Maryland
Maryland's Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, the Kids Code, has been in effect since October 1, 2024 and is being challenged in federal court by NetChoice, with a motion to dismiss denied in November 2025 and no injunction in place. Maryland has not enacted an adult content age verification law or an app store accountability law: bills on both topics stalled in committee in 2025 and 2026. No dedicated social media minor-access bill has advanced past introduction.
Subnational jurisdiction. Reviewed 2026-07-15.
HB 603 / SB 571, Maryland Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (Kids Code)
Requires online products reasonably likely to be accessed by children under 18 to set high default privacy settings, complete data protection impact assessments, and avoid data practices harmful to children. A First Amendment and federal preemption challenge by NetChoice survived a motion to dismiss in November 2025 and is proceeding without an injunction.
- Citation
- Md. Code, Com. Law §§ 14-4801 to 14-4813 (Subtitle 48), 2024 Md. Laws ch. 461
- Status
- In force
- Effective date
- 2024-10-01
- Applies to
- Private sector
- Age threshold
- 18
- Penalties
- Civil penalties up to $2,500 per affected child for each negligent violation and $7,500 per affected child for each intentional violation, with a 90 day cure period.
- Enforcement body
- Maryland Division of Consumer Protection, Office of the Attorney General.
- Private right of action
- no
- Litigation
- NetChoice v. Brown, No. RDB-25-0322, U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Motion to dismiss denied November 24, 2025; NetChoice was granted leave to file a second amended complaint in April 2026; case proceeding in district court, no injunction in place as of this date.
- Source
- Md. Code, Com. Law §§ 14-4801 to 14-4813 (Subtitle 48), 2024 Md. Laws ch. 461
Reviewed 2026-07-15. Confidence: high. Fast-moving area, verify before relying. Not legal advice.