Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland SB221: Criminal Law - Child Pornography - Prohibitions and Penalties
Status: Signed into law, May 12, 2026
Prohibiting a person from possessing more than 100 images of certain child pornography or possessing or viewing images of certain child pornography depicting a minor or an individual indistinguishable from an actual and identifiable child under the age of 13 years; providing that a violation of the Act is a felony and on conviction a violator is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 10 years; and providing that a sentence under the Act may be separate from and consecutive to or concurrent with a sentence imposed for certain other crimes.
What the bill says
An act concerning Criminal Law - Child Pornography - Prohibitions and Penalties FOR the purpose of prohibiting a person from possessing or viewing certain child pornography under certain circumstances; and generally relating to child pornography prohibitions and penalties. BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - Criminal Law Section 11-207 and 11-208 Annotated Code of Maryland (2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY adding to Article - Criminal Law Section 11-208.2 Annotated Code of Maryland (2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement).
From the enrolled text, May 19, 2026:
AN ACT concerning Criminal Law - Child Pornography - Prohibitions and Penalties FOR the purpose of prohibiting a person from possessing or viewing certain child pornography under certain circumstances; and generally relating to child pornography prohibitions and penalties. BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - Criminal Law Section 11-207 and 11-208 Annotated Code of Maryland (2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY adding to Article - Criminal Law Section 11-208.2 Annotated Code of Maryland (2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: Article - Criminal Law 11-207. (a) A person may not: (1) cause, induce, solicit, or knowingly allow a minor to engage as a subject in the production of obscene matter or a visual representation or performance that depicts a minor engaged as a subject in sadomasochistic abuse or sexual conduct; (2) photograph or film a minor engaging in an obscene act, sadomasochistic abuse, or sexual conduct; (3) use a computer to depict or describe a minor engaging in an obscene act, sadomasochistic abuse, or sexual conduct; (4) knowingly promote, advertise, solicit, distribute, or possess with the intent to distribute any matter, visual representation, or performance: Ch. 530 2026 LAWS OF MARYLAND (i) that depicts a minor engaged as a subject …