summary
Introduced
01/14/2026
01/14/2026
In Committee
01/14/2026
01/14/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Prohibiting a merchant, in a certain transaction, from prohibiting a person from making a cash payment to purchase a good or service; requiring a person to purchase a good or service by using a credit or debit card, or charging or collecting from a person a fee for making a cash payment for the purchase of a good or service; and establishing that a violation of the Act is an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice subject to certain enforcement and penalty provisions under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act.
AI Summary
This bill, titled "Consumer Protection - Retail Transactions - Cash Payments," aims to protect consumers by ensuring they can use cash for certain purchases. It amends existing Maryland law to classify prohibiting cash payments, requiring credit or debit card use, or charging extra fees for cash payments as an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice. This applies to in-person retail transactions between $5 and $300, excluding telephone, mail, internet, or parking transactions. A "merchant" is defined as a business as per existing law. While violations are generally treated as deceptive trade practices, the Division of Consumer Protection must give a merchant at least two chances to comply before imposing fines, starting at up to $5,000 for a first offense after warnings, and up to $10,000 for subsequent offenses. These fines are civil penalties. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2026.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
House Economic Matters Hearing (13:00:00 2/10/2026 ) (on 02/10/2026)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0191?ys=2026RS |
| BillText | https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0191f.pdf |
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