HB 410 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Public Health - Food Labeling - Requirements

HB 410 requires food manufacturers, processors, and retailers in Maryland to use standardized date labels on packaged food starting July 1, 2027. It mandates replacing "Sell By" with "Best If Used By" for quality dates and "Use By" for safety dates, while prohibiting the sale of items labeled with "Sell By" after that date. The bill also requires the Maryland Department of Health to create and post educational materials about these labels online by July 2027. This affects all food businesses selling packaged products to consumers, excluding infant formula, beer, and malt beverages.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 22, 2026 Last action Mar 19, 2026

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What changed between versions

First - Public Health - Food and Milk Product Labeling - Requirements → Third - Public Health - Food Labeling - Requirements · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to expand the Department of Health's marketing program to include partnerships with the University of Maryland Extension and food donation organizations. The effective date for new labeling requirements was changed from July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2028, giving retailers more time to adjust. A new provision allows retailers to sell food items not meeting labeling requirements if purchased before June 30, 2028, preventing waste of near-expiry items.

Scope change

The bill now includes additional partners in the educational marketing program and extends the implementation timeline by one year.

REQUIREMENT

Added University of Maryland Extension and food donation organizations as partners in the Department of Health's marketing program

Added provision allowing retailers to sell unlabelled food items if purchased on or before June 30, 2028

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date for new labeling requirements from July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2028

TECHNICAL

Added new co-sponsors to the bill and updated committee report status

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 5, 2026

How they voted

92–33

Passed · 17 other

Total votes 142

Mar 5, 2026

D Democratic103

90 Yea 13

87% Yea

R Republican39

2 Yea 33 Nay 4

84% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 19, 2026

Committee

Referred Finance

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Health

lower

Mar 5, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (92-33-17)

house of delegates

Jan 22, 2026

Committee

First Reading Health

lower

28 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role

Legislator

Party

State

District