# Maryland SB 0656: Public Health - Cosmetic Products - Enforcement and Penalties for Prohibited Ingredients (Crown and Care Act - Protecting Communities from Harmful Hair Chemicals)

Maryland SB 0656, Public Health - Cosmetic Products - Enforcement and Penalties for Prohibited Ingredients (Crown and Care Act - Protecting Communities from Harmful Hair Chemicals), is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Shaneka Henson (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-28 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 283) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0656-2026RS
- 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 0656
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Public Health - Cosmetic Products - Enforcement and Penalties for Prohibited Ingredients (Crown and Care Act - Protecting Communities from Harmful Hair Chemicals)
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-02-06
- Last action: 2026-04-28, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 283
- Sponsor: Shaneka Henson (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Public Health, Attorneys' Fees, Attorney General, Civil Actions -see also- Small Claims, Commerce and Business -see also- ElectrComm; ForeignTr; etc., Committees and Commissions, Complaints, Comptroller, Consumer Protection, Cosmetologists, Damages, Delivery Services, Grants, Hazardous and Toxic Substances -see also- Asbestos; Radiatn, Health -see also- COVID19; EnvHlth; MedCon; etc., Health, Department of, Industry and Manufacturing, Injury, Inspections -see also- Motor Vehicle Inspection, Interest, Investigations and Inquiries -see also- Crim Bckgrnd Invest, Liability, Medical Conditions -see also- AIDS; COVID-19; rabies, Medical Research, Medical Testing and Diagnosis, Medical Treatments, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Plans and Proposals, Reports, Revenue and Taxes -see also- (specific tax), Safety -see also- Occupational Safety, Time, Treasurers, Unfair Trade Practices
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (167 yes, 55 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Right to sue over harmful cosmetics: benefit, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, if you are harmed by exposure to a banned cosmetic ingredient, you can sue the violator for your actual damages. A court may triple the damages. If the violation was willful, the court may also award punitive damages. The court may award reasonable attorney’s fees to the pre…
- Restitution fund for hair chemical harms: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, the Attorney General runs the Harmful Hair Chemicals Restitution Fund. The fund holds money recovered from enforcement and interest earnings. It supports screening, diagnosis, treatment, and research for fibroids, uterine cancer, hair loss, and related conditions tied to har…
- Maryland bans harmful cosmetics: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, makers and sellers in Maryland may not make, sell, deliver, hold, or offer cosmetics with listed harmful chemicals. Examples include formaldehyde, mercury, PFOS, PFOA, certain phthalates and parabens, and m‑ or o‑phenylenediamine. The Maryland Department of Health can inspec…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Shaneka Henson (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-09 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 32 | 10 | 1 |
| 2026-04-08 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 101 | 34 | 1 |
| 2026-03-19 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 34 | 11 |   |

## Actions (16)

- 2026-04-28: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 283
- 2026-04-09: Passed Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-04-09: Third Reading Passed (32-10) (Senate)
- 2026-04-09: Senate Concurs House Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-04-08: Third Reading Passed (101-34) (House)
- 2026-04-03: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-04-03: Favorable with Amendments {693329/1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-04-03: Favorable with Amendments Report by Health (House)
- 2026-03-24: Hearing 3/31 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-03-20: Referred Health (House)
- 2026-03-19: Third Reading Passed (34-11) (Senate)
- 2026-03-17: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-03-17: Favorable with Amendments {143820/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-16: Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Hearing 2/27 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: First Reading Finance (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-04-28: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_283_sb0656e.pdf)
- Enrolled, 2026-04-09: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0656e.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-17: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0656t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-06: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0656f.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_283_sb0656e.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0656e.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0656t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0656f.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-SB0656-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).