# Maryland HB 0730: Business Regulation - Maryland Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law - Alterations (Franchise Reform Act)

Maryland HB 0730, Business Regulation - Maryland Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law - Alterations (Franchise Reform Act), is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Marc Korman (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 413) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0730-2026RS
- 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 0730
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Business Regulation - Maryland Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law - Alterations (Franchise Reform Act)
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-02
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 413
- Sponsor: Marc Korman (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Business Regulation, Attorney General, Commerce and Business -see also- ElectrComm; ForeignTr; etc., Commercial Property, Consumer Price Index, Disclosure, Ethics, Evaluations and Reviews, Franchises, Internet -see also- Internet Access, Liability, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Pilot Programs, Records -see also- Land Records; Vital Records, Registration -see also- Motor Vehicle Registration, Reports, Rules and Regulations, Standards and Best Practices, Studies -see also- Commitees & Commissions; Reports, Sunset, Time
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (161 yes, 8 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 4

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Franchisees can join trade associations: benefit, medium. Beginning October 1, 2026, franchisees have the right to join and take part in franchisee trade groups for any lawful purpose. Franchisors may not stop or limit that right. You may sue in circuit court for an injunction, damages, and attorney’s fees. You do not need to prove actual damages to get a…
- Faster franchise disclosure renewals pilot: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, Maryland creates a Fast-Track Review Pilot for franchise disclosure renewals and incomplete filings. The Commissioner runs it, sets rules, and can use technology to speed reviews. The program lasts six years and ends September 30, 2032. The Commissioner must post a report…
- Shorter deadlines and limits on franchise suits: cost, medium. Beginning October 1, 2026, civil claims about false statements, omissions, or unregistered franchise sales have tighter filing deadlines. You must sue by the earlier of four years after the franchise was granted or two years after it first opened to the public. Only franchisees who live in Maryland…
- Five-year enforcement cap and no inflation updates: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, the Commissioner cannot take enforcement action more than five years after a violation. Also, the net equity amounts used for the franchise registration exemption no longer update with inflation. That may slowly make the exemption harder to meet over time.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Marc Korman (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 43 | 0 | 2 |
| 2026-03-20 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 118 | 8 | 9 |

## Actions (13)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 413
- 2026-04-13: Returned Passed (House)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (43-0) (Senate)
- 2026-04-09: Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-09: Favorable Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-04-09: Favorable Report by Finance (Senate)
- 2026-03-23: Referred Finance (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Third Reading Passed (118-8) (House)
- 2026-03-19: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-03-19: Favorable with Amendments {193223/1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-03-19: Favorable with Amendments Report by Economic Matters (House)
- 2026-02-03: Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-02-02: First Reading Economic Matters (House)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_413_hb0730t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-19: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0730t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-02: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0730f.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_413_hb0730t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0730t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0730f.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-HB0730-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).