HB 1250

Consumer Protection and Product Liability - Chatbots

Sponsor: Lily Qi (District 15)Committee: Economic MattersSubject: Commercial Law - Consumer ProtectionStatus: Hearing 3/03 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Regulating the manner in which a developer designs and creates and an operator makes available to users in the State a chatbot, including establishing safety and privacy protections for users; establishing, an enhanced protection for users who are minors under the age of 13 years; requiring the display of certain warnings when using a chatbot; establishing that a chatbot is considered a product for certain product liability actions; applying certain provisions of the Act to governmental units; etc.

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Testimony (32)

MGA witness list

FAV 14FavorableFWA 3Favorable with amendmentsUNF 14UnfavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Stein, Zachary	AI Psychological Harms Research Coalition	Oral
FAV	Winters, Ben	Consumer Federation of America (CFA)	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Oduro, Serena	Data & Society Research Institute	Oral
FAV	Williams, Kara	Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC)	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Bouffard, Brendan	Fairplay	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Position only
FAV	Minor, Sr., Todd	Matthew E. Minor Awareness Foundation	Written (PDF)
FAV	Geddes, Annlobbyist	Mental Health Association of Maryland	Position only
FAV	mitchell, elizabth	Mothers Against Media Addiction (MAMA)	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Parikh, Riki	The Alliance for Secure AI	Oral
FAV	Bragg, Marie	Individual	Oral
FAV	Delegate Qi, Delegate Qilegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Mauer, William	Individual	Position only
FAV	Yelin, Ben	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Egan, Nancylobbyist	American Property & Casualty Insurance Association	Written (PDF)
UNF	Stokes, Meganlobbyist	CCIA	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Lestock, Jake	CTIA	Written (PDF)
UNF	January, Briannalobbyist	Chamber of Progress	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Gibbons, Jennifer	Entertainment Software Association	Written (PDF)
UNF	Enten, Robert	Maryland Bankers Association	Oral
UNF	Wiggins, Grasonlobbyist	Maryland Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
UNF	locklair, caileylobbyist	Maryland Retailers Association	Oral
UNF	Schulz, Kelly	Maryland Tech Council	Oral
UNF	Zirkle, Andrewlobbyist	Maryland Tech Council	Oral
UNF	Colbert, Renata	Motion Picture Association	Written (PDF)
UNF	Rotunno, Ginalobbyist	NAMIC	Written (PDF)
UNF	Vetter, Drew	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	durkin, margaretlobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Fleckenstein, Charlotte	Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Richards, Evanlobbyist	Maryland Bankers Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Fiore, Justin	Maryland Municipal League	Written (PDF)
INFO	Abrams, Hanna	Individual	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

AI Psychological Harms Research CoalitionFAV 1

American Property & Casualty Insurance AssociationUNF 1

CCIAUNF 1

Chamber of ProgressUNF 1

Consumer Federation of America (CFA)FAV 1

CTIAUNF 1

Data & Society Research InstituteFAV 1

Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC)FAV 1

Entertainment Software AssociationUNF 1

FairplayFAV 1

Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)FWA 1

Maryland Bankers AssociationFWA 1UNF 1

Maryland Chamber of CommerceUNF 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Municipal LeagueFWA 1

Maryland Retailers AssociationUNF 1

Maryland Tech CouncilUNF 2

Matthew E. Minor Awareness FoundationFAV 1

Mental Health Association of MarylandFAV 1

Mothers Against Media Addiction (MAMA)FAV 1

Motion Picture AssociationUNF 1

NAMICUNF 1

The Alliance for Secure AIFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVGeddes, AnnMental Health Association of MarylandRegistered for: Mental Health Association of Maryland; Maryland Coalition of Families

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

UNFStokes, MeganCCIARegistered for: Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA)

UNFJanuary, BriannaChamber of ProgressRegistered for: Chamber of Progress

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…

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

UNFZirkle, AndrewMaryland Tech CouncilRegistered for: Technology Council of Maryland, Inc.

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

UNFdurkin, margaretRegistered for: TechNet

FWARichards, EvanMaryland Bankers AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Bankers Association