HB 526

Did not advance

Civil Actions - Settlement Agreements - Payment and Release

Sponsor: Aaron M. Kaufman (District 18)Committee: JudiciarySubject: Civil Actions and ProceduresStatus: Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring a settling defendant in a tort action for money damages to provide a proposed release to a plaintiff within 10 days and to pay all sums due to a plaintiff under a settlement agreement within 15 days; providing for the protection by a plaintiff of certain third-party rights of recovery or subrogation; and establishing the accrual of interest on settlement sums under certain circumstances.

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Testimony (20)

MGA witness list

FAV 6FavorableFWA 1Favorable with amendmentsUNF 13Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Tolley, George	Dugan, Babij, Tolley & Kohler, LLC	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Dodge, Alison	MD Association for Justice	Written (PDF)
FAV	Thronson, Patrick	Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman	Oral
FAV	Miller, Ansar	Yara’s Place	Oral
FAV	Delegate Kaufman, Delegate Kaufmanlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Kaufman, Aaron	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Pachman, Laurenlobbyist	Allstate	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Egan, Nancylobbyist	American Property & Casualty Insurance Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Popham, Brysonlobbyist	Bryson F. Popham, P.A.	Written (PDF)
UNF	Braun, Alexislobbyist	MEDICAL MUTUAL/Professionals Advocate	Written (PDF)
UNF	Sample, Sarah	Maryland Association of Counties	Written (PDF)
UNF	Enten, Robert	Maryland Bankers Association	Oral
UNF	Wiggins, Grasonlobbyist	Maryland Chamber of Commerce	Oral
UNF	Nesbitt, Nichole	Maryland Defense Counsel	Oral
UNF	Collins, Carvillelobbyist	Maryland Employers for Civil Justice Reform Coalition	Oral
UNF	Whitaker, Jakelobbyist	Maryland Hospital Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Themelis, Nina	Mayor's Office of Government Relations	Written (PDF)
UNF	Rotunno, Ginalobbyist	NAMIC	Written (PDF)
UNF	Wise, Steve	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Bailey Thupari, Angelica	Maryland Municipal League	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

AllstateUNF 1

American Property & Casualty Insurance AssociationUNF 1

Bryson F. Popham, P.A.UNF 1

Dugan, Babij, Tolley & Kohler, LLCFAV 1

Maryland Association of CountiesUNF 1

Maryland Bankers AssociationUNF 1

Maryland Chamber of CommerceUNF 1

Maryland Defense CounselUNF 1

Maryland Employers for Civil Justice Reform CoalitionUNF 1

Maryland Hospital AssociationUNF 1

Maryland Municipal LeagueFWA 1

Mayor's Office of Government RelationsUNF 1

MD Association for JusticeFAV 1

MEDICAL MUTUAL/Professionals AdvocateUNF 1

NAMICUNF 1

Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & NormanFAV 1

Yara’s PlaceFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

UNFPachman, LaurenAllstateRegistered for: Allstate Insurance Company

UNFEgan, NancyAmerican Property & Casualty Insurance AssociationRegistered for: American Property Casualty Insurance Association

UNFPopham, BrysonBryson F. Popham, P.A.Registered for: Agency Insurance Company of Maryland; Agency Services, Inc.; Army Alliance; Bryson F. Popham P.A.; Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Baltimore (BOMA); CVS Health…

UNFBraun, AlexisMEDICAL MUTUAL/Professionals AdvocateRegistered for: Medical Mutual Liability Insurance Society of Maryland

UNFWiggins, GrasonMaryland Chamber of CommerceRegistered for: Maryland Chamber of Commerce; United Way of Central Maryland, Inc.; Madison Marquette Property Investments LLC; Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund; Family Tree, The; OVG Facilities…

UNFCollins, CarvilleMaryland Employers for Civil Justice Reform CoalitionRegistered for: Artesian Resources Corporation; Columbia Gas of Maryland; Maryland Employers for Civil Justice Reform Coalition; Pepco Holdings, LLC.; Health Facilities Association of Maryland; General Motors LLC…

UNFWhitaker, JakeMaryland Hospital AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Hospital Association

UNFRotunno, GinaNAMICRegistered for: National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC)