HB 191 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Consumer Protection - Retail Transactions for Essential Consumer Goods - Cash Payments

HB 191 prohibits merchants from refusing cash payments, requiring credit/debit cards, or charging fees for cash in in-person retail transactions between $5 and $300. It directly affects merchants in physical stores (excluding online, phone, mail, parking, or metered spaces). Violations are deemed deceptive trade practices, with enforcement requiring two compliance opportunities before fines up to $5,000 for first violations and $10,000 for repeat offenses. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Sep 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Sep 29, 2025 Signed May 26, 2026

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What changed between versions

Third - Consumer Protection - Retail Transactions for Essential Consumer Goods - Cash Payments → Enrolled - Consumer Protection - Retail Transactions for Essential Consumer Goods - Cash Payments · 5 edits · May 26, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was finalized and enrolled, changing its status from a proposed draft to an official law. Substantive policy changes include adding a time restriction (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.) to cash payment bans, adding a specific exemption for fuel purchases requiring paid memberships, and adjusting penalty fines from thousands of dollars to a maximum of 4 cents for rounding errors.

Scope change

The bill's applicability is now limited to in-person retail transactions occurring between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., and it explicitly excludes fuel purchases from merchants that require paid memberships.

REQUIREMENT

Added a time restriction limiting cash payment bans to the hours between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a specific exemption allowing merchants to prohibit cash payments for fuel if the merchant requires a paid membership to purchase fuel.

ENFORCEMENT

Reduced the maximum fine for rounding errors from $5,000 to a maximum of 4 cents.

Reduced the maximum fine for subsequent violations from $10,000 to $1,000.

TECHNICAL

Added a provision allowing merchants to collect an additional amount not exceeding 4 cents when rounding prices.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 26, 2026 · House of Delegates Apr 2, 2026

How they voted

37–11

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 49

Mar 26, 2026

D Democratic36

36 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican13

1 Yea 11 Nay 1

84% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 26, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 714

executive

Apr 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Enrolled

lower

Apr 13, 2026

Introduced

House Concurs Senate Amendments

lower

Apr 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion Laid Over (Senator Gallion) Adopted

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance

upper

Apr 2, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (100-28-14)

house of delegates

Mar 26, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (37-11-1)

senate

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

Referred Finance

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Economic Matters

lower

Jan 14, 2026

Committee

First Reading Economic Matters

lower

Sep 29, 2025

Introduced

Pre-filed

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors