SB141Introduced in the Senate
Election Law - Election Misinformation, Election Disinformation, and Deepfakes
Introduced by Katie Hester, District 9
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
Writing a plain-English summary of this bill… this can take a few seconds the first time.
Official description
Requiring and authorizing the State Administrator of Elections to take certain actions if the State Administrator receives a credible report that election misinformation or election disinformation, including a deepfake, has been or is being communicated, disseminated, or distributed; requiring the Administrator to publicly communicate correct information; prohibiting a person from knowingly or with reckless disregard creating, using, or disseminating a deepfake to produce materially false information; etc.
Where it stands
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 444
May 12, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
2 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
2 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: Third Reading Passed · April 13, 2026
28
Yes
4
No
15
Absent or Not Voting
47 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
See how each senator voted
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Mike McKay | 1 | Yes |
| Paul Corderman | 2 | Not Voting |
| Karen Lewis Young | 3 | Not Voting |
| William Folden | 4 | No |
| Justin Ready | 5 | No |
| Johnny Salling | 6 | Not Voting |
| J.B. Jennings | 7 | Not Voting |
| Carl Jackson | 8 | Yes |
| Katie Hester | 9 | Yes |
| Benjamin Brooks | 10 | Yes |
Bill history
Pre-filed
First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
Hearing 1/21 at 11:00 a.m.
Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
Favorable with Amendments {103824/1 Adopted
Second Reading Passed with Amendments
Motion Returned Second Reading (Senator Hester) Adopted
Motion Special Order until 2/10 (Senator Hester) Adopted
Floor Amendment {253621/1 (Senator Hester) Adopted
Second Reading Passed with Amendments
Third Reading Passed (44-0)
Referred Government, Labor, and Elections
Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m.
Favorable with Amendments Report by Government, Labor, and Elections
Favorable with Amendments {433522/1 Adopted
Motion Special Order until Next Session (Delegate Fair) Adopted
Second Reading Passed with Amendments
Third Reading Passed (95-35)
Senate Refuses Concur House Amendments
Senate Requests House Recede
Senate Conference Committee Appointed (Senators Hester, Watson and Gallion)
Senate Refuses Concur House Amendments
Senate Requests House Recede
Senate Conference Committee Appointed (Senators Hester, Watson and Gallion)
House Refuses Recede
House Conference Committee Appointed (Delegates Fair, Clippinger and Tomlinson)
House Refuses Recede
House Conference Committee Appointed (Delegates Fair, Clippinger and Tomlinson)
Conference Committee Report {173226/1 Adopted
Third Reading Passed (28-4)
Conference Committee Report {173226/1 Adopted
Third Reading Passed (85-38)
Passed Enrolled
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 444
Verify the information
- Official page on the Maryland Legislature website
- Favorable with Amendments 103824/1 Adopted (amendment)
- Floor Amendment 253621/1 (Senator Hester) Adopted (amendment)
- Favorable with Amendments 433522/1 Adopted (amendment)
- Conference Committee Report 173226/1 Adopted (amendment)
- Vote - Senate - Committee - Education, Energy, and the Environment (supplement)
- Vote - House - Committee - Government, Labor, and Elections (supplement)
- Introduced (text)
- Engrossed (text)
- Enrolled (text)
- Chaptered (text)
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