Libel And Slander
Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Forged Digital Likenesses - Distribution - Prohibition [HB-955]
[Technology and Innovation ]
[Crime ]
[Data Privacy ]
[Public Safety ]
[Criminal Justice ]
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.
Sponsored by: Rep. C.T. Wilson
Withdrawn By Sponsor on 02/17/2025
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Gettr Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Civil Actions - Immunity - Disclosure of Allegations of Sexually Assaultive Behavior (Stop Silencing Survivors Act) [SB-549]
[Crime ]
[Human Rights ]
[Public Safety ]
[Data Privacy ]
Establishing an immunity from liability for a person who discloses information about allegations of sexually assaultive behavior if the person acts in good faith; establishing a presumption of good faith unless it is shown by clear and convincing evidence that the person acted with actual malice or intentionally or recklessly disclosed false information; providing for the award of attorney's fees and costs in certain circumstances; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Cheryl Kagan
Hearing 2/06 At 1:00 P.m. on 01/28/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Civil Actions - Sexual Deepfake Representations and Revenge Porn [HB-663]
[Data Privacy ]
[Technology and Innovation ]
[Crime ]
[Public Safety ]
Authorizing a person to bring and maintain a civil action for defamation against another person who distributes a computer-generated visual representation that is indistinguishable from an actual visual representation of the person and falsely depicts the person with his or her intimate parts exposed or engaged in sexual activity; clarifying what constitutes a visual representation for a certain prohibition against distributing a certain visual representation in a certain manner; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Lesley Lopez
Hearing Canceled on 02/17/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Civil Actions - Immunity - Disclosure of Allegations of Sexually Assaultive Behavior (Stop Silencing Survivors Act) [HB-629]
[Crime ]
[Human Rights ]
[Public Safety ]
[Data Privacy ]
Establishing an immunity from liability for a person who discloses information about allegations of sexually assaultive behavior if the person acts in good faith; establishing a presumption of good faith unless it is shown by clear and convincing evidence that the person acted with actual malice or intentionally or recklessly disclosed false information; providing for the award of attorney's fees and costs in certain circumstances; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Heather Bagnall
Hearing 2/12 At 1:00 P.m. on 01/27/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Forged Digital Likenesses - Distribution - Prohibition [SB-362]
[Technology and Innovation ]
[Crime ]
[Data Privacy ]
[Criminal Justice ]
[Public Safety ]
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.
Sponsored by: Sen. Shelly Hettleman
Hearing 1/29 At 11:00 A.m. on 01/22/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Revenge Porn - Definition of Visual Representation and Civil Action [SB-360]
[Crime ]
[Data Privacy ]
[Public Safety ]
Defining the term "visual representation" as it relates to the crime of revenge porn to be an unaltered image of the person or an image created with or without using other existing depictions of the person that is indistinguishable from the person, from the perspective of an ordinary person; and authorizing a person to bring a civil action for revenge porn.
Sponsored by: Sen. William Smith
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 219 on 04/22/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Courts - Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation [HB-434]
[Law Enforcement ]
[Public Safety ]
[Crime ]
[Criminal Justice ]
Altering the conditions under which a lawsuit is considered a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP suit); altering the conditions under which a defendant in a SLAPP suit is not civilly liable for certain communications; establishing certain standards and requirements relating to a motion to dismiss an alleged SLAPP suit; and applying the Act prospectively.
Sponsored by: Rep. Samuel Rosenberg
Hearing 2/12 At 1:00 P.m. on 01/27/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Courts - Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation [SB-167]
[Law Enforcement ]
[Public Safety ]
[Crime ]
[Criminal Justice ]
Altering the conditions under which a lawsuit is considered a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP suit); altering the conditions under which a defendant in a SLAPP suit is not civilly liable for certain communications; establishing certain standards and requirements relating to a motion to dismiss an alleged SLAPP suit; and applying the Act prospectively.
Sponsored by: Sen. Shelly Hettleman
Hearing 1/15 At 12:00 P.m. on 01/09/2025
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Revenge Porn - Civil Action and Reporting Requirement [SB-858]
[Crime ]
[Data Privacy ]
[Technology and Innovation ]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Public Safety ]
Authorizing a person to bring and maintain a civil action for defamation under certain circumstances; and altering the prohibition against revenge porn to prohibit a person from knowingly distributing a computer-generated visual representation that is indistinguishable from another actual and identifiable person under certain circumstances.
Sponsored by: Sen. Brian Feldman
Third Reading Passed (134-0) on 04/08/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Courts - Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation [SB-568]
[Law Enforcement ]
[Public Safety ]
[Crime ]
[Criminal Justice ]
Altering the conditions under which a lawsuit is considered a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP suit); altering the conditions under which a defendant in a SLAPP suit is not civilly liable for certain communications; establishing certain standards and requirements relating to a motion to dismiss an alleged SLAPP suit; and applying the Act prospectively.
Sponsored by: Sen. Shelly Hettleman
Hearing 2/20 At 1:00 P.m. on 01/31/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Courts - Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation [HB-330]
[Law Enforcement ]
[Public Safety ]
[Crime ]
[Criminal Justice ]
Altering the conditions under which a lawsuit is considered a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP suit); altering the conditions under which a defendant in a SLAPP suit is not civilly liable for certain communications; establishing certain standards and requirements relating to a motion to dismiss an alleged SLAPP suit; and applying the Act prospectively.
