SB 362

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Forged Digital Likenesses - Distribution - Prohibition

Sponsor: Katie Fry Hester (District 9)Committee: Judicial ProceedingsSubject: Criminal Law - Substantive CrimesStatus: Hearing 1/29 at 11:00 a.m. (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Providing that the distribution of a certain forged digital likeness to another constitutes a statement or communication for the purpose of an action for defamation; prohibiting a person from knowingly distributing a certain forged digital likeness under certain circumstances; and providing that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a term of imprisonment of up to 3 years or a fine of up to $1,000 or both.

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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (0)

MGA witness list

FAV 13FavorableUNF 2Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Shellenberger, Scott	Baltimore County State's Attorney's Office	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	King, Joyce	Frederick County State's Attorney's Office	Oral
FAV	Jordan, Lisae Clobbyist	Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Position only
FAV	Ruth, Laure	Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence	Written (PDF)
FAV	Fry Hester, Katie	Maryland Senate	Written (PDF)
FAV	McMahon, Cara	St. Mary's College of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Webster, Christopher	University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security	Oral
FAV	DeBerry-Melvin, Shaunesi	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Hamilton, Rebecca	Individual	Position only
FAV	Mauer, William	Individual	Position only
FAV	Senator Hester, Senator Hesterlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Yelin, Ben	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	January, Briannalobbyist	Director, State and Local Government Relations Northeast Region	Written (PDF)
UNF	Zacker, Jeremy	Maryland Office of the Public Defender	Oral + Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Baltimore County State's Attorney's OfficeFAV 1

Director, State and Local Government Relations Northeast RegionUNF 1

Frederick County State's Attorney's OfficeFAV 1

Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)FAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Network Against Domestic ViolenceFAV 1

Maryland Office of the Public DefenderUNF 1

Maryland SenateFAV 1

St. Mary's College of MarylandFAV 1

University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland SecurityFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVJordan, Lisae CMaryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)Registered for: Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault

UNFJanuary, BriannaDirector, State and Local Government Relations Northeast RegionRegistered for: Chamber of Progress