# Maryland SB 0697: Election Law - Actions to Influence an Election - Social Media Platform Algorithms and Bots Purchased by Foreign Nationals

Maryland SB 0697, Election Law - Actions to Influence an Election - Social Media Platform Algorithms and Bots Purchased by Foreign Nationals, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Brian J. Feldman (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-03-24 (Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m.) (as of 2026-10-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0697-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland SB 0697
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Election Law - Actions to Influence an Election - Social Media Platform Algorithms and Bots Purchased by Foreign Nationals
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-02-06
- Last action: 2026-03-24, Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m.
- Sponsor: Brian J. Feldman (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Elections, Civil Actions -see also- Small Claims, Disclosure, Ethics, Fines -see also- Penalties and Sentences, Information Technology, International Affairs, Internet -see also- Internet Access, Investigations and Inquiries -see also- Crim Bckgrnd Invest, Notices, Open Government, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Political Candidates, Public Information, Records -see also- Land Records; Vital Records, Reports, Rules and Regulations, Social Media, Standards and Best Practices, Subpoenas, Technology -see also- AeroT; BioT; EnergyT; InfoT; MedT; etc
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (45 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Brian J. Feldman (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Katie Fry Hester (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-19 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 45 | 0 |   |

## Actions (8)

- 2026-03-24: Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-03-20: Referred Government, Labor, and Elections (House)
- 2026-03-19: Third Reading Passed (45-0) (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Favorable with Amendments {473524/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-16: Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)

## Bill text

- Third Reading, 2026-03-18: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0697t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-06: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0697f.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
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0697t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0697f.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-SB0697-2026RS (as of 2026-10-16).