HB 191

Enacted

Consumer Protection - Retail Transactions for Essential Consumer Goods - Cash Payments

Sponsor: Greg Wims (District 39)Committee: Economic MattersSubject: Commercial Law - Consumer ProtectionStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 714 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Prohibiting a merchant, in a certain transaction between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., from prohibiting a person from making a cash payment to purchase an essential consumer good, requiring a person to purchase an essential consumer good by using a credit or debit card, or charging or collecting from a person a higher price than for an equivalent cashless transaction for making a cash payment for the purchase of an essential consumer good; establishing that a violation of the Act is an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice; etc.

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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (31)

MGA witness list

FAV 22FavorableFWA 2Favorable with amendmentsUNF 6UnfavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Westrick, Saralobbyist	AARP Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Westrick, Saralobbyist	AARP Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Glassman, Vidal	CASA	Written (PDF)
FAV	Muckle, Lonialobbyist	CASH Campaign of Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Muckle, Lonialobbyist	CASH Campaign of Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	White, Marcelinelobbyist	Economic Action Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	White, Marcelinelobbyist	Economic Action Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Chertoff, Meryl	Georgetown Project in State and Local Government Policy and Law	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schumitz, Kalilobbyist	Maryland Center on Economic Policy	Written (PDF)
FAV	Steinwedel, William	Maryland Legal Aid Bureau	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Steinwedel, William	Maryland Legal Aid Bureau	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Barre, Mumin	Individual	Position only
FAV	Blank, Pablo	Individual	Oral
FAV	Delegate Wims, Delegate Wimslegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Delegate Wims, Delegate Wimslegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Hamilton, Rebecca	Individual	Position only
FAV	Harris, Lynne	Individual	Oral
FAV	Harris, Lynne	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hayes, Craig	Individual	Position only
FAV	Latino Caucus, Maryland Legislative	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Rosa, Richard	Individual	Position only
FAV	Tibbals, Trudy	Individual	Position only
UNF	Rohrer, Amy	Maryland Hotel Lodging Association	Written (PDF)
UNF	locklair, caileylobbyist	Maryland Retailers Association	Oral
UNF	locklair, caileylobbyist	Maryland Retailers Association	Oral
UNF	Thompson, Melvinlobbyist	Restaurant Association of Maryland	Written (PDF)
UNF	Libber, Matt	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Regnante, Charleslobbyist	Individual	Oral
FWA	Sakamoto-Wengel, Steve	Consumer Protection Division	Written (PDF)
FWA	Wims, Delegate	Individual	Written (PDF)
INFO	Sakamoto-Wengel, Steve	Consumer Protection Division	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

AARP MarylandFAV 2

CASAFAV 1

CASH Campaign of MarylandFAV 2

Consumer Protection DivisionFWA 1INFO 1

Economic Action MarylandFAV 2

Georgetown Project in State and Local Government Policy and LawFAV 1

Maryland Center on Economic PolicyFAV 1

Maryland Hotel Lodging AssociationUNF 1

Maryland Legal Aid BureauFAV 2

Maryland Retailers AssociationUNF 2

Restaurant Association of MarylandUNF 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVWestrick, SaraAARP MarylandRegistered for: AARP Maryland

FAVMuckle, LoniaCASH Campaign of MarylandRegistered for: CASH Campaign of Maryland

FAVWhite, MarcelineEconomic Action MarylandRegistered for: Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition DBA Economic Action Maryland; Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition

FAVSchumitz, KaliMaryland Center on Economic PolicyRegistered for: Maryland Center on Economic Policy

UNFlocklair, caileyMaryland Retailers AssociationRegistered for: HPSO Investments LLC, T/A Riverboat on the Potomac; Maryland Retailers Alliance; Maryland Retailers Association

UNFThompson, MelvinRestaurant Association of MarylandRegistered for: Restaurant Association of Maryland

UNFRegnante, CharlesRegistered for: Health and Fitness Association, The