Criminal Law - Obscene Matter - Visual Representation of Child

SB 736 updates Maryland's criminal law regarding visual representations of children. It raises the age limit from 16 to 18 for material depicting children in sexual contexts or abuse, making possession or viewing such material illegal for children under 18. Penalties increase significantly, with first offenses carrying up to 10 years in prison or $25,000 in fines, and repeat offenses becoming felonies with up to 20 years in prison or $50,000 fines. The bill also allows individuals depicted in such material to file civil lawsuits for damages (including up to $250,000 in punitive damages) without needing a prior criminal conviction, and requires the Attorney General to submit annual reports on enforcement and technology changes.