Consumer Protection
Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Southern Maryland Code Counties - Towing Companies - Authority to Regulate [HB-1320]
[Transportation and Motor Vehicles ]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Law Enforcement ]
[Public Safety ]
Authorizing the county commissioners of a code county in the Southern Maryland class to adopt rules and regulations for the licensing, maintenance, and operation of towing companies in the county for specified purposes; authorizing the rules and regulations adopted by the county commissioners to require a person who operates a towing company in the county to obtain a license and pay a specified fee; requiring the county commissioners, before adopting regulations, to hold a public hearing that is advertised in advance; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep.
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 735 on 05/25/2017
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Gettr Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Pharmacists - Substitution and Dispensing of Biological Products [HB-1273]
[Healthcare ]
[Pharmaceuticals ]
[Public Health ]
Authorizing a pharmacist to substitute an interchangeable biological product for a prescribed product under specified circumstances; requiring a pharmacist or the pharmacist's designee, except under specified circumstances, to inform specified consumers of the availability of an interchangeable biological product and the approximate cost difference as compared to a specified drug; requiring the State Board of Pharmacy to maintain on its Web site a link to specified lists of biological products; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Nicholaus Kipke
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 726 on 05/25/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Commercial Law - Assertions Made in Bad Faith - Prohibition [HB-1493]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Data Privacy ]
[Disabilities ]
[Technology and Innovation ]
[Law Enforcement ]
[Cybersecurity ]
Prohibiting a person from making in bad faith a specified assertion regarding a Web site or other electronic communication failing to comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act; authorizing a court to consider specified factors as evidence of whether a person has made a specified assertion in bad faith or in good faith; altering the authority of the Division of Consumer Protection of the Office of the Attorney General to take specified actions; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. C.T. Wilson
Hearing 3/08 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/08/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Vehicle Laws - Rental Vehicles - Security [HB-1385]
[Transportation and Motor Vehicles ]
[Insurance ]
[Consumer Protection ]
Establishing that the owner of a rental vehicle may satisfy a specified insurance requirement by maintaining a specified security that is secondary to any other valid and collectible coverage; requiring a motor vehicle rental company to disclose specified information about a person that rents or is authorized to drive a rental vehicle to a specified person under specified circumstances; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Charles Barkley
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters; Withdrawn on 04/10/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Credit Regulation - Unsecured Open End Credit Plans - Fees and Charges [HB-1270]
[Finance ]
[Consumer Protection ]
Providing that specified fees and charges permitted to be imposed on a consumer borrower under an unsecured open end credit plan, when combined with any interest charged under the plan, may not exceed an effective rate of 33% per annum simple interest; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Dana Stein
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 724 on 05/25/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Commercial Law - Consumer Protection - Nontransferable Ticketing Systems [HB-1114]
[Consumer Protection ]
Prohibiting a ticket issuer from using a nontransferable ticketing system except under specified circumstances; prohibiting a purchaser or a seller of a ticket from being penalized, discriminated against, or denied access to an event under specified circumstances; authorizing a ticket issuer, an operator of a venue, or an agent of the operator to maintain and enforce specified policies, establish specified limits, revoke or restrict specified tickets, and opt not to sell tickets in a specified form under specified circumstances; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Talmadge Branch
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters; Withdrawn on 03/18/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Vehicle Laws - Dealers - Performance Standards [HB-1120]
[Transportation and Motor Vehicles ]
[Consumer Protection ]
Establishing that specified provisions of State law governing performance standards for vehicle dealers apply to vehicle manufacturers notwithstanding specified other agreements; requiring that the assignment of a dealer's market area meet specified standards; and requiring vehicle manufacturers to consider specified factors in assigning a market area and applying performance standards, sales objectives, or programs for measuring dealer performance.
Sponsored by: Rep. Dana Stein
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 560 on 05/04/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Real Property - Rent-to-Own Agreements and Contracts - Requirements [HB-1173]
[Real Estate ]
[Housing ]
[Consumer Protection ]
Requiring a landlord who offers a dwelling unit for rent in the State under a rent-to-own agreement on or after October 1, 2017, to use a written lease; prohibiting a landlord from entering into or offering to enter into a rent-to-own agreement with a tenant except under specified circumstances; requiring a specified landlord to deliver a copy of a specified attorney certification to a prospective tenant together with a rent-to-own contract; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Samuel Rosenberg
Unfavorable Report By Environment And Transportation on 03/13/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Health Insurance - Prescription Drugs - Formulary Changes [HB-1128]
[Healthcare ]
[Insurance ]
[Pharmaceuticals ]
Prohibiting insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations from making specified formulary changes during a plan year and the open enrollment period that precedes the plan year; and applying the Act to all policies, contracts, and health benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed in the State on or after October 1, 2017.
Sponsored by: Sen. Ariana Kelly
Unfavorable Report By Health And Government Operations; Withdrawn on 03/14/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Maryland Financial Consumer Protection Commission [HB-1134]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Finance ]
Establishing the Maryland Financial Consumer Protection Commission; providing for the composition, chair, and staffing of the Commission; prohibiting a member of the Commission from receiving specified compensation, but authorizing the reimbursement of specified expenses; and authorizing the Commission to provide specified reports to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Maryland Congressional Delegation under specified circumstances.
