Unfair Trade Practices
Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Consumer Protection – Self–Administered Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits [HB-1047]
Providing that a party in a criminal trial involving an allegation of sexually assaultive behavior may not introduce information that physical evidence of sexually assaultive behavior was obtained using certain materials; providing that selling, offering for sale, or distributing a certain self-administered sexual assault evidence collection kit is an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice; establishing the Forensic Nurse Examiner Training Grant Program and the Forensic Nurse Examiner Training Grant Program Fund; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Frank Conaway
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 262 on 04/25/2024
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Gettr Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Financial Institutions - Community Benefit Plan Act of 2024 [HB-1135]
Requiring certain regulated financial institutions to develop a community benefit plan in connection with certain applications to the Commissioner of Financial Regulation relating to financial services; requiring the Commissioner to exercise certain oversight authority relating to the adequacy of the community benefit plans and attainment of goals under the plans; establishing the Community Reinvestment Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund to finance certain community development activities; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Melissa Wells
Withdrawn By Sponsor on 03/04/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Consumer Protection - Automatic Renewals [HB-1049]
Requiring a person who makes an automatic renewal offer to consumers to allow a consumer to cancel the automatic renewal in a certain manner; requiring automatic renewal offers to be displayed in a certain manner and contain certain information; establishing that compliance with certain regulations shall be considered to be compliance with the Act; and establishing that a violation of the Act is an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice.
Sponsored by: Rep. Andrew Pruski
Referred Finance on 03/18/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Consumer Protection - Self-Administered Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits [SB-949]
Providing that a party in a criminal trial involving an allegation of sexually assaultive behavior may not introduce information that physical evidence of sexually assaultive behavior was obtained using certain materials; providing that selling, offering for sale, or distributing a certain self-administered sexual assault evidence collection kit is an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice; establishing the Forensic Nurse Examiner Training Grant Program and the Forensic Nurse Examiner Training Grant Program Fund; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Shelly Hettleman
Third Reading Passed (45-2) on 04/08/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Consumer Protection - Automatic Renewals [SB-1040]
Requiring a person who makes an automatic renewal offer to consumers to allow a consumer to cancel the automatic renewal in a certain manner; requiring automatic renewal offers to be displayed in a certain manner and contain certain information; and establishing that a violation of the Act is an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice.
Sponsored by: Sen. Clarence Lam
Hearing 3/13 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/06/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Retail Choice Customer Education and Protection Fund - Purposes and Uses [SB-918]
Changing the name of the Retail Choice Customer Education and Protection Fund to the Education and Protection Fund; and modifying the purpose and uses of the Fund to include educating certain customers on certain energy choices and developing a certain training and educational program for persons licensed by the Public Service Commission as electricity suppliers or gas suppliers.
Sponsored by: Sen. Benjamin Brooks
Hearing Canceled on 02/28/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Health Care Facilities – Notice to Consumers – Out–of–Network Status (Health Care Provider Out–of–Network Information Act) [SB-1104]
Requiring out-of-network health care facilities to provide certain information to a consumer and obtain certain consent before providing a health care service; requiring that certain out-of-network status information be provided in a certain consent form; prohibiting an out-of-network health care facility from charging, billing, or attempting to collect an amount in excess of the consumer's in-network cost unless the consumer is provided certain notice and provided consent; and making a violation of this Act an unfair trade practice.
Sponsored by: No sponsors
Withdrawn By Sponsor on 03/11/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
State Board of Pharmacy - Prohibition on Discrimination Against 340B Drug Distribution [SB-986]
Prohibiting a 340B manufacturer from taking certain direct or indirect actions to limit or restrict the acquisition or delivery of a 340B drug; making a violation of the Act an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice within the meaning of the Consumer Protection Act; and requiring the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board to conduct a study of the 340B Program and report its findings and recommendations to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Health and Government Operations Committee on or before July 1, 2026.
Sponsored by: Sen. Clarence Lam
Referred Rules And Executive Nominations on 04/06/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Real Property – Contracts of Sale – Title Report Requirement [SB-962]
Requiring the seller of any real property to provide a title report to the buyer prior to closing; permitting a buyer to rescind a contract of sale for real property under certain circumstances; and providing that a violation of the Act is an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice.
