# Maryland HB 1198: Civil Actions - Coerced Debt - Debtor Protections

Maryland HB 1198, Civil Actions - Coerced Debt - Debtor Protections, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Lesley J. Lopez (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-03-11 (Hearing 3/11 at 2:00 p.m.) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1198-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland HB 1198
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Civil Actions - Coerced Debt - Debtor Protections
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-11
- Last action: 2026-03-11, Hearing 3/11 at 2:00 p.m.
- Sponsor: Lesley J. Lopez (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Subjects: Civil Actions and Procedures, Family Law, Abuse -see also- Child Abuse; Dom. Viol.; Elder Abuse; etc, Attorneys' Fees, Civil Actions -see also- Small Claims, Counselors and Therapists, Court Costs, Court Orders, Damages, Debt Collection -see also- Attachments and Garnishments, Domestic Violence -see also- Child Abuse & Neglect, Evidence, Expungement and Shielded Records, Fraud -see also- Forgery, Harassment -see also- Threats, Health Occupations -see also- (specific health occupations), Human Trafficking, Judgments, Law Enforcement -see also- SRO; Sheriffs; State Police, Notices, Personal Identifying Information, Petitions, Records -see also- Land Records; Vital Records, Social Workers, Threats
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Lesley J. Lopez (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Lorig Charkoudian (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Elizabeth Embry (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Emily Shetty (Democratic), House

## Actions (6)

- 2026-03-11: Hearing 3/11 at 2:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-03-11: Hearing canceled (House)
- 2026-03-11: Hearing 3/11 at 1:30 p.m. (House)
- 2026-03-11: Hearing canceled (House)
- 2026-02-11: Hearing 3/11 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-02-11: First Reading Judiciary (House)

## Bill text

- First Reading, 2026-02-11: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1198f.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
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1198f.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-HB1198-2026RS (as of 2026-10-12).