Unfair Trade Practices
Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Commercial Law - Broadband Access - Low-Income Consumer Programs (Maryland Broadband Opportunity and Fairness Act) [HB-1553]
Requiring each broadband provider in the State to establish a program to provide broadband services to eligible low-income consumers at certain prices depending on speed on or before December 1, 2025; authorizing the Office of Statewide Broadband in the Department of Housing and Community Development to exempt certain providers from the requirement to establish a program; and altering the duties of the Office.
Sponsored by: Rep. Kris Fair
First Reading House Rules And Executive Nominations on 02/25/2025
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Gettr Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Consumer Protection - Artificial Intelligence [HB-1331]
Regulating the manner in which a developer or deployer of artificial intelligence must protect consumers from certain risks; requiring a developer that offers to sell a certain artificial intelligence system to provide certain information and make certain disclosures; requiring a deployer to implement a certain risk management policy and take certain precautions to protect consumers from certain risks; requiring a deployer to complete an impact assessment and make certain disclosures; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Lily Qi
First Reading Economic Matters on 02/07/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Business Regulation - Electronic Smoking Devices Manufacturers - Certifications [HB-1441]
Authorizing the Executive Director of the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission and the Attorney General to take certain action relating to the licensure of certain electronic smoking devices manufacturers, wholesalers, importers, and retailers and vape shop vendors in certain circumstances; requiring an electronic smoking devices manufacturer to execute and deliver a certain certification to the Attorney General each year; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. David Fraser-hidalgo
First Reading Economic Matters on 02/07/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Consumer Protection - Agricultural Equipment Warranties [HB-1345]
Requiring, to make a claim under a warranty for certain agricultural equipment, a consumer to provide written notice to certain parties to report a nonconformity, defect, or condition occurring in certain agricultural equipment; requiring certain parties to correct the nonconformity, defect, or condition in a certain manner; requiring certain parties to provide a consumer with the opportunity to replace agricultural equipment or receive a refund under certain circumstances; and applying the Act prospectively.
Sponsored by: Rep. Steven Arentz
First Reading Economic Matters on 02/07/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Consumer Protection - Solicitation Following a Disaster - Prohibition [HB-1348]
Prohibiting a contractor or person acting on behalf of a contractor from soliciting or attempting to solicit a disaster victim within 48 hours after a disaster; and establishing that a violation of the Act is an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice.
Sponsored by: Rep. Marlon Amprey
First Reading Economic Matters on 02/07/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
No Tax on Tips Act [HB-1400]
Establishing consumer protections related to service fees charged by food service facilities; specifying the State minimum wage rate; prohibiting, beginning July 1, 2028, employers of tipped employees from including a tip credit amount as part of the employees' wages; allowing a subtraction under the State income tax for certain qualified tips received by certain individuals; and allowing a person a credit against the State income tax for certain amounts paid to an employee based on the payment of certain wages and tips.
Sponsored by: Rep. Anne Kaiser
First Reading Economic Matters And Ways And Means on 02/07/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases - Prospective Tenant Criminal History Records Check (Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act) [HB-1077]
Prohibiting a landlord from requiring or requesting from a prospective tenant certain information relating to criminal history and prohibiting a landlord from considering certain information when evaluating the prospective tenant; permitting a landlord to consider certain criminal history information prior to extending a conditional offer to a prospective tenant and requiring the landlord to consider certain information provided by a prospective tenant relating to a criminal history records check; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Jheanelle Wilkins
First Reading Environment And Transportation on 02/05/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Real Property - Insufficient Condominium Reserve Account Grant Fund - Establishment [HB-1040]
Requiring regulated financial institutions to develop a community benefit plan in connection with applications to the Commissioner of Financial Regulation relating to financial services for purposes of providing safe and sound loans, and other financial products for low-and moderate-income individuals and communities and other distressed or underserved individuals and communities; requiring the Commissioner to exercise certain oversight authority relating to the adequacy of the community benefit plans and attainment of goals; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Samuel Rosenberg
Withdrawn By Sponsor on 02/10/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Data Brokers - Registry and Gross Income Tax (Building Information Guardrails Data Act of 2025) [HB-1089]
Establishing the Privacy Protection and Enforcement Unit within the Division of Consumer Protection in the Office of the Attorney General; establishing a data broker registry; requiring certain data brokers to register each year with the Comptroller; imposing a tax on the gross income of certain data brokers for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026; requiring the revenue from the data broker tax be used by Maryland Public Television to provide digital literacy support to students in kindergarten through 12th grade; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Jared Solomon
Hearing 2/25 At 1:00 P.m. (economic Matters) on 02/06/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Homeowners Associations - Reserve Funding Requirements - Exemption [HB-1041]
Providing an exemption to reserve funding requirements for homeowners associations that experience exigent financial circumstances, subject to certain requirements; establishing that a violation of the Act is an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice; and authorizing a certain lot owner to file an action against the governing body of a homeowners association.