Sponsored by: Rep. Kumar Barve
Enacted Under Article Ii, Section 17(c) Of The Maryland Constitution - Chapter 781 on 05/27/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Public Utilities - Telephone Lifeline Service - Revisions [HB-999]
[Telecommunications ]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Human Services ]
[Poverty ]
Providing that a specified local telephone company provide "lifeline" to qualifying low-income consumers under specified circumstances; repealing a requirement that a telephone company charge an eligible subscriber a percentage of a specified tariff under specified circumstances; requiring the Department of Human Resources to provide specified information to local telephone companies to the extent allowed by State law in addition to federal law and until specified eligibility is determined; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Dereck Davis
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 532 on 05/04/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Business Regulation - Home Improvement Contracts [HB-1058]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Construction ]
[Housing ]
[Small Business ]
Increasing from one-third to one half the maximum portion of a home improvement contract price that a person may receive as a deposit before or at the time of execution of a home improvement contract.
Sponsored by: Rep. Christopher Adams
Unfavorable Report By Education, Health, And Environmental Affairs on 04/03/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Commercial Law - Consumer Protection - Door-to-Door Sales [SB-929]
[Consumer Protection ]
Recodifying, in part, the definition of "door-to-door sale" as provisions that establish the application of the Maryland Door-to-Door Sales Act; altering the transactions to which the Maryland Door-to-Door Sales Act applies; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. John Astle
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 93 on 04/11/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Maryland Personal Information Protection Act - Security Breach Notification Requirements - Modifications [HB-965]
[Cybersecurity ]
[Data Privacy ]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Technology and Innovation ]
[Small Business ]
Altering the applicability of specified security breach investigation and notification requirements to specified businesses; authorizing a specified business to elect to provide a specified notification; prohibiting a specified business from charging a specified business a fee for providing information needed to provide a specified notification or requiring or compelling a specified business to make a specified election; prohibiting a specified business from using specified information for specified purposes; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Seth Howard
Hearing 4/04 At 1:00 P.m. on 04/04/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Maryland Financial Consumer Protection Commission [SB-884]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Finance ]
Establishing the Maryland Financial Consumer Protection Commission; providing for the composition, chair, and staffing of the Commission; prohibiting a member of the Commission from receiving specified compensation, but authorizing the reimbursement of specified expenses; authorizing the Commission to provide specified reports to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Maryland Congressional Delegation under specified circumstances; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Delores Kelley
Enacted Under Article Ii, Section 17(b) Of The Maryland Constitution - Chapter 18 on 04/06/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Commercial Law - Consumer Protection - Door-to-Door Sales [HB-959]
[Consumer Protection ]
Recodifying, in part, the definition of "door-to-door sale" as provisions that establish the application of the Maryland Door-to-Door Sales Act; altering the transactions to which the Maryland Door-to-Door Sales Act applies; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Benjamin Kramer
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 94 on 04/11/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Real Property - Mobile Home Parks - Rent Increases [SB-1005]
[Housing ]
[Real Estate ]
[Consumer Protection ]
Requiring a specified owner of a mobile home park to provide written notice of any increase in the annual rent for a site to a specified resident, a specified homeowners association, and the Division of Consumer Protection in the Office of the Attorney General at least 90 days before the effective date of the increase; authorizing an increase in annual rent to exceed an increase in a specified index only under specified circumstances; requiring a park owner to schedule a specified meeting and provide specified information; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. J.B. Jennings
Unfavorable Report By Judicial Proceedings on 04/05/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Pharmacists - Substitution and Dispensing of Biological Products [SB-997]
[Pharmaceuticals ]
[Healthcare ]
[Technology and Innovation ]
[Consumer Protection ]
Authorizing a pharmacist to substitute an interchangeable biological product for the prescribed product under specified circumstances; requiring a pharmacist or the pharmacist's designee, except under specified circumstances, to inform specified consumers of the availability of an interchangeable biological product and the approximate cost difference as compared to a specified drug; requiring the State Board of Pharmacy to maintain on its Web site a link to a specified list of biological products; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Joan Conway
Hearing 3/23 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/23/2018
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Commercial Law - Consumer Protection - Nontransferable Ticketing Systems [SB-892]
[Consumer Protection ]
Prohibiting a ticket issuer from using a nontransferable ticketing system under specified circumstances; prohibiting a purchaser or a seller of a ticket from being penalized, discriminated against, or denied access to an event under specified circumstances; authorizing a ticket issuer, an operator of a venue, or an agent of the operator to maintain and enforce specified policies, establish specified limits, revoke or restrict specified tickets and opt not to sell tickets in a specified form under specified circumstances; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Brian Feldman
Hearing 3/01 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/01/2017
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Maryland 2017 Regular Session
Vehicle Laws - Dealers - Performance Standards [SB-1004]
[Transportation and Motor Vehicles ]
[Consumer Protection ]
Establishing that specified provisions of State law governing performance standards for vehicle dealers apply to vehicle manufacturers notwithstanding specified other agreements; requiring that the assignment of a dealer's market area meet specified standards; and requiring vehicle manufacturers to consider specified factors in assigning a market area and applying performance standards, sales objectives, or programs for measuring dealer performance.
Sponsored by: Sen. Susan Lee
Favorable With Amendments {138774/1 Report Adopted on 04/10/2017