# Maryland HB 0103: Consumer Protection - Consumer Contracts - Prohibited Waivers

Maryland HB 0103, Consumer Protection - Consumer Contracts - Prohibited Waivers, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Vaughn Stewart (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-28 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 308) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0103-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland HB 0103
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Consumer Protection - Consumer Contracts - Prohibited Waivers
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-09-17
- Last action: 2026-04-28, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 308
- Sponsor: Vaughn Stewart (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Commercial Law - Consumer Protection, Consumer Protection, Contracts -see also- Procurement, Damages, Ethics, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Storage, Time, Unfair Trade Practices
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (214 yes, 79 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- No fine print can waive your rights: benefit, medium. Consumer contracts cannot make you give up rights or remedies the law gives you. You cannot be forced to waive statutory or punitive damages, declaratory relief, or an injunction when the law allows them. These protections cannot be waived in the contract; any illegal clause is void and the rest of…
- No shorter lawsuit deadlines in contracts: mixed, low. Consumer contracts cannot set a shorter time to sue than Maryland law allows. The law adjusts which contracts are exempt from this rule. Courts do not enforce a shorter deadline, and businesses cannot rely on it as a defense. This applies whether or not the contract has arbitration, but valid arbit…
- Only new contracts after 2026: mixed, low. The law applies only to contracts made on or after its start date. It takes effect on the later of October 1, 2026, or when Chapter 194 of the 2025 Acts takes effect. Older contracts stay the same and are not changed by this law.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Vaughn Stewart (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 35 | 11 | 1 |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 84 | 32 | 24 |
| 2026-03-20 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 95 | 36 | 4 |

## Actions (17)

- 2026-04-28: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 308
- 2026-04-13: Passed Enrolled (House)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (84-32) (House)
- 2026-04-13: House Concurs Senate Amendments (House)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (35-11) (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Favorable with Amendments {243625/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance (Senate)
- 2026-03-23: Hearing 3/26 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-03-23: Referred Finance (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Third Reading Passed (95-36) (House)
- 2026-03-19: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-03-19: Favorable with Amendments {343720/1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-03-19: Favorable with Amendments Report by Economic Matters (House)
- 2026-01-19: Hearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-01-14: First Reading Economic Matters (House)
- 2025-09-17: Pre-filed (House)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-04-28: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_308_hb0103e.pdf)
- Enrolled, 2026-04-13: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0103e.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-19: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0103t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0103f.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law)
- SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law)
- SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)
- SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law)
- SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law)
- HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)

## Sources
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_308_hb0103e.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0103e.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0103t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0103f.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS)
- [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS)
- [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS)
- [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS)
- [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS)
- [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS)
- [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills)
- [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0103-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).