# Maryland SB 0221: Criminal Law - Child Pornography - Prohibitions and Penalties Maryland SB 0221, Criminal Law - Child Pornography - Prohibitions and Penalties, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Mary-Dulany James (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 530) (as of 2026-10-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0221-2026RS - As of: 2026-10-11 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Maryland SB 0221 - State: Maryland - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Criminal Law - Child Pornography - Prohibitions and Penalties - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-10-31 - Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 530 - Sponsor: Mary-Dulany James (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Criminal Law - Substantive Crimes, Child Abuse and Neglect, Children (4-12), Crimes and Punishments -see also- Penalties and Sentnc; etc., Digital Images, Minors -see also- Age of Majority; Youth, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Photography, Pornography -see also- Nudity and Sexual Displays; Obscenity, Recordings -see also- Video, Video - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (180 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Felony crimes for child sexual material: cost, medium. Beginning October 1, 2026, the law makes it a felony to create, help create, or share sexual material involving a minor. It also bans using a computer to make or spread such material or to collect a child’s identifying details to help abuse. A first conviction can bring up to 10 years in prison and… - Tougher penalties for 100+ or under-13 images: cost, medium. Beginning October 1, 2026, the law sets counting rules: each photo counts as 1 image and each video counts as 20 images. Possessing 100 or more images in a distribution or possession case is a felony with up to 10 years in prison. Any image that shows a child under 13, or a realistic computer-made… - Ban on possessing child sex images: mixed, medium. Beginning October 1, 2026, the law bans knowingly possessing and intentionally keeping, or knowingly accessing and intentionally viewing, sexual images of a child under 16. This includes realistic computer-made images that look like an actual, identifiable child. A first conviction is a misdemeanor… - Realistic computer-made child images count: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, a realistic computer-made picture counts as a picture of a real child if an ordinary person would think so. The law excludes drawings, cartoons, sculptures, and paintings. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Mary-Dulany James (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-07 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 137 | 0 | 1 | | 2026-02-19 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 43 | 0 | | ## Actions (13) - 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 530 - 2026-04-08: Returned Passed (Senate) - 2026-04-07: Third Reading Passed (137-0) (House) - 2026-04-06: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House) - 2026-04-06: Favorable Report by Judiciary (House) - 2026-02-20: Referred Judiciary (House) - 2026-02-19: Third Reading Passed (43-0) (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Second Reading Passed (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Favorable Adopted (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate) - 2026-01-14: First Reading Judicial Proceedings (Senate) - 2026-01-13: Hearing 1/22 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate) - 2025-10-31: Pre-filed (Senate) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_530_sb0221t.pdf) - Third Reading, 2026-02-17: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0221t.pdf) - First Reading, 2026-01-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0221f.pdf) ## Related bills - SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law) - SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law) - SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law) - SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law) - SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law) - HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law) ## Sources - [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_530_sb0221t.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0221t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0221f.pdf) ## Related - [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS) - [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS) - [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS) - [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS) - [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS) - [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS) - [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills) - [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0221-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).