any interest was transferred, in whole or in part, during the applicable period:

      (1) a description of the interest transferred;

      (2) the nature and amount of the consideration received for the interest; and

      (3) if known, the identity of the entity to which the interest was transferred.

  (3)

    (i) As to an equity interest in a corporation, the individual may satisfy paragraph (2)(ii) of this subsection by reporting, instead of a dollar amount:

      (1) the number of shares held; and

      (2) unless the corporation's stock is publicly traded, the percentage of equity interest held.

    (ii) As to an equity interest in a partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited liability company, the individual may satisfy paragraph (2)(ii) of this subsection by reporting, instead of a dollar amount, the percentage of equity interest held.

  (4) If an interest acquired during the applicable reporting period consists of additions to existing publicly traded corporate interests acquired by dividend or dividend reinvestment, and the total value of the acquisition is less than $500, only the manner of acquisition is required to be disclosed under paragraph (2)(iii) of this subsection.

(d)

  (1) The statement shall include a schedule of each interest in a business entity doing business with the State, other than interests reported under subsection (c) of this section.

  (2) For each interest reported, the schedule shall include:

    (i) the name and address of the principal office of the business entity;

    (ii) the nature and amount of the interest held, including any conditions to and encumbrances on the interest;

    (iii) if any interest was acquired during the applicable period:

      (1) the date and manner in which the interest was acquired;

      (2) the identity of the entity from which the interest was acquired;

      (3) if the interest was acquired by purchase, the nature and amount of the consideration given for the interest; and

      (4) if the interest was acquired in any other manner, the fair market value of the interest when it was acquired; and

    (iv) if any interest was transferred, in whole or in part, during the applicable period:

      (1) a description of the interest transferred;

      (2) the nature and amount of the consideration received for the interest; and

      (3) the identity of the entity to which the interest was transferred.

(e)

  (1) This subsection does not apply to a gift received from a member of the immediate family, another child, or a parent of the individual.

  (2) The statement shall include a schedule of each gift, specified in paragraph (3) of this subsection, received during the applicable period:

    (i) by the individual or by another entity at the direction of the individual; and

    (ii) directly or indirectly, from or on behalf of an entity that is:

      (1) a regulated lobbyist;

      (2) regulated by the State; or

      (3) otherwise an entity doing business with the State.

  (3)

    (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the schedule shall include each gift with a value of more than $20 and each of two or more gifts with a cumulative value of $100 or more received from one entity during the applicable period.

    (ii) The statement need not include as a gift:

      (1) food or beverages received and consumed by an official of the Legislative Branch in the presence of the donor or sponsoring entity as part of a meal or reception to which all members of a legislative unit were invited;

      (2) food or beverages received by a member of the General Assembly at the time and geographic location of a meeting of a legislative organization for which the member's presiding officer has approved the member's attendance at State expense; or

      (3) except as provided in subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph, a ticket or free admission extended to a member of the General Assembly by the person sponsoring or conducting the event as a courtesy or ceremony to the office to attend a charitable, cultural, or political event to which all members of a legislative unit were invited.

    (iii) The statement shall include the acceptance of each of two or more tickets or free admissions, extended to a member of the General Assembly by the person sponsoring or conducting the event, with a cumulative value of $100 or more received from one entity during the applicable period.

  (4) For each gift subject to this subsection, the schedule shall include:

    (i) the nature and value of the gift; and

    (ii) the identity of the entity from which the gift was received, whether directly or indirectly.

  (5) This subsection does not authorize acceptance of a gift not otherwise allowed by law.

(f)

  (1) The statement shall include, as specified in this subsection, a schedule of all offices, directorships, and salaried employment, or any similar interest not otherwise disclosed, in business entities doing business with the State.

  (2) This subsection applies to positions and interests held at any time during the applicable period by:

    (i) the individual; or

    (ii) any member of the individual's immediate family.

  (3) For each position or interest reported, this schedule shall include:

    (i) the name and address of the principal office of the business entity;

    (ii) the nature of the position or interest and the date it commenced;

    (iii) the name of each governmental unit with which the entity is doing business; and

    (iv) the nature of the business with the State, which, at a minimum, shall be specified by reference to the applicable criteria of doing business described in Sec. 5-101(j) of this title.

