SB 382 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Consumer Protection - Right to Repair - Powered Wheelchairs

SB 382 requires manufacturers of powered wheelchairs to provide independent repair providers and wheelchair owners with necessary documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, and tools on fair and reasonable terms. It directly affects wheelchair users and independent repair shops by mandating that manufacturers share repair resources without excessive cost or barriers, such as charging more than the suggested retail price for parts. The bill establishes clear definitions for "independent repair providers" and "fair terms," ensuring access to diagnostics and repair tools at no more than the manufacturer's actual cost for printed materials. This law amends Maryland's Commercial Law to create a new "Subtitle 50" specifically governing powered wheelchair repairs.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Apr 1, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Consumer Protection - Right to Repair - Powered Wheelchairs Third - Consumer Protection - Right to Repair - Powered Wheelchairs · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill adds a new subtitle to Maryland's Commercial Law creating a 'Powered Wheelchairs Repair' section. The changes primarily involve formatting adjustments and reorganization of existing text rather than substantive policy modifications. The bill establishes definitions for repair providers and documentation requirements for powered wheelchairs.
Scope change
The bill introduces a new legal subtitle (Subtitle 50) dedicated to powered wheelchair repair regulations, expanding Maryland's consumer protection framework to include this specific assistive technology category.
SCOPE

Added Chapter designation and committee/senate action status information indicating the bill was favorably amended and adopted.

DEFINITION

Reorganized and renumbered definitions for key terms including 'Authorized Repair Provider', 'Embedded Software', 'Equipment', 'Fair and Reasonable Terms and Costs', 'Firmware', and 'Independent Repair Provider'.

TECHNICAL

Adjusted line numbers, spacing, and capitalization throughout the document; removed page headers and footers; standardized formatting of legal citations.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the structure of requirements regarding documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, and tools that manufacturers must provide to repair providers.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 12, 2025

How they voted

450
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 46
Mar 12, 2025
D Democratic33
32 Yea 1
96% Yea
R Republican13
13 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
4
Committee
4
Apr 1, 2025
Committee
Referred Rules and Executive Nominations
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Mar 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance
upper
Mar 12, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (45-0-1)
senate
Jan 17, 2025
Committee
First Reading Finance
upper
7 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors