# Maryland SB 0437: Criminal Law – Theft and Fraud Crimes – Valuation and Forgery of Gift Cards

Maryland SB 0437, Criminal Law – Theft and Fraud Crimes – Valuation and Forgery of Gift Cards, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by William G. Folden (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 456); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0437-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland SB 0437
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Criminal Law – Theft and Fraud Crimes – Valuation and Forgery of Gift Cards
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-30
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 456
- Sponsor: William G. Folden (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Criminal Law - Substantive Crimes, Crimes and Punishments -see also- Penalties and Sentnc; etc., Defendants, Forgery, Fraud -see also- Forgery, Gifts, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Prices -see also- Consumer Price Index, Theft -see also- Burglary; Robbery; Shoplifting
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 2 (165 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- How gift cards count in theft cases: benefit, low. Beginning Oct 1, 2026, Maryland law defines two types of gift cards: closed‑loop (one store or related stores) and open‑loop (network‑branded, usable at many stores or ATMs). For theft and fraud cases, a gift card’s value is the greatest of: the highest amount shown on the card or package, $100 if…
- New crime for gift card tampering: benefit, low. Beginning Oct 1, 2026, it is a crime in Maryland to alter or tamper with a gift card or its packaging with intent to defraud. The offense is called gift card forgery. Penalties include up to 18 months in jail, a fine up to $500, or both.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: William G. Folden (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-03 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 120 | 0 | 9 |
| 2026-03-12 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 45 | 0 |   |

## Actions (14)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 456
- 2026-04-06: Returned Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-03: Third Reading Passed (120-0) (House)
- 2026-04-02: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-04-02: Favorable Report by Judiciary (House)
- 2026-03-13: Referred Judiciary (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 {453926/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Hearing 2/11 at 2:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Hearing canceled (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Hearing 2/11 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: First Reading Judicial Proceedings (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_456_sb0437t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-10: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0437t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-30: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0437f.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_456_sb0437t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0437t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0437f.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-SB0437-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).