(g)

  (1) The statement shall include a schedule, to the extent the individual may reasonably be expected to know, of each debt, excluding retail credit accounts, owed at any time during the applicable period to entities doing business with or regulated by the individual's governmental unit:

    (i) by the individual; and

    (ii) if the individual was involved in the transaction giving rise to the debt, by any member of the immediate family of the individual.

  (2) For each debt, the schedule shall include:

    (i) the identity of the entity to which the debt was owed;

    (ii) the date it was incurred;

    (iii) the amount owed at the end of the applicable period;

    (iv) the terms of payment;

    (v) the extent to which the principal was increased or decreased during the applicable period; and

    (vi) any security given.

(h) The statement shall include a schedule listing the members of the immediate family of the individual who were employed by the State in any capacity at any time during the applicable period.

(i)

  (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the statement shall include a schedule listing the name and address of each:

    (i) source of the compensated employment, including secondary employment, of the individual or a member of the individual's immediate family at any time during the applicable period;

    (ii) business entity of which the individual or a member of the individual's immediate family was a sole or partial owner, and from which the individual or family member received earned income, at any time during the applicable period; and

    (iii) for a statement filed on or after January 1, 2019, if the individual's spouse is a regulated lobbyist, entity that has engaged the spouse for lobbying purposes.

  (2) The statement may not include a listing of a minor child's employment or business entities of which the child is sole or partial owner, unless the place of employment or the business entity:

    (i) is subject to the regulation or authority of the agency that employs the individual; or

    (ii) has contracts in excess of $10,000 with the agency that employs the individual.

(j)

  (1) The statement shall include a schedule of any financial or contractual relationship with:

    (i) the University of Maryland Medical System;

    (ii) a governmental entity of the State or a local government in the State; or

    (iii) a quasi-governmental entity of the State or local government in the State.

  (2) Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, for each financial or contractual relationship, the schedule shall include a description of the relationship, the subject matter of the relationship, and the consideration.

  (3) An individual, other than a State official or candidate to be a State official, may not be required to disclose the individual's employment as a public official.

(k) To the extent not reported under subsections (a) through (j) of this section, a statement filed on or after January 1, 2023 by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Treasurer, or Comptroller shall include:

  (1) the name of each for-profit business entity in which the individual has a 10% or greater interest; and

  (2) the name of each person who owns a 10% or greater interest in any entity disclosed under item (1) of this subsection.

(l) The statement may include a schedule listing additional interests or information that the individual chooses to disclose.

(m) To the extent not reported under subsections (a) through (j) of this section, a statement filed by a member of the General Assembly shall include:

  (1) the information required under Sec. 5-514(b) of this title; and

  (2) an acknowledgment, signed by the member, that any information required under Sec. 5-514(b) of this title that becomes reportable after the statement is filed shall be reported immediately to the Joint Ethics Committee as required by Sec. 5-514(b) of this title.

#### Section 5-608

(a) The following are deemed to be interests of the individual under Sec. 5-607(b), (c), (d), (j), and (k) of this subtitle:

  (1) an interest held by a spouse or child of the individual, if the interest was controlled, directly or indirectly, by the individual at any time during the applicable period;

  (2) an interest held, at any time during the applicable period, by:

    (i) a business entity in which the individual held a 10% or greater interest;

    (ii) a business entity described in item (i) of this item in which the business entity held a 25% or greater interest;

    (iii) a business entity described in item (ii) of this item in which the business entity held a 50% or greater interest; and

    (iv) a business entity in which the individual directly or indirectly, through an interest in one or a combination of other business entities, holds a 10% or greater interest; and

  (3) an interest held by a trust or an estate in which, at any time during the applicable period, the individual:

    (i) held a reversionary interest;

    (ii) was a beneficiary; or

    (iii) if a revocable trust, was a settlor.

(b) Subsection (a)(2) of this section does not affect:

  (1) the requirement under Sec. 5-607(b) of this subtitle of disclosure of real estate interests held in the name of a partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited liability company in which the individual holds an interest; or

  (2) the requirement under Sec. 5-607(c) of this subtitle of disclosure of all partnerships, limited liability partnerships, or limited liability companies in which the individual holds an interest.

