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SB 221MARYLANDSession 2026State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Maryland Law Makes Possessing 100+ Child Pornography Images or Depicting Children Under 13 a Felony

Original title: Criminal Law - Child Pornography - Prohibitions and Penalties

Last action · May 12, 2026: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 530Sponsor: Mary-Dulany James

Companion · HB 670same policy, House version
Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Does

Maryland enacted Senate Bill 221 to establish new felony criminal offenses and penalties for possessing 100 or more child pornography images, or possessing or viewing such images depicting minors under 13, effective October 1, 2026.

Why it matters

The measure exposes individuals convicted of possessing large volumes of unlawful material or images involving younger children to prison sentences of up to 10 years, which courts may run consecutively to sentences for related crimes.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

individuals possessing child pornography in Maryland

Individuals face new felony charges, mandatory image-counting formulas, and potential 10-year prison sentences for possessing large volumes of images or material depicting children under 13.

Directly affected

state prosecutors and courts

Prosecutors and judges must apply new statutory thresholds, image-counting rules, and consecutive sentencing options in child exploitation cases.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are videos counted toward the 100-image threshold under the new law?
Each video, electronic video, film, videotape, or similar video depiction is deemed to be 20 images for the purpose of determining the number of images in an individual's possession.
What is the maximum prison sentence for violating the new under-13 image provisions?
A person convicted of violating the under-13 image provisions is guilty of a felony and is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 10 years.
When does this new legislation take effect?
The Act takes effect on October 1, 2026.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

13 actions
  1. May 12, 2026Governor of MarylandEnrolled
    Approved by the Governor - Chapter 530
  2. Apr 8, 2026SenateFloor
    Returned Passed
  3. Apr 7, 2026HouseFloor
    Third Reading Passed (137-0)
  4. Apr 6, 2026HouseFloor
    Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
  5. Apr 6, 2026HouseCommittee
    Favorable Report by Judiciary
  6. Feb 20, 2026HouseCommittee
    Referred Judiciary
Show 7 earlier actions
  1. Feb 19, 2026SenateFloor
    Third Reading Passed (43-0)
  2. Feb 17, 2026SenateFloor
    Second Reading Passed
  3. Feb 17, 2026SenateFloor
    Favorable Adopted
  4. Feb 16, 2026SenateCommittee
    Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings
  5. Jan 14, 2026SenateIntroduced
    First Reading Judicial Proceedings
  6. Jan 13, 2026Senate
    Hearing 1/22 at 1:00 p.m.
  7. Oct 31, 2025SenateIntroduced
    Pre-filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Mary-Dulany JamesSenate · District 34DemocraticSponsor

Connected Entities

Mary-Dulany James, Wes Moore, Maryland and 1 more
PersonMary-Dulany James“Sponsor of Senate Bill 221.”Map →
PersonWes Moore“Governor who approved Senate Bill 221.”Map →
locationMaryland“The state jurisdiction enacting the legislation.”Map →
OrganizationGeneral Assembly of Maryland“The legislative body that passed Senate Bill 221.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

mgaleg.maryland.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance85
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy15
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz40
    Current news / social attention level

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