HB895 MD passed

Food Retailers and Third-Party Delivery Service Providers - Dynamic Pricing and Personal Data (Protection From Predatory Pricing Act)

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Plain-English summary

1. **ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY:** This bill prohibits food retailers and third-party delivery services in Maryland from using dynamic pricing and personal data to set prices for consumer goods and services.

2. **KEY REQUIREMENTS:**
   - Do not engage in dynamic pricing based on consumer data.
   - Avoid using protected class data (like race, gender, etc.) to influence pricing or marketing strategies.
   - Ensure pricing practices are fair and transparent to consumers.

3. **DEADLINES:**
   - The law is effective immediately upon passage, so compliance is required now.

4. **PENALTIES:**
   - Violations are considered unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practices, which can lead to enforcement actions and potential fines.

5. **SMB IMPACT:** Small businesses need to review their pricing strategies to ensure compliance with this law, which may require changes in how they collect and use customer data. This could also limit pricing flexibility, affecting competitive strategies.

Source description

Prohibiting a food retailer and a third-party delivery service provider from engaging in the practice of dynamic pricing or using consumer personal data to set a price for consumer goods or services; prohibiting a food retailer and a third-party delivery service provider from using protected class data to offer, advertise, or sell a consumer good or service under certain circumstances; making a certain violation of the Act an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice that is subject to enforcement and penalties; etc.

Not legal advice. Summaries are generated by AI from publicly available bill text and may contain errors or omissions. Always consult counsel before making compliance decisions.