SB 361 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Election Law - Influence on a Voter's Voting Decision By Use of Fraud - Prohibition

SB 361 prohibits using fraud - including AI-generated synthetic media - to influence voters' decisions. The bill defines "synthetic media" as AI-manipulated images, audio, or videos falsely depicting candidates or altering their appearance/speech. It makes it illegal to use such media (or traditional fraud like impersonation or vote-buying) to sway voters, with violations punishable by fines up to $5,000 or up to 5 years in prison. This directly affects anyone creating or distributing misleading digital content about candidates ahead of elections. The law takes effect June 1, 2025.

Issues: ✗ Technology

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Apr 7, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Election Law - Influence on a Voter's Voting Decision By Use of Fraud - Prohibition → Third - Election Law - Influence on a Voter's Voting Decision By Use of Fraud - Prohibition · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to reorganize its definitions and add official approval signatures. The substantive content regarding fraud prohibitions and penalties remains unchanged, though the text was reformatted to insert a committee report and adoption status, and to add signature lines for governor and legislative leaders.

TECHNICAL

Added committee report indicating favorable action and Senate adoption status with a second reading date.

Added signature lines for Governor, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Delegates.

Reordered the definition sections, moving the 'INFLUENCE' definition to appear before the 'SYNTHETIC MEDIA' definition.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 24, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2025

How they voted

38–8

Passed

Total votes 46

Mar 24, 2025

D Democratic33

33 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican13

5 Yea 8 Nay

61% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference Committee Report {

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Conference Committee Appointed (Delegates Wilkins, Fair and Roberts)

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate Conference Committee Appointed (Senators Hester, Attar and Carozza)

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Introduced

Senate Refuses Concur House Amendments

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means

lower

Mar 24, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (38-8)

senate

Mar 23, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (127-10-2)

house of delegates

Mar 13, 2025

Committee

Referred Ways and Means

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Introduced

Floor Amendment {

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted

upper

Mar 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Motion Special Order until 3/12 (Senator Ready) Adopted

upper

Mar 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable

upper

Mar 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Committee

First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors