SB 49 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Consumer Protection - Automatic Renewals

SB 49 requires businesses offering automatic renewals (like subscriptions) to clearly display renewal terms - including price changes and cancellation methods - before purchase. It mandates that consumers can cancel easily through the same channel used to sign up (e.g., a simple app button or email link), without delays or extra steps. Businesses must also send advance notice before renewing and cannot automatically charge credit cards for these services. This directly affects consumers who use subscription services and the businesses selling them, treating violations as unfair business practices under Maryland law.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Oct 2024
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Oct 24, 2024 Signed Apr 22, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Third - Consumer Protection - Automatic Renewals Enrolled - Consumer Protection - Automatic Renewals · 3 edits · Apr 22, 2025
MINOR
The bill was finalized and enrolled for the Governor's signature, adding standard legal formatting and proofreading sections. Substantively, the text of the law was amended to remove redundant phrases regarding cost-effectiveness in cancellation mechanisms and to change the standard for cancellation delays from 'does not delay' to 'does not unreasonably delay', making it easier for consumers to cancel automatic renewals.
REQUIREMENT

The requirement for cancellation mechanisms to not delay a consumer's ability to terminate was changed to 'does not unreasonably delay,' providing consumers with slightly more flexibility in the cancellation process.

Redundant and repetitive phrasing regarding 'cost-effective' mechanisms was removed to streamline the legal language.

TECHNICAL

Standard enrolled bill formatting, including proofreader signatures and Great Seal presentation details, was added to finalize the legislation.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 23, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2025

How they voted

420
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 46
Mar 23, 2025
D Democratic33
30 Yea 3
90% Yea
R Republican13
12 Yea 1
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Amendments
1
Apr 22, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 204
executive
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Enrolled
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Introduced
Senate Concurs House Amendments
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Economic Matters
lower
Mar 23, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (42-0-4)
senate
Mar 13, 2025
Committee
Referred Economic Matters
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Mar 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Mar 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance
upper
Jan 8, 2025
Committee
First Reading Finance
upper
Oct 24, 2024
Introduced
Pre-filed
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Dawn Gile
Dawn Gile
DDemocratic
MD
33