# Maryland SB 0475: Criminal Procedure - Evidence - Protecting Artists' Creative Expression (PACE Act)

Maryland SB 0475, Criminal Procedure - Evidence - Protecting Artists' Creative Expression (PACE Act), is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Charles E. Sydnor (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 517) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0475-2026RS
- 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 0475
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Criminal Procedure - Evidence - Protecting Artists' Creative Expression (PACE Act)
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-02-02
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 517
- Sponsor: Charles E. Sydnor (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Subjects: Criminal Law - Procedures, Art, Music, and Cultural Affairs -see also- EthAff; Mus; etc, Defendants, Evidence, Juvenile Justice and Delinquency, Mental and Behavioral Health -see also- Aut; Cogn; Dev; etc.
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (164 yes, 55 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Limits on using your art as evidence: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, the law limits when Maryland courts can use your songs, art, or writing against you in a criminal or juvenile case. A judge must first find, by a preponderance of the evidence, that you meant the work literally (or adopted a literal meaning from another work), that it clo…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Charles E. Sydnor (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Nick Charles (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Johnny Mautz (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Chris West (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-09 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 32 | 10 | 1 |
| 2026-04-08 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 99 | 35 | 2 |
| 2026-03-23 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 33 | 10 | 1 |

## Actions (17)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 517
- 2026-04-09: Passed Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-04-09: Third Reading Passed (32-10) (Senate)
- 2026-04-09: Senate Concurs House Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-04-08: Third Reading Passed (99-35) (House)
- 2026-04-06: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-04-06: Favorable with Amendments {433823/1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-04-06: Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary (House)
- 2026-03-24: Referred Judiciary (House)
- 2026-03-23: Third Reading Passed (33-10) (Senate)
- 2026-03-23: Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-03-23: Favorable Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-23: Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Hearing 2/11 at 2:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Hearing canceled (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Hearing 2/11 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: First Reading Judicial Proceedings (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_517_sb0475e.pdf)
- Enrolled, 2026-04-09: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0475e.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-23: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0475t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-02: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0475f.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_517_sb0475e.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0475e.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0475t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0475f.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-SB0475-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).