Public Health - Chain Restaurants - Disclosure and Notice to Customers of Sodium and Added Sugars
Sponsor: Alonzo T. Washington (District 22)Committee: FinanceSubject: Public HealthStatus: Conference Committee Appointed (as of Sep 4, 2026)
What this bill does
Official synopsis
Requiring the Maryland Department of Health to direct chain restaurants to its website for the purpose of explaining the purpose of and ho a chain restaurant may comply with certain requirements; and requiring certain chain restaurants to display a certain disclosure and notice regarding food items with a high added sugars content or high sodium content on each menu or menu board beginning January 1, 2027.
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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 (27)
MGA witness listFAV 16FavorableFWA 3Favorable with amendmentsUNF 5UnfavorableINFO 3Information only
| Position | Witness | Organization | Testimony |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAV | Hale, Lauralobbyist | American Heart Association | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | DeMinco, Lynne | BCRW | Position only |
| FAV | Nara, DeAnna | CSPI | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Goldstein, Mathew | Secular Maryland | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Goldstein, Mathew | Secular Maryland | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Schneider, Glennlobbyist | The Horizon Foundation | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Schneider, Glennlobbyist | The Horizon Foundation | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Bullock, Patrice | Individual | Oral |
| FAV | Graham, Lizzy | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Jarrett, Beth | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Rosa, Richard | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Senator Washington, A., Senator Washington, A.legislator | Individual | Oral |
| FAV | Senator Washington, A., Senator Washington, A.legislator | Individual | Oral |
| FAV | Snyder, Abby | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Tibbals, Trudy | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Tibbals, Trudy | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Price, Sarahlobbyist | Maryland Retailers Alliance | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Thompson, Melvinlobbyist | Restaurant Association of Maryland | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| UNF | McCauley, Kirk | WMDA/CAR | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Lang, Alan | Individual | Position only |
| UNF | Lang, Alan | Individual | Position only |
| FWA | Billger, Monica | American Diabetes Association | Written (PDF) |
| FWA | Hale, Lauralobbyist | American Heart Association | Written (PDF) |
| FWA | Nara, DeAnna | CSPI | Written (PDF) |
| INFO | Lynch, Meghan | Maryland Department of Health | Written (PDF) |
| INFO | Price, Sarahlobbyist | Maryland Retailers Alliance | Written (PDF) |
| INFO | Thompson, Melvinlobbyist | Restaurant Association of Maryland | Written (PDF) |
Organizations on record
American Heart AssociationFAV 1FWA 1
BCRWFAV 1
CSPIFAV 1FWA 1
Maryland Retailers AllianceUNF 1INFO 1
Restaurant Association of MarylandUNF 1INFO 1
Secular MarylandFAV 2
WMDA/CARUNF 1
Registered lobbyists who testified
FAVSchneider, GlennThe Horizon FoundationRegistered for: Horizon Foundation of Howard County, Inc., The
FAVSchneider, GlennThe Horizon FoundationRegistered for: Horizon Foundation of Howard County, Inc., The
UNFPrice, SarahMaryland Retailers AllianceRegistered for: Maryland Retailers Alliance; Maryland Retailers Association
UNFThompson, MelvinRestaurant Association of MarylandRegistered for: Restaurant Association of Maryland
INFOPrice, SarahMaryland Retailers AllianceRegistered for: Maryland Retailers Alliance; Maryland Retailers Association
INFOThompson, MelvinRestaurant Association of MarylandRegistered for: Restaurant Association of Maryland