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Maryland Passes PACE Act to Protect Artists' Works

4/12/2026

Summary

Story summary

Maryland legislators signed the Protecting Artists’ Creative Expression (PACE) Act on April 11, 2026, to safeguard creative expression in legal proceedings.
The bill awaits signature from Maryland Governor Wes Moore.
It takes effect on October 1, 2026.
The act bars using a defendant's or juvenile respondent's creative works as evidence, with criteria including the work's intent, relevance to the alleged crime, and a balance between evidentiary value and potential harm.

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Story summary

Maryland legislators signed the Protecting Artists’ Creative Expression (PACE) Act on April 11, 2026, to safeguard creative expression in legal proceedings.
The bill awaits signature from Maryland Governor Wes Moore.
It takes effect on October 1, 2026.
The act bars using a defendant's or juvenile respondent's creative works as evidence, with criteria including the work's intent, relevance to the alleged crime, and a balance between evidentiary value and potential harm.