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SB 905

SS/SCS/SB 905 - This act establishes the Missouri Rangers and creates provisions relating to a training program for the Missouri Rangers. This act requires the POST Commission to establish a training program to be known as the "Missouri Rangers", and shall establish minimum standards for training instructors, training centers, and training programs that focus on preventing and responding to emergency or violent crisis situations in school settings. The arrest powers granted to any person who successfully completes the Missouri Rangers training program shall be limited to property or premises owned, leased, rented, or possessed by the school or school district and firearms offenses. This provision shall not apply to any person who is an active law enforcement officer. The training program shall be established by the POST Commission. The program shall not be longer than one hundred sixty hours, and shall consist of state and federal constitutional and statutory law; firearms training; close quarter combat; implicit and racial bias; active shooter training; defensive tactics; and any other related training deemed necessary by POST. An applicant shall not be granted entry to the training program without successfully completing the physical training requirements for their age range. The POST commission is granted the authority to promulgate rules for continuing education training for the Missouri Rangers. A certificate of Missouri Ranger training program completion and a Ranger badge shall be issued to any person that successfully completes the training program. A copy of such certificate shall be provided to the director of the Department of Public Safety. Under this act, the outermost garment of the Missouri Ranger uniform must display the title "RANGER" in capitalized block letters. A school or school district that utilizes this program has the authority to allow Rangers to carry a firearm or other weapon capable of lethal use on school property. The school or school district shall also decide the type of weapon carried and whether it shall be concealed. If open carrying a pistol, Rangers must use a level three retention holster. Finally, for the purpose of liability, workers' compensation, and any other employment-related matter, each Ranger shall be an employee of the school that hires them, and shall have qualified immunity. TRISTAN BENSON, JR.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by David Gregory

Expands Maryland identity fraud laws to cover harm caused by AI or deepfakes, banning use of someone’s data or likeness to defraud, harass, or harm, with criminal and civil remedie

Reported Duly Enrolled Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions & Ethics Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 905

Summary — SB 905: Criminal Law — Identity Fraud — Artificial Intelligence and Deepfake Representations

Status & Timeline
- Introduced: January 24, 2025 (Senate Bill 905, Judicial Proceedings Committee; sponsor: Sen. Hester)
- Hearing: February 26, 2025
- Enacted: Signed by Governor June 20, 2025
- Effective date: September 1, 2025
- Companion bill: HB 1425 (Delegate Wilson)

Purpose
- Expand Maryland’s identity fraud laws to address modern misuses of personal identifying information, including harms produced through artificial intelligence (AI) and “deepfake” media, and to create a civil remedy for victims.

Key definitions added
- “Deepfake representation”: a photograph, film, video, audio recording, digital image, picture, or computer-generated image that is indistinguishable from an actual, identifiable human being. Excludes drawings, cartoons, sculptures, and paintings.
- “Indistinguishable from an actual and identifiable human being”: an image an ordinary person would conclude is of an actual person; explicitly includes computer‑generated images made to appear real.
- “Harm”: physical injury, serious emotional distress, or economic damages.
- “Artificial intelligence”: defined by reference to the State Finance and Procurement Article (§3.5–801).

Primary substantive changes
- Prohibits knowingly, willfully, and with fraudulent intent using another person’s personal identifying information without consent to cause “harm” (broadening prior prohibitions tied to obtaining value or health access).
- Expands the existing prohibition against assuming another’s identity (including fictitious identities) to include use intended to harm, harass, intimidate, threaten, or coerce the person whose identity is assumed.
- Prohibits knowingly, willfully, and with fraudulent intent using AI or deepfake representations to:
- Impersonate or falsely depict another person with intent to defraud, mislead, or cause harm; or
- Create or distribute false records to cause harm, induce disclosure of personal identifying information, or obtain benefits/credit/services.

Criminal penalties
- Existing value-based penalty tiers remain (examples):
- <$1,500: misdemeanor — up to 1 year imprisonment and/or up to $500 fine.
- $1,500–<$25,000: felony — up to 5 years and/or up to $10,000 fine.
- $25,000–<$100,000: felony — up to 10 years and/or up to $15,000 fine.
- ≥$100,000: felony — up to 20 years and/or up to $25,000 fine.
- AI/deepfake-specific penalties:
- Violation involving one victim: felony — up to 5 years imprisonment and/or up to $10,000 fine.
- Violation involving two or more victims: felony — up to 10 years imprisonment and/or up to $15,000 fine.

Civil remedy
- A victim of prohibited conduct under the AI/deepfake provisions may bring a civil action in court seeking injunctions and “any other appropriate relief” against the perpetrator(s).

Who is affected
- Individuals whose personal identifying information or likeness is used without consent; victims of harassment, impersonation, stalking, financial fraud, or reputational harm caused by AI/deepfakes.
- Perpetrators who create, use, or distribute AI-generated or deepfake content to defraud or harm.
- Courts, prosecutors, and defense counsel (potential modest increase in caseloads); limited expected fiscal impact.

Fiscal/operational impact
- Department of Legislative Services fiscal note: not expected to materially affect State or local finances or operations; minor increased workload for public defense potentially manageable within existing resources.

Notes
- The bill amends Maryland Criminal Law §8–301 and cross-references the State Finance and Procurement definition of AI.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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