The Maryland State Archives, manager of the central land records database, has confirmed their plan to offer a governmental exemption from their planned user fee system to start this spring. 

In correspondence with MACo, the State Archives have indicated:

Those who access mdlandrec.net regularly for government business purposes will be asked to fill out a request form when logging into the site. With this information, we will ensure that those users will not have to pay for access. This form will request a name, email address, title, organization, and reason for access.

As reported previously on Conduit Street, the State Archives plan a user-fee supported new computerized system beginning this spring:

The Maryland State Archives plans to launch a new version of the Maryland Land Records website, https://mdlandrec.net, in May 2025. Updated features will include all search criteria being accessible on one screen, new search fields being added, increased website stability, and enhanced security features. Users will be charged $0.20 per page to view and download modern records that are less than 100 years old online. All index files and records that are 100 years old or more will remain free to view and download online. Access at the Maryland State Archives Search Room in Annapolis and the local Circuit Courts remains unchanged.