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SB 8

EnactedCrossfile HB 184
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Criminal Law - Identity Fraud - Artificial Intelligence and Deepfake Representations

Sponsor: Katie Fry Hester (District 9)Committee: Judicial ProceedingsSubject: Criminal Law - Substantive CrimesStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 445 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Prohibiting a person from utilizing certain personal identifying information or engaging in certain conduct in order to cause physical injury, serious emotional distress, or economic damages; prohibiting a person from using certain artificial intelligence or certain deepfake representations for certain purposes; providing penalties of 5 years of imprisonment and a fine of up $10,000 or both where one victim is involved, and for two or more victims the term of imprisonment is up to 10 years and the fine is up to $15,000 or both; etc.

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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 (25)

MGA witness list
FAV 21FavorableFWA 1Favorable with amendmentsUNF 1UnfavorableINFO 2Information only
PositionWitnessOrganizationTestimony
FAVWestrick, SaralobbyistAARP MarylandWritten (PDF)
FAVCox, JohnBaltimore County States Attorneys Office, Maryland States Attorneys AssociationOral
FAVLemyze, ChristineIndivisible Howard CountyWritten (PDF)
FAVJordan, Lisae ClobbyistMaryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)Position only
FAVJordan, Lisae ClobbyistMaryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)Position only
FAVWilt, LauraMaryland Crime Victims' Resource CenterWritten (PDF)
FAVPlante, CeciliaMaryland Legislative CoalitionWritten (PDF)
FAVPlante, CeciliaMaryland Legislative CoalitionWritten (PDF)
FAVFry Hester, KatieMaryland SenateWritten (PDF)
FAVBrown, KirstenMaryland State's Attorneys' AssociationWritten (PDF)
FAVDavid, SarahOffice of the State ProsecutorOral + Written (PDF)
FAVMcNair, LeeUnitarian Universalist Environmental Justice MinistryPosition only
FAVKaplowitz, Richard KAPYearWritten (PDF)
FAVKaplowitz, Richard KAPYearWritten (PDF)
FAVAllen, SusanIndividualPosition only
FAVClark, CandyIndividualPosition only
FAVMauer, WilliamIndividualPosition only
FAVRosa, RichardIndividualPosition only
FAVSenator Hester, Senator HesterlegislatorIndividualOral
FAVSenator Hester, Senator HesterlegislatorIndividualOral
FAVShulman, DebbieIndividualWritten (PDF)
UNFColbert, RenataMotion Picture AssociationWritten (PDF)
FWAdurkin, margaretlobbyistIndividualWritten (PDF)
INFOZelaya, MichellelobbyistMaryland Catholic ConferenceWritten (PDF)
INFOAbrams, HannaIndividualWritten (PDF)

Organizations on record

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVWestrick, SaraAARP MarylandRegistered for: AARP Maryland
FAVJordan, Lisae CMaryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)Registered for: Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault
FAVJordan, Lisae CMaryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)Registered for: Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault
FWAdurkin, margaretRegistered for: TechNet
INFOZelaya, MichelleMaryland Catholic ConferenceRegistered for: Maryland Catholic Conference