New law expands authority for external data sharing through trusted, privacy-preserving infrastructure

WASHINGTON, DC, April 30, 2026 — Coleridge today announced that the Maryland General Assembly enacted legislation (SB 56/HB 293 - MLDSC - External Data Sharing with Third-Party Data Centers for Multistate Reporting - Authorization) that establishes a framework for secure data sharing between the Maryland Longitudinal Data System (MLDS) Center and an authorized third-party data center, like Coleridge’s Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF). The bills were signed into law by Governor Wes Moore on April 14, 2026.

SB 56 and HB 293 enable the MLDS Center to participate in Coleridge’s Democratizing our Data Challenge (DDC) program with Washington, D.C. and Virginia. Collectively, they will link education and workforce data across the Capital Region for the first time and help the jurisdictions better understand outcomes for residents who began in its K-12 schools, regardless of where they live or work in the region. Coleridge played an active role in supporting the advancement of the legislation. Vice President of Data Enclave Operations, Jonathan Mills, provided formal testimony to the Maryland Senate Committee on Education, Energy, and Environment and the House Ways and Means Committee, highlighting the importance of secure, FedRAMP-authorized environments.

“Legislative leadership like Maryland’s is essential to building the infrastructure needed for modern, data-informed policymaking,” said Ahu Yildirmaz, President and CEO of Coleridge. “By establishing clear pathways for secure data sharing, SB 56 enables states to answer complex questions about education, workforce, and economic mobility and to understand the efficacy of policies, while maintaining the highest standards of privacy and trust.”

At the core of the legislation is a recognition that administrative data can provide powerful insights when used responsibly. The legislation authorizes collaboration with a qualified third-party data center to empower multistate reporting. The data center must meet rigorous security and privacy standards, including requirements for de-identification, controlled access, and aggregate reporting. As a FedRAMP-authorized, cloud-based data environment, the ADRF meets these needs and enables approved users to securely access and analyze sensitive data without removing it from a protected enclave. 

"In the interconnected DMV economy it is vital that we work across state lines to gain a full picture of workforce impacts—and opportunities,” said Maryland Secretary of Labor Portia Wu, who also serves as Chair of the MLDS Center Governing Board. “The greater insights enabled by this legislation will help us to better serve Marylanders by connecting them to quality workforce programs and jobs."

Through this legislation Maryland is joining a growing number of states leveraging secure, collaborative data infrastructure to address shared challenges. These include evaluating workforce training programs, understanding credential value, and tracking long-term outcomes across domains like education and employment systems and across state geographic borders.

About Coleridge

Coleridge is a nonprofit organization working with governments to ensure that data are more effectively used for public decision-making. Coleridge provides agencies with the opportunity to enhance their data literacy and collaborate within and across states to develop new technologies through secure access and sharing of confidential microdata. Coleridge provides secure data enclave services to a diverse range of clients, including  federal, state, and local government agencies, through the Administrative Data Research Facility (ADRF). The ADRF is a FedRAMP-authorized cloud-based platform that enables government agencies to link their longitudinal data with other states and agencies. To learn more, visit www.coleridge.us.

Media contact: Nick Obourn, nick.obourn@coleridge.us