Commercial Law - Nondisparagement Clauses in Consumer Contracts - Prohibition [HB-131]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Law Enforcement ]
Prohibiting a contract or a proposed contract for the sale or lease of consumer goods or services from including a provision waiving the consumer's right to make a specified statement; prohibiting a person from threatening or seeking enforcement of a specified contract provision; prohibiting a person from penalizing a consumer for making a specified statement; providing that the Act does not limit a person from including in a specified contract a provision prohibiting a consumer from making specified disclosures; etc.
HB-131: Commercial Law - Nondisparagement Clauses in Consumer Contracts - Prohibition
Sponsored by: Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 96 on 04/12/2016
Gas and Electric Companies - Retail Choice Customer Education and Protection Fund [HB-1144]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Energy ]
[Public Safety ]
Establishing the Retail Choice Customer Education and Protection Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund; specifying the purpose of the Fund; requiring the Public Service Commission to administer the Fund; requiring the State Treasurer to hold the Fund and the Comptroller to account for the Fund; specifying the contents of the Fund; specifying the purpose for which the Fund may be used; providing for the investment of money in and expenditures from the Fund; requiring that specified civil penalties be paid into the Fund; etc.
HB-1144: Gas and Electric Companies - Retail Choice Customer Education and Protection Fund
Sponsored by: Rep. Warren Miller
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 134 on 04/12/2016
Environment - Mattress Stewardship Program [HB-1117]
[Environmental ]
[Waste Management / Recycling ]
[Consumer Protection ]
Requiring specified producers or a representative organization to submit a plan for the establishment of a Mattress Stewardship Program to the Department of the Environment on or before July 1, 2017, and in accordance with specified requirements; requiring the Department to review and approve specified plans,including a specified assessment, submitted in accordance with the Mattress Stewardship Program; prohibiting the sale of specified mattresses under specified circumstances beginning October 1, 2017; etc.
HB-1117: Environment - Mattress Stewardship Program
Sponsored by: Rep. Frank Turner
Hearing 3/04 At 1:00 P.m. (environment And Transportation) on 03/04/2016
Commercial Sale of Dogs and Cats - Prohibited Acts (Companion Animal Welfare Act) [HB-1113]
[Animals ]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Public Safety ]
[Law Enforcement ]
Prohibiting the sale, transfer, offer to sell or transfer, barter, trade, or auction of dogs and cats at specified locations; authorizing animal control officers and officers of specified humane organizations to enforce specified provisions of the Act; providing that a retail pet store may only offer for sale a dog or cat obtained from specified persons; requiring a retail pet store to post on each dog's cage specified information and maintain a record that includes information about the breeder or dealer, if applicable; etc.
HB-1113: Commercial Sale of Dogs and Cats - Prohibited Acts (Companion Animal Welfare Act)
Sponsored by: Sen. William Smith
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 573 on 05/19/2016
Business Regulation - Sales of Dogs and Cats - Required Health Certificate [HB-111]
[Animals ]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Public Health ]
[Small Business ]
Requiring a specified person who sells a dog or cat to provide the purchaser with a health certificate issued by a veterinarian not more than 30 days before the date of sale; requiring a person who sells a dog or cat to disclose specified health information about the dog or cat to a purchaser; establishing a penalty of a fine not to exceed $1,000 for a violation of the Act; providing that a person may bring a specified action for damages under specified circumstances; etc.
HB-111: Business Regulation - Sales of Dogs and Cats - Required Health Certificate
Sponsored by: Rep. C. William Frick
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters on 02/23/2016
HB-255: Unfair or deceptive trade practices, by certain new vehicle manufacturers and distributors, to exempt certain manufacturers and distributors of certain engines for certain weight, Sec. 8-20-4 am'd.
Sponsored by: Rep. Ronald Johnson
Signature Requested on 05/04/2016
You have voted HB-255: Unfair or deceptive trade practices, by certain new vehicle manufacturers and distributors, to exempt certain manufacturers and distributors of certain engines for certain weight, Sec. 8-20-4 am'd..
Maryland Locksmith Act - Public Lists of Licensees - Remedies for Violations [SB-936]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Labor, Jobs, Employment ]
[Public Safety ]
[Technology and Innovation ]
[Cybersecurity ]
[Law Enforcement ]
Requiring Internet Web sites and electronic mail to contain specified information about licensed locksmiths under specified circumstances; requiring advertisements, directories of service providers, or search result information to include specified information about licensed locksmiths; requiring advertisers, directory publishers, or search result providers to verify with the Secretary of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation specified information under specified circumstances; etc.