(c) For the purposes of Sec. 5-607 of this subtitle, interests held by a blind trust may not be considered to be interests of the person making the statement if the blind trust is approved by the Ethics Commission in accordance with regulations adopted under Sec. 5-501(b) or Sec. 5-502(c) of this title and is operated in compliance with those regulations.

#### Section 5-609

(a)

  (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, a member of a board who is described in Sec. 5-601(d) of this subtitle shall file the statement required by Sec. 5-601 of this subtitle.

  (2) The member shall be required to disclose the information specified in Sec. 5-607 of this subtitle only as to those interests, gifts, compensated positions, and liabilities that may create a conflict, as described in Subtitle 5 of this title, between the member's personal interests and the member's duties on the board.

(b)

  (1) The Ethics Commission shall adopt regulations, subject to the approval of the Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review Committee, specifying:

    (i) the information to be disclosed under subsection (a) of this section; and

    (ii) the circumstances under which the information is to be disclosed.

  (2) The regulations adopted under this subsection shall be based on the experience of the Ethics Commission in:

    (i) implementing Subtitle 5 of this title; and

    (ii) reviewing statements under this subtitle.

#### Section 5-610

(a) In accordance with its administrative authority over the Judicial Branch under the Maryland Constitution, the Supreme Court of Maryland shall adopt and administer rules that require each individual specified in Sec. 5-601(b) of this subtitle to file a statement periodically that discloses, as a public record, the information concerning the individual's financial affairs that the court considers necessary or appropriate to promote continued trust and confidence in the integrity of the Judicial Branch.

(b)

  (1)

    (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, each candidate for nomination for or election to a judgeship shall file the statement specified in subsection (a) of this section no later than the time the candidate files a certificate of candidacy.

    (ii) This paragraph does not require the filing of a statement for any year covered in full by a statement filed by the individual under subsection (a) of this section.

  (2) The statement shall:

    (i) cover the calendar year immediately preceding the year in which the certificate of candidacy is filed; and

    (ii) be filed with the election board with which the certificate of candidacy is filed.

  (3) An election board may not accept a certificate of candidacy or certificate of nomination of a candidate covered by this subsection unless the candidate has filed each statement required by this section.

  (4) An election board, within 30 days after receiving a statement under this subsection, shall forward the statement to the entity designated by the Supreme Court of Maryland to receive the statements filed under subsection (a) of this section.

#### Section 5-611

(a) An individual who is not an official shall disclose information annually if designated under subsection (b) of this section.

(b) For disclosure under this section:

  (1) the Governor, by executive order, may designate:

    (i) an employee of an executive unit; or

    (ii) a noncompensated appointee of the Governor;

  (2) the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland, by order, may designate:

    (i) an employee of the Judicial Branch; or

    (ii) a noncompensated appointee of the Supreme Court of Maryland or the Chief Justice; and

  (3) the presiding officers of the General Assembly, by order, may designate:

    (i) an employee of the Legislative Branch; or

    (ii) a noncompensated appointee of either or both of the presiding officers.

(c) A statement filed under this section is a public record and shall contain the relevant information concerning the financial affairs of the individual submitting the statement that is considered necessary by the applicable designating authority.

(d)

  (1) In complying with subsection (b)(1) of this section, the Governor, by executive order, shall designate any employee of an executive unit who is:

    (i) a home inspector or licensed home inspector under Sec. 16-101 of the Business Occupations and Professions Article;

    (ii) a building code enforcement official employed by the State;

    (iii) an accredited inspector of lead for the Department of the Environment under Sec. 6-818 of the Environment Article; or

    (iv) an environmental health specialist under Title 21 of the Health Occupations Article.

  (2) An employee under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall file a statement in accordance with Sec. 5-601 of this subtitle that:

    (i) discloses any interest the employee may have in any real property in the State; and

    (ii) discloses any other information the Ethics Commission considers a conflict of interest related to the employment of the employee.

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Md. Code Ann., Gen. Prov. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)