Sponsored by: Rep. Samuel Rosenberg
Hearing Canceled on 02/05/2024
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Maryland 2018 Regular Session
Public Schools – Social Media Use by Educators [SB-904]
[Education ]
[Technology and Innovation ]
[Data Privacy ]
[Children and Youth ]
Requiring the State Board of Education to develop a certain model policy for public schools regarding the use of social media by educators; requiring the model policy to include certain guidelines and model forms; requiring each local school system to establish a certain policy regarding the use of social media and to provide certain training; prohibiting an educator from publishing a work product or image of a student on a social media personal account; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Stephen Waugh
Hearing 3/29 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/29/2018
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Maryland 2019 Regular Session
State Government - Legislative and Executive Branches - Workplace Bullying [SB-556]
[Labor, Jobs, Employment ]
[Ethics ]
[Public Safety ]
Requiring each manager and supervisor in the Legislative and Executive branches of State government to immediately report to the appointing authority or head of the principal unit certain incidents of workplace bullying; providing that it is the intent of the State to educate all employees about bullying, ensure that bullying is not tolerated, and deal appropriately with bullying in the workplace; requiring certain human resources departments to collect and share data on complaints and reports; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Delores Kelley
Unfavorable Report By Finance; Withdrawn on 03/11/2019
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Maryland 2019 Regular Session
Education - Personnel Matters - Child Sexual Abuse and Sexual Misconduct Prevention [SB-541]
[Education ]
[Children and Youth ]
[Public Safety ]
[Crime ]
[Human Services ]
[Law Enforcement ]
Requiring county boards of education, nonpublic schools, and certain contracting agencies to require an applicant for a position involving direct contact with minors to submit certain information; requiring the county board, nonpublic school, or contracting agency to conduct a review of the employment history of a certain applicant before hiring the applicant; requiring the county board, nonpublic school, or contracting agency to check certain eligibility of an applicant for a substitute position involving direct contact with minors; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Cheryl Kagan
Vetoed By The Governor (duplicative) on 05/24/2019
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Maryland 2019 Regular Session
Criminal Law - Electronic Harassment and Bullying (Grace's Law 2.0) [SB-103]
[Cybersecurity ]
[Crime ]
[Public Safety ]
[Children and Youth ]
[Criminal Justice ]
[Data Privacy ]
[Law Enforcement ]
Altering prohibited actions relating to electronic harassment of minors; prohibiting a person from maliciously engaging in an electronic communication if the electronic communication, as part of a series of communications, has the effect of intimidating or harassing a minor and causing physical injury or serious emotional distress to a minor and the person engaging in the electronic communication acts with a certain intent; prohibiting a person from violating the Act with the intent to induce a minor to commit suicide; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Susan Lee
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 26 on 04/18/2019
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Maryland 2019 Regular Session
State Government - Legislative and Executive Branches - Workplace Bullying [HB-57]
[Labor, Jobs, Employment ]
[Ethics ]
[Public Safety ]
Requiring each manager and supervisor in the Legislative and Executive branches of State government to immediately report to the appointing authority or head of the principal unit certain incidents of workplace bullying; providing that it is the intent of the General Assembly to educate all employees about bullying, ensure that bullying is not tolerated, and deal appropriately with bullying in the workplace; requiring certain human resources departments to collect and share data on complaints and reports; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. The Speaker
Unfavorable Report By House Rules And Executive Nominations; Withdrawn on 03/05/2019
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Maryland 2019 Regular Session
Department of Agriculture - Maryland Produce Safety Program [HB-50]
[Agriculture ]
[Food ]
[Public Health ]
[Consumer Protection ]
Establishing the Maryland Produce Safety Program in the Department of Agriculture to reduce the risk of adverse impacts on human health from the consumption of contaminated produce; requiring the Program to conform with certain federal standards for growing, harvesting, packing, and holding produce for human consumption; defining a "covered farm" as one which sold produce, over a 3-year period, with an average annual monetary value of $25,000; requiring the Secretary of Agriculture to administer and enforce the Program; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep.
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 131 on 04/18/2019
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Maryland 2019 Regular Session
Education - Personnel Matters - Child Sexual Abuse and Sexual Misconduct Prevention [HB-486]
[Education ]
[Children and Youth ]
[Public Safety ]
[Crime ]
[Criminal Justice ]
[Law Enforcement ]
Requiring county boards of education, nonpublic schools, and contracting agencies to require an applicant for a position involving direct contact with minors to submit certain information; requiring a county board, nonpublic school, or contracting agency to review the employment history of a certain applicant before hiring an applicant; requiring the county board, nonpublic school, or contracting agency to check certain eligibility of an applicant for a substitute position involving direct contact with minors; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Eric Bromwell
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 55 on 04/18/2019
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Maryland 2019 Regular Session
Criminal Law - Electronic Harassment and Bullying (Grace's Law 2.0) [HB-181]
[Cybersecurity ]
[Crime ]
[Public Safety ]
[Children and Youth ]
[Criminal Justice ]
[Data Privacy ]
[Law Enforcement ]
Altering prohibited actions relating to electronic harassment of minors; prohibiting a person from maliciously engaging in an electronic communication if the electronic communication, as part of a series of communications, has the effect of intimidating or harassing a minor and causing physical injury or serious emotional distress to a minor and the person engaging in the electronic communication acts with a certain intent; prohibiting a person from violating the Act with the intent to induce a minor to commit suicide; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Dana Stein
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 27 on 04/18/2019
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Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Education - Student Journalists - Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press [SB-764]
[Education ]
[Media and Advertising ]
[Children and Youth ]
Authorizing student journalists at public schools and public institutions of higher education to exercise freedom of speech and freedom of the press in school-sponsored media; specifying that these freedoms are not limited by the fact that the media is supported financially by the school system, the school, or the institution of higher education, or by use of the facilities of the school; prohibiting student media advisors from using their position to influence a student journalist to promote specified positions; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. James Rosapepe
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 229 on 04/26/2016