SB-936: Maryland Locksmith Act - Public Lists of Licensees - Remedies for Violations
Sponsored by: Sen. Katherine Klausmeier
Hearing 4/02 At 1:00 P.m. on 04/02/2015
Commercial Law - Consumer Protection - Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, Distributors, and Factory Branches [SB-587]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Transportation and Motor Vehicles ]
Prohibiting a motor vehicle manufacturer, distributor, or factory branch from committing specified acts relating to motor vehicle pricing; requiring a manufacturer, distributor, or factory branch to ensure that any advertisement it directs to consumers relating to rebate and sales incentive claims meets specified requirements; prohibiting a manufacturer, distributor, or factory branch from taking specified punitive or retaliatory actions against specified persons; etc.
SB-587: Commercial Law - Consumer Protection - Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, Distributors, and Factory Branches
Sponsored by: Sen. Thomas Middleton
Hearing 3/05 At 1:00 P.m. (finance) on 03/05/2015
Vehicle Laws - Dealers - Financing or Leasing Agreements [SB-298]
[Transportation and Motor Vehicles ]
[Consumer Protection ]
Requiring that a specified notice be provided to a buyer purchasing a vehicle though dealer-arranged financing or leasing before approval of a third-party financial institution has been received; requiring a dealer to notify a buyer in writing if the terms of a specified financing or lease agreement are not approved by a third party finance source within 4 days of delivery of the vehicle to the buyer; requiring a buyer to return a vehicle to a dealer within 2 days of receipt of the written notice under specified circumstances; etc.
SB-298: Vehicle Laws - Dealers - Financing or Leasing Agreements
Sponsored by: Sen. Wayne Norman
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 156 on 05/12/2015
Commercial Law - Consumer Protection - "Mug Shot" Web Sites [HB-744]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Data Privacy ]
[Law Enforcement ]
[Public Safety ]
[Technology and Innovation ]
Authorizing an individual to request an operator of a Web site to remove the individual's photograph or digital image from the operator's Web site under specified circumstances; requiring an individual to make a specified request for removal of a photograph or digital image in a specified manner; requiring an operator of a Web site to remove the photograph or digital image of an individual within 30 days and to send a specified written confirmation within 5 business days, under specified circumstances; etc.
HB-744: Commercial Law - Consumer Protection - "Mug Shot" Web Sites
Sponsored by: Rep. Frank Conaway
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 453 on 05/12/2015
Commercial Law - Consumer Protection - Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, Distributors, and Factory Branches [HB-568]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Transportation and Motor Vehicles ]
Prohibiting a motor vehicle manufacturer, distributor, or factory branch from committing specified acts relating to motor vehicle pricing; requiring a manufacturer, distributor, or factory branch to ensure that any advertisement it directs to consumers relating to rebate and sales incentive claims meets specified requirements; prohibiting a manufacturer, distributor, or factory branch from taking specified punitive or retaliatory actions against specified persons; etc.
HB-568: Commercial Law - Consumer Protection - Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, Distributors, and Factory Branches
Sponsored by: Rep. Kumar Barve
Unfavorable Report By Environment And Transportation on 04/10/2015
Telephone Communications Consumer Protection Act [HB-504]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Telecommunications ]
[Data Privacy ]
Prohibiting a person from recording a specified telephone conversation with a consumer under specified circumstances; prohibiting a person from discontinuing a telephone conversation with a consumer on the basis that the consumer has not consented to the recording of the telephone conversation for the purpose of quality assurance; etc.
Consumer Protection - Required Disclosure of Social Security Number - Prohibition [HB-416]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Data Privacy ]
[Social Security ]
Prohibiting a person from requiring a consumer to disclose the consumer's Social Security number to the person as a condition for the purchase or lease of consumer goods or consumer services; providing that the Act does not prohibit a person from requesting or requiring a consumer to disclose the consumer's Social Security number to apply for or obtain an extension of consumer credit; etc.
