# Maryland SB 0415: Business Regulation - Maryland Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law - Alterations (Franchise Reform Act) Maryland SB 0415, Business Regulation - Maryland Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law - Alterations (Franchise Reform Act), is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Pamela Beidle (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 414) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0415-2026RS - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Maryland SB 0415 - State: Maryland - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Business Regulation - Maryland Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law - Alterations (Franchise Reform Act) - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-29 - Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 414 - Sponsor: Pamela Beidle (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 (158 yes, 10 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Franchisees can join trade groups freely: benefit, medium. Franchisors may not stop franchisees from joining or forming a trade group of same-brand franchisees for any lawful purpose. You can sue in circuit court for an injunction, damages, and your reasonable attorney’s fees, and you do not need to show actual damages to get an injunction. You must file w… - Pilot speeds franchise disclosure renewals: benefit, low. Maryland runs a pilot to fast‑track renewals of franchise disclosure documents. The Securities Commissioner sets review rules, may review incomplete filings, and can use technology to speed reviews. The program starts October 1, 2026, and ends September 30, 2032. A public report is due by September… - Stricter deadlines and who can sue franchisors: cost, medium. To sue over a franchise sale, you must file by the earlier of 4 years after the franchise was granted or 2 years after the business opened to the public. Only a franchisee who lives in Maryland, or a franchised business that operates or will operate in Maryland, can bring the case. These rules appl… - No automatic inflation updates to registration exemption: mixed, low. The law ends automatic CPI‑based inflation updates to the net‑equity thresholds used in a franchise registration exemption. Thresholds are no longer adjusted by statute for inflation or deflation. This change applies starting October 1, 2026. - Longer window to enforce franchise rules: mixed, low. The Securities Commissioner can take enforcement action for up to 5 years after a franchise rule is broken. Before, the limit was 3 years. This change applies to franchise registration and disclosure rules beginning October 1, 2026. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Pamela Beidle (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 113 | 10 | 17 | | 2026-03-12 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 45 | 0 | | ## Actions (12) - 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 414 - 2026-04-13: Returned Passed (Senate) - 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (113-10) (House) - 2026-04-08: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House) - 2026-04-08: Favorable Report by Economic Matters (House) - 2026-03-13: Referred Economic Matters (House) - 2026-03-12: Third Reading Passed (45-0) (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Favorable with Amendments {973926/1 Adopted (Senate) - 2026-03-09: Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance (Senate) - 2026-02-11: Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate) - 2026-01-29: First Reading Finance (Senate) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_414_sb0415t.pdf) - Third Reading, 2026-03-10: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0415t.pdf) - First Reading, 2026-01-29: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0415f.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_414_sb0415t.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0415t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0415f.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) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0415-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).