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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0715*
HOUSE BILL 715
C7, E2, D4 6lr0734
HB 1119/24 – APP & ECM CF 6lr0732
By: Delegate Rosenberg
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2026
Assigned to: Appropriations and Economic Matters
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Algorithmic Addiction Fund – Establishment 2
FOR the purpose of establishing the Algorithmic Addiction Fund as a special, nonlapsing 3
fund; requiring interest earnings of the Fund to be credited to the Fund; requiring 4
the Secretary of Health to develop certain goals, objectives, and indicators relating 5
to algorithmic addiction treatment and prevention efforts and to consult with certain 6
stakeholders on a certain basis to identify re commended appropriations from the 7
Fund; and generally relating to the Algorithmic Addiction Fund. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 9
Article – State Finance and Procurement 10
Section 6–226(a)(2)(i) and (ii) 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 13
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 14
Article – State Finance and Procurement 15
Section 6–226(a)(2)(iii)212. and 213. 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 18
BY adding to 19
Article – State Finance and Procurement 20
Section 6–226(a)(2)(iii)214. and 7–332 21
Annotated Code of Maryland 22
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 23
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 24
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 25
Article – State Finance and Procurement 26
2 HOUSE BILL 715
6–226. 1
(a) (2) (i) This paragraph does not apply in fiscal years 2024 through 2028. 2
(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and unless 3
inconsistent with a federal law, grant agreement, or other federal requirement or with the 4
terms of a gift or settlement agreement, net interest on all State money allocated by the 5
State Treasurer under this section to special funds or accounts, and otherwise entitled to 6
receive interest earnings, as accounted for by the Comptroller, shall accrue to the General 7
Fund of the State. 8
(iii) The provisions of subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph do not 9
apply to the following funds: 10
212. the Department of Social and Economic Mobility Special 11
Fund; [and] 12
213. the Population Health Improvement Fund; AND 13
214. THE ALGORITHMIC ADDICTION FUND. 14
7–332. 15
(A) IN THIS SECTION , “FUND” MEANS THE ALGORITHMIC ADDICTION 16
FUND. 17
(B) THERE IS AN ALGORITHMIC ADDICTION FUND. 18
(C) THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO RETAI N THE AMOUNT OF 19
SETTLEMENT REVENUES DEPOSITED TO THE FUND IN ACCORDANCE WI TH 20
SUBSECTION (F)(1) OF THIS SECTION. 21
(D) THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SHALL ADMINIST ER THE 22
FUND. 23
(E) (1) THE FUND IS A SPECIAL , NONLAPSING FUND THAT IS NOT 24
SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 25
(2) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL HOLD THE FUND SEPARATELY , 26
AND THE COMPTROLLER SHALL ACCOUNT FOR THE FUND. 27
(F) THE FUND CONSISTS OF: 28
HOUSE BILL 715 3
(1) ALL CIVIL PENALTIES RECEIVED BY THE STATE FROM ANY 1
SOURCE RESULTING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECT LY, FROM A JUDGMENT AGAI NST OR 2
SETTLEMENT RELATING TO CLAIMS CONCERNING HARM TO C HILDREN FROM THE 3
USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE IMPROPER USE OF ALGORITHMS MADE OR 4
PROSECUTED BY THE STATE TO RECOVER DAMA GES FOR VIOLATIONS O F STATE 5
LAW; 6
(2) MONEY APPROPRIATED IN THE STATE BUDGET TO THE FUND; AND 7
(3) INTEREST EARNINGS OF THE FUND. 8
(G) (1) THE FUND MAY BE USED ONLY TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR: 9
(I) CONDUCTING A NEEDS A SSESSMENT THROUGHOUT THE 10
STATE TO DETERMINE WHERE RESOURCES ARE NEEDED AND BEST PRACTICES FOR 11
ALGORITHMIC ADDICTION PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, AND TREATMENT; 12
(II) IMPROVING AND STRENG THENING ACCESS TO SE RVICES 13
PROVEN TO TREAT THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH 14
ALGORITHMIC ADDICTION, INCLUDING DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, EATING DISORDERS, 15
SUICIDE, AND SLEEP PROBLEMS; 16
(III) ALGORITHMIC ADDICTION INTERVENTION SERVICES; 17
(IV) ALGORITHMIC ADDICTIO N PREVENTION SERVICE S, 18
INCLUDING THE ORGANIZATION OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION 19
CAMPAIGNS TO PREVENT ALGORITHMIC ADDICTION AND PROMOT E DIGITAL AND 20
MEDIA LITERACY, INCLUDING FOR ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES; 21