HB-416: Consumer Protection - Required Disclosure of Social Security Number - Prohibition
Sponsored by: Rep. Glen Glass
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters; Withdrawn on 02/23/2015
Business Regulation - Sales of Dogs and Cats - Required Health Certificate [HB-403]
[Animals ]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Small Business ]
[Public Health ]
Requiring a specified person who sells a dog or cat to provide the purchaser with a health certificate issued by a veterinarian not more than 30 days before the date of sale; requiring a person who sells a dog or cat to disclose specified health information about the dog or cat to a purchaser; providing that false or misleading statements in a health certificate for a dog or cat for sale is an unfair or deceptive trade practice; and providing for specified penalties for specified violations.
HB-403: Business Regulation - Sales of Dogs and Cats - Required Health Certificate
Sponsored by: Sen. William Smith
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters on 03/17/2015
Vehicle Laws - Dealers - Financing or Leasing Agreements [HB-313]
[Transportation and Motor Vehicles ]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Finance ]
Requiring that a specified notice be provided to a buyer purchasing a vehicle through dealer-arranged financing or leasing before approval of a third-party financial institution has been received; requiring a dealer to notify a buyer in writing if the terms of a specified financing or lease agreement are not approved by a third-party finance source within 4 days of delivery of the vehicle to the buyer; requiring a buyer to return a vehicle to a dealer within 2 days of receipt of the notice under specified circumstances; etc.
HB-313: Vehicle Laws - Dealers - Financing or Leasing Agreements
Sponsored by: Sen. Pamela Beidle
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 157 on 05/12/2015
Maryland Locksmith Act - Public Lists of Licensees - Remedies for Violations [HB-1255]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Labor, Jobs, Employment ]
[Law Enforcement ]
[Public Safety ]
Requiring Internet Web sites and emails to contain specified information about licensed locksmiths under specified circumstances; requiring advertisements, directories of service providers, or search result information to include specified information about licensed locksmiths; requiring advertisers, directory publishers, or search result providers to verify with the Secretary of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation specified information under specified circumstances; etc.
HB-1255: Maryland Locksmith Act - Public Lists of Licensees - Remedies for Violations
Sponsored by: Rep. Richard Impallaria
First Reading House Rules And Executive Nominations on 03/06/2015
Consumer Protection - Monitoring Consumer Behavior and Shopping Habits - Required Notice [HB-1094]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Technology and Innovation ]
[Data Privacy ]
Prohibiting a merchant from using specified technology to monitor the behavior or shopping habits of a specified consumer unless the merchant provides a specified notice in a specified manner; providing that a violation of the Act is an unfair or deceptive trade practice under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act and is subject to specified enforcement and penalty provisions; providing for the application of the Act; etc.
Homeowner's Insurance and Renter's Insurance - Adjustment and Settlement Practices [HB-1012]
[Insurance ]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Housing ]
Requiring insurers that provide homeowner's insurance and renter's insurance in the State to employ specified adjusters in the State for specified purposes; prohibiting an adjuster who is employed by an insurer from making specified representations; prohibiting a public adjuster whom a specified insurer engages from making specified representations; prohibiting a specified insurer from misrepresenting or allowing specified adjusters to misrepresent a specified relationship; etc.
HB-1012: Homeowner's Insurance and Renter's Insurance - Adjustment and Settlement Practices
Sponsored by: Rep. Samuel Rosenberg
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters on 03/20/2015
Consumer Protection - Monitoring Consumer Behavior and Shopping Habits - Required Notice [SB-950]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Data Privacy ]
[Technology and Innovation ]
Prohibiting a merchant from using a wireless Internet signal or a cellular phone to monitor the behavior or shopping habits of a specified consumer unless the merchant displays at each entrance to the merchant's business premises a specified notice in a specified manner; providing that a violation of the Act is an unfair or deceptive trade practice under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act and is subject to specified enforcement and penalty provisions; etc.
Libraries - Electronic Book Licenses and Sales - Discriminatory Practices [SB-776]
[Libraries ]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Technology and Innovation ]
[Media and Advertising ]
Requiring a person who offers to license or sell an electronic book to consumers in the State to offer to license or sell the electronic book to libraries in the State; prohibiting a person who licenses or sells or offers to license or sell an electronic book to consumers in the State from licensing or selling or offering to license or sell an electronic book to libraries in the State above a specified price; etc.
SB-776: Libraries - Electronic Book Licenses and Sales - Discriminatory Practices
Sponsored by: Sen. Karen Montgomery
Unfavorable Report By Finance; Withdrawn on 03/31/2014