# Maryland HB 0191: Consumer Protection - Retail Transactions for Essential Consumer Goods - Cash Payments

Maryland HB 0191, Consumer Protection - Retail Transactions for Essential Consumer Goods - Cash Payments, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Greg Wims (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-26 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 714); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0191-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland HB 0191
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Consumer Protection - Retail Transactions for Essential Consumer Goods - Cash Payments
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-09-29
- Last action: 2026-05-26, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 714
- Sponsor: Greg Wims (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Commercial Law - Consumer Protection, Commercial Law - Generally, Attorney General, Civil Offenses, Commerce and Business -see also- ElectrComm; ForeignTr; etc., Consumer Protection, Fees -see also- Attys' Fees; Devt Fees & Taxes, Fines -see also- Penalties and Sentences, Goods and Services -see also- Retail Sales; TermnSvc; TrfGds, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Retail Sales, Time, Unfair Trade Practices
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 3 (237 yes, 72 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- New cash rule penalties for stores: cost, medium. Beginning October 1, 2026, breaking the cash-payment rules is an unfair trade practice under Maryland’s consumer protection law. The Consumer Protection Division gives a merchant at least two separate chances to fix the issue before fines. After that, the fine can be up to $500 per violation. Later…
- Cash payments protected for essentials: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., stores must take cash for in-person purchases of essential goods that total at least $5 and under $300. Essential goods include food, water and drinks, hygiene and cleaning items, health products and medicine, and fuel. Stores cannot force yo…
- Cash payment rules start Oct 2026: mixed, low. This law takes effect October 1, 2026. The new cash-payment rules start on that date. Until then, current store payment policies stay in place.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Greg Wims (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 | 99 | 28 | 13 |
| 2026-03-23 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 103 | 33 | 4 |

## Actions (19)

- 2026-05-26: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 714
- 2026-04-13: Passed Enrolled (House)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (99-28) (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 {493128/1 (Finance Committee) Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Motion Laid Over (Senator Gallion) Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Favorable with Amendments {493128/1 (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance (Senate)
- 2026-03-25: Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-03-23: Referred Finance (Senate)
- 2026-03-23: Third Reading Passed (103-33) (House)
- 2026-03-21: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-03-21: Favorable with Amendments {763228/1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-03-20: 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)
- 2025-09-29: Pre-filed (House)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-26: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_714_hb0191e.pdf)
- Enrolled, 2026-04-13: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0191e.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-21: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0191t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0191f.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_714_hb0191e.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0191e.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0191t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0191f.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-HB0191-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).