(V) RESEARCH AND TRAININ G FOR ALGORITHMIC AD DICTION 22
TREATMENT AND PREVEN TION, AND SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH , 23
INCLUDING FOR ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES; AND 24
(VI) SUPPORTING AND EXPAN DING OTHER EVIDENCE –BASED 25
INTERVENTIONS FOR ALGORITHMIC ADDICTION PREVENTION AND TREATMENT. 26
(2) AFTER SATISFYING THE REQUIREMENTS OF PARA GRAPH (1) OF 27
THIS SUBSECTION, ANY UNSPENT FUNDS IN THE FUND MAY BE EXPENDED BY THE 28
MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. 29
(H) (1) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL INVEST THE MONEY OF THE FUND 30
IN THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER STATE MONEY MAY BE INVESTED. 31
4 HOUSE BILL 715
(2) ANY INTEREST EARNINGS OF THE FUND SHALL BE CREDITED TO 1
THE FUND. 2
(I) (1) EXPENDITURES FROM THE FUND MAY BE MADE ONLY IN 3
ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATE BUDGET. 4
(2) FOR CIVIL PENALTIES RECEIVED BY THE STATE FROM ANY 5
SOURCE RESULTING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECT LY, FROM A JUDGMENT AGAI NST OR 6
SETTLEMENT RELATING TO CLAIMS C ONCERNING HARM TO CHILDREN FRO M THE 7
USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE IMPROPER USE OF ALGORITHMS: 8
(I) APPROPRIATIONS FROM THE FUND IN THE STATE BUDGET 9
SHALL BE MADE IN ACC ORDANCE WITH THE ALL OCATION AND DISTRIBU TION OF 10
FUNDS TO THE STATE AND ITS POLITIC AL SUBDIVISION S AS AGREED ON IN AN Y 11
STATE–SUBDIVISION AGREEMENT, AS AMENDED; AND 12
(II) THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH SHALL ESTABLIS H AND 13
ADMINISTER A GRANT P ROGRAM FOR THE DISTR IBUTION OF FUNDS TO POLITICAL 14
SUBDIVISIONS OF THE STATE IN ACCORDANCE W ITH ANY STATE–SUBDIVISION 15
AGREEMENT, AS AMENDED. 16
(3) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL IDENTIFY AND DESIGNATE THE 17
CONTROLLING VERSION OF AN AGREEMENT OR A MENDMENT DESCRIBED U NDER 18
PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION. 19
(J) (1) MONEY EXPENDED FROM T HE FUND FOR THE PROGRAMS AND 20
SERVICES DESCRIBED UNDER SUBSECTION (G) OF THIS SECTION IS SUPPLEMENTAL 21
TO AND IS NOT INTEND ED TO TAKE THE PLACE OF FUNDING THAT OTHE RWISE 22
WOULD BE APPROPRIATED FOR THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. 23
(2) EXCEPT AS SPECIFIED I N SUBSECTION (G) OF THIS SECTION , 24
MONEY EXPENDED FROM THE FUND MAY NOT BE USED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE 25
EXPENSES. 26
(K) THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH SHALL: 27
(1) DEVELOP KEY GOALS, KEY OBJECTIVES, AND KEY PERFORMANCE 28
INDICATORS RELATING TO ALGORITHMIC ADDIC TION TREATMENT AND 29
PREVENTION EFFORTS; 30
(2) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (H)(2) OF THIS SECTION , AT LEAST 31
ONCE EACH YEAR , CONSULT WITH ALGORIT HMIC ADDICTION TREAT MENT AND 32
PREVENTION STAKEHOLD ERS, INCLUDING CONSUMERS , PROVIDERS, FAMILIES, 33
HOUSE BILL 715 5
AND ADVOCATES, TO IDENTIFY RECOMMENDED APPROPRIATIONS FROM THE FUND; 1
AND 2
(3) ON OR BEFORE NOVEMBER 1 EACH YEAR , REPORT TO THE 3
GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT 4
ARTICLE, ON: 5
(I) AN ACCOUNTING OF TOT AL FUNDS EXPENDED FR OM THE 6
FUND IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING FISCAL YEAR BY: 7
1. USE; 8
2. IF APPLICABLE, JURISDICTION; AND 9
3. BUDGET PROGRAM AND SUBDIVISION; 10
(II) THE PERFORMANCE INDI CATORS AND PROGRESS TOWARD 11
ACHIEVING THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES DEVEL OPED UNDER ITEM (1) OF THIS 12
SUBSECTION; AND 13
(III) THE RECOMMENDED APPR OPRIATIONS FROM THE FUND 14
IDENTIFIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITEM (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION. 15
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 16
(a) Section 1 of this Act shall take effect contingent on a judgment by a federal or 17
State court against or settlement with technology conglomerates, technology companies, 18
social media conglomerates, or social media companies relating to any claims made or 19
prosecuted by the State to recover damages for violations of State law. 20
(b) Within 5 days after a judgment or settlement described i n subsection (a) of 21
this section is awarded or approved, the Attorney General shall notify the Department of 22
Legislative Services. 23
(c) Section 1 of this Act shall take effect on the date the notice is received by the 24
Department of Legislative Services in accordance with subsection (b) of this section. 25
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, subject to Section 2 of this 26
Act, this Act shall take effect June 1, 2026. 27