Sponsored by: Sen. Justin Ready
Hearing 3/07 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/07/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Consumer Protection - Retail Sales of Gift Cards (Gift Card Scams Prevention Act of 2024) [HB-896]
Prohibiting a merchant from selling a certain open- or closed-loop gift card to a consumer unless the merchant meets certain requirements; requiring a merchant to provide to the employees of the merchant training on identification of gift card fraud; requiring the Division of Consumer Protection to create a certain notice and issue certain guidelines regarding gift card fraud; requiring a certain third-party gift card reseller to record and maintain a copy of certain information for at least 3 years: etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Vaughn Stewart
Senate Conference Committee Appointed (senators Kramer, Hayes And Mautz) on 04/08/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Internet-Connected Devices and Internet Service Providers - Default Filtering of Obscene Content (Maryland Online Child Protection Act) [SB-780]
Prohibiting a person from selling an Internet-connected device that is intended for minors unless the device is sold with a certain filter, certain privacy settings, and other features; making a violation of the prohibition an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice that is subject to the enforcement and penalties under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act; requiring that preference be given to certain grant applications that include the use of broadband providers that implement the use of certain filters; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Charles Muse
Hearing 3/13 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/06/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Consumer Protection - Retail Sales of Gift Cards (Gift Card Scams Prevention Act of 2024) [SB-760]
Prohibiting a merchant from selling a certain open- or closed-loop gift card to a consumer unless the merchant meets certain requirements; requiring a certain merchant to provide training to all employees of the merchant on identifying and responding to gift card fraud; requiring the Division of Consumer Protection to create a certain notice and issue certain guidelines regarding gift card fraud; requiring a certain third-party gift card reseller to record and maintain a copy of certain information for at least 3 years; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Benjamin Kramer
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 463 on 05/09/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Internet–Connected Devices and Internet Service Providers – Default Filtering of Obscene Content (Maryland Online Child Protection Act) [HB-772]
Prohibiting a person from selling an Internet-connected device that is intended for minors unless the device is sold with a certain filter, certain privacy settings, and other features; making a violation of the prohibition an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice that is subject to the enforcement and penalties under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act; requiring that preference be given to certain grant applications that include the use of broadband providers that implement the use of certain filters; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Shaneka Henson
Hearing Canceled on 02/02/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Consumer Protection - Notice to Consumers by Manufacturers and Dealers of Motor Vehicles [HB-695]
Requiring a dealer of used motor vehicles sold or leased in the State to establish procedures under which each consumer, before completing a transaction to purchase or lease a used motor vehicle from the dealer, is notified and provided with a copy of certain information pertaining to the condition of the motor vehicle and any manufacturer adjustment program applicable to the motor vehicle being purchased or leased by the consumer; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Heather Bagnall
Withdrawn By Sponsor on 03/12/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Courts - Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation [SB-568]
Altering the conditions under which a lawsuit is considered a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP suit); altering the conditions under which a defendant in a SLAPP suit is not civilly liable for certain communications; establishing certain standards and requirements relating to a motion to dismiss an alleged SLAPP suit; and applying the Act prospectively.
Sponsored by: Sen. Shelly Hettleman
Hearing 2/20 At 1:00 P.m. on 01/31/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Consumer Protection – Online Products and Services – Data of Children (Maryland Kids Code) [SB-571]
Requiring a covered entity that offers an online product reasonably likely to be accessed by children to complete a certain data protection impact assessment on or before April 1, 2026, under certain circumstances; requiring certain privacy protections for certain online products; prohibiting certain data collection and sharing practices; authorizing certain monitoring practices to allow a child's parent or guardian to monitor the child's online activity or location without providing an obvious signal to the child; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Chris West
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 460 on 05/09/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Consumer Protection and Debt Collection - Exemptions From Attachment and Requirements on Judgment Creditors [HB-661]
Altering the amount of wages of a judgment debtor that are exempt from attachment; establishing and altering certain requirements on judgment creditors; making a violation of certain requirements on judgment creditors relating to a judgment arising out of a consumer transaction an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice that is subject to enforcement and penalties under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act; making certain conduct a prohibited debt collection practice; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Lorig Charkoudian
Withdrawn By Sponsor on 03/14/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Consumer Protection - Credit or Debit Card Surcharges - Limitation [SB-520]
Prohibiting a retail business from charging a consumer a certain surcharge in excess of the amount required to reimburse the retail business for the cost of processing certain credit or debit transactions; and making a violation of this Act an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice that is subject to enforcement and penalties under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act.
Sponsored by: Sen. Cory McCray
First Reading Finance on 01/24/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Maryland Online Data Privacy Act of 2024 [HB-567]
Establishing generally the manner in which a controller or a processor may process a consumer's personal data; authorizing a consumer to exercise certain rights in regards to the consumer's personal data; requiring a controller of personal data to establish a method for a consumer to exercise certain rights in regards to the consumer's personal data; making a violation of the Act an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice that is subject to enforcement and penalties under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Anne Kaiser
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 454 on 05/09/2024
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Maryland 2024 Regular Session
Consumer Protection - Online Products and Services - Data of Children (Maryland Kids Code) [HB-603]
Requiring a certain entity that offers an online product reasonably likely to be accessed by children to complete a certain data protection impact assessment by April 1, 2026, under certain circumstances; requiring certain privacy protections for certain online products; prohibiting certain data collection and sharing practices; authorizing certain monitoring practices to allow a child's parent or guardian to monitor the child's online activity or location without providing an obvious signal to the child; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. C.T. Wilson
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 461 on 05/09/2024