Public Health - Chain Restaurants - Disclosure and Notice to Customers of Sodium and Added Sugars
SB 866 requires chain restaurants with 20 or more locations in Maryland to display warning icons next to menu items exceeding 1,150mg sodium or 25mg added sugars per serving, starting January 1, 2028. The Maryland Department of Health must create these icons and guidelines by January 1, 2027, and run a public education campaign during 2027 to explain compliance. The bill directly affects large chain restaurants by mandating clear labeling of high-sodium and high-sugar menu items. It defines "high sodium" as 1,150mg per serving and "high added sugars" as 25mg per serving for labeling purposes.
Bill status
passed both
4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2026
Governor
Introduced Feb 6, 2026
Last action Apr 13, 2026
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What changed between versions
First - Public Health - Chain Restaurants - Sodium and Added Sugars Warning Icons
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Third - Public Health - Chain Restaurants - Disclosure and Notice to Customers of Sodium and Added Sugars
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5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to clarify that the Department of Health must provide guidance on its website and to add a specific requirement for chain restaurants to disclose sodium and added sugars information on their websites. The definitions for 'high added sugars' and 'high sodium' were adjusted to correct a unit error (changing 'milligrams' to 'milligrams grams' for sugars) and to add a federal labeling exemption. The bill's title was updated to reflect these new disclosure requirements.
Scope change
The scope of the bill was expanded to include a mandatory website disclosure requirement for chain restaurants, in addition to the existing physical menu icon requirements.
REQUIREMENT
Added a requirement for the Department of Health to publish guidance on its website regarding compliance.
Added a requirement for chain restaurants to display sodium and added sugars disclosure information on their websites.
DEFINITION
Corrected the definition of 'high added sugars content' by changing the unit from 'milligrams' to 'milligrams grams'.
Added a new clause to the definition of 'chain restaurant' exempting facilities subject to specific federal labeling requirements.
TECHNICAL
Updated the bill title to reflect the new website disclosure and notice requirements.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 22, 2026
How they voted
33–12
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 49
Mar 6, 2026
D
Democratic36
91% Yea
R
Republican13
92% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
27
Key actions
13
Committee
10
Amendments
4
Apr 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Conference Committee Appointed (Senators A. Washington, Lam and Mautz)
upper
Apr 13, 2026
Introduced
Senate Refuses Concur House Amendments
upper
Apr 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
House Conference Committee Appointed (Delegates Woorman, Alston and Hutchinson)
upper
Apr 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Conference Committee Appointed (Delegates Woorman, Alston and Hutchinson)
lower
Apr 10, 2026
Introduced
Senate Refuses Concur House Amendments
lower
Apr 9, 2026
Introduced
Senate Refuses Concur House Amendments
upper
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Apr 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
lower
Apr 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Health
lower
Mar 24, 2026
Committee
Referred Health
lower
Mar 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Mar 22, 2026
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (97-35-10)
house of delegates
Mar 20, 2026
Introduced
Floor Amendment {
upper
Mar 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Mar 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Motion Laid Over (Senator Gallion) Adopted
upper
Mar 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Mar 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance
upper
Mar 6, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (33-12-4)
senate
Feb 6, 2026
Committee
First Reading Finance
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Alonzo Washington
DDemocratic
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