Sponsored by: Rep. Denise Roberts
First Reading Environment And Transportation on 02/05/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Consumer Protection - Agricultural Equipment Warranties [SB-990]
Requiring, to make a claim under a warranty for certain agricultural equipment, a consumer to provide written notice to a certain parties to report a nonconformity, defect, or condition occurring in certain agricultural equipment; requiring certain parties to correct the nonconformity, defect, or condition in a certain manner; requiring certain parties to provide a consumer with the opportunity to replace agricultural equipment or receive a refund under certain circumstances; and applying the Act prospectively.
Sponsored by: Sen. Jason Gallion
Hearing 3/11 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/04/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
No Tax on Tips Act [SB-823]
Establishing consumer protections related to service fees charged by food service facilities; specifying the State minimum wage rate; prohibiting, beginning July 1, 2028, employers of tipped employees from including a tip credit amount as part of the employees' wages; allowing a subtraction under the State income tax for certain qualified tips received by certain individuals; and allowing a person a credit against the State income tax for certain amounts paid to an employee based on the payment of certain wages and tips.
Sponsored by: Sen. Cory McCray
Hearing 3/05 At 1:00 P.m. (finance) on 02/06/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Business Regulation - Electronic Smoking Devices Manufacturers - Certifications [SB-918]
Authorizing the Executive Director of the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission and the Attorney General to take certain action relating to the licensure of certain electronic smoking devices manufacturers, wholesalers, importers, and retailers and vape shop vendors in certain circumstances; requiring an electronic smoking devices manufacturer to execute and deliver a certain certification to the Attorney General each year; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Dawn Gile
Hearing 2/27 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/06/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Electronic Payment Transactions - Interchange Fees - Calculation and Use of Data [SB-917]
Requiring certain entities that process electronic payment transactions to exclude, under certain circumstances, the amount of tax and gratuity included in the electronic payment transaction from the amount on which an interchange fee is charged; requiring certain credit and debit card issuers to credit a merchant who provides certain documentation with the amount of the interchange fee charged on the amount of tax and gratuity included in an electronic payment transaction; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Benjamin Kramer
Withdrawn By Sponsor on 03/10/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Data Brokers - Registry and Gross Income Tax (Building Information Guardrails Data Act of 2025) [SB-904]
Establishing the Privacy Protection and Enforcement Unit within the Division of Consumer Protection in the Office of the Attorney General; establishing a data broker registry; requiring certain data brokers to register each year with the Comptroller; and imposing a tax on the gross income of certain data brokers for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026.
Sponsored by: Sen. James Rosapepe
Hearing 3/05 At 1:00 P.m. (budget And Taxation) on 02/05/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Veterans Benefits Matters – Claim Servicers – Prohibitions and Requirements [SB-928]
Establishing prohibitions and requirements regarding compensation for certain services related to veterans benefits matters; prohibiting a person that is not V.A. accredited from making certain guarantees; providing for the enforcement of the Act under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act; and repealing certain advertising and disclosure requirements for veterans benefits services and veterans benefits appeals services.
Sponsored by: Sen. William Smith
Hearing 2/27 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/06/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Insurance - Enforcement, Impaired Entities, Homeowner's Insurance Policies, and Unfair Claim Settlement Practices - Revisions [SB-893]
Establishing and altering requirements governing the regulation of insurance in the State, including requirements related to reviews and examinations undertaken by the Maryland Insurance Commissioner, premium discounts, the temporary suspension of writing new homeowner's insurance policies, and claims handling; providing that certain insurers may be subject to additional market conduct examinations under certain circumstances; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Nick Charles
Hearing 3/05 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/06/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Consumer Protection - Right to Repair - Farm Equipment [HB-842]
Requiring a farm equipment manufacturer to make available certain documentation, updates, or information to an independent repair provider or owner of farm equipment to allow for the diagnosis, maintenance, or repair of the farm equipment; prohibiting a farm equipment manufacturer from knowingly misrepresenting or withholding farm equipment part numbers from a customer for a certain purpose; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Jeff Ghrist
First Reading Economic Matters on 01/29/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Residential Leases - Use of Algorithmic Device by Landlord to Determine Rent - Prohibition [HB-817]
Prohibiting a landlord from using certain algorithmic devices to determine the amount of rent to charge a residential tenant; making a violation of the Act an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act; and applying the Act prospectively.
Sponsored by: Rep. Julie Palakovich Carr
First Reading Environment And Transportation on 01/29/2025
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Maryland 2025 Regular Session
Consumer Protection - Motor Vehicles - Right to Repair [HB-843]
Requiring a manufacturer of certain motor vehicles to provide certain information and tools related to the diagnosis, service, and repair of motor vehicles to certain owners and independent repair facilities under certain circumstances; requiring a manufacturer that sells motor vehicles with telematics systems to install an open data platform in certain motor vehicles; requiring the Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General to develop a certain document relating to telematics systems and certain consumer rights; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Jeff Ghrist
First Reading Economic Matters on 01/29/2025