Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland SB736: Criminal Law - Obscene Matter - Visual Representation of Child
Status: In committee, February 12, 2026
Increasing the maximum age from 16 to 18 of a certain child that may not be depicted in certain visual representations; altering the penalties for knowingly possessing and intentionally retaining, and knowingly or intentionally accessing and intentionally viewing, certain visual representations; authorizing a person depicted in a certain visual representation to bring a certain civil action; and requiring the Attorney General to submit a certain annual report by December 1.
What the bill says
A bill ENTITLED AN ACT concerning Criminal Law - Obscene Matter - Visual Representation of Child FOR the purpose of altering the maximum age of a certain child that may not be depicted in certain visual representations; altering the penalties for knowingly possessing and intentionally retaining, and knowingly or intentionally accessing and intentionally viewing, certain visual representations; authorizing a person depicted in a certain visual representation to bring a certain civil action; requiring the Attorney General to submit a certain annual report…
From the introduced text, February 10, 2026:
A BILL ENTITLED AN ACT concerning Criminal Law - Obscene Matter - Visual Representation of Child FOR the purpose of altering the maximum age of a certain child that may not be depicted in certain visual representations; altering the penalties for knowingly possessing and intentionally retaining, and knowingly or intentionally accessing and intentionally viewing, certain visual representations; authorizing a person depicted in a certain visual representation to bring a certain civil action; requiring the Attorney General to submit a certain annual report; and generally relating to obscene matter. BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Criminal Law Section 11-208 Annotated Code of Maryland (2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY adding to Article - State Government Section 6-112 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 11-208. (a) (1) In this section, "indistinguishable from an actual and identifiable child" means an ordinary person would conclude that the image is of an actual and identifiable minor. EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW. [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from exist in g l aw . *sb0736* SENATE BILL (2) "Indistinguishable from an actual and identifiable child" includes a computer-generated image that has been created, adapted, …