# Business Regulation (GBR)

## Title 19. Miscellaneous State Business Regulation

### Subtitle 1. General Provisions

#### Section 19-101

(a) A person other than as an agent or employee of the United States or a state or a political subdivision of the United States or a state may not use the word "official", or its equivalent, in connection with a tourist or travelers' guide or information service or with related advertising or publicity.

(b)

  (1) In this subsection, "advertisement" includes a display or sign that is visible from a public highway.

  (2) A person may not conduct or operate a tourist or travelers' information service unless each affixed advertisement that announces the service by the prominent display of the word "information" or a synonym includes, in letters that are at least half the size of the largest letters in the advertisement and that are lighted and displayed with substantially equal prominence, a complete list of names, headed "Sales Agents For" or the equivalent, of each business from which a person, directly or indirectly connected with the service, receives a commission, fee, or other payment or remuneration for referrals to the business.

  (3) This subsection does not apply to:

    (i) a bona fide chamber or association of commerce of cities, towns, or counties of the State; or

    (ii) an information service furnished by a retail business if remuneration is not received from any other business other than for goods sold on the premises.

(c) Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a penalty not exceeding $500 for each offense.

#### Section 19-102

(a) This section applies to each corporation or company that acts as a common carrier or forwarder in the State, including a railroad, steamboat, transportation, or forwarding company.

(b)

  (1) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a common carrier or forwarder may sell at public auction freight that is forwarded on the common carrier or forwarder to a point in the State if:

    (i) for 3 months after arriving at its destination the freight remains unclaimed and the legal charges on the freight remain unpaid;

    (ii) the owner or consignee cannot be found after diligent inquiry, or, for 3 months after being found and notified of the arrival of the freight, does not receive the freight and pay the legal charges on the freight; and

    (iii) the common carrier or forwarder at least 10 days before the sale has posted notices of the time and place of the sale in three public places in the county or municipal corporation in which the sale is to be made.

  (2) Out of the proceeds of the sale the common carrier or forwarder:

    (i) may pay the legal charges, including the costs of storage of the freight; and

    (ii) shall pay, on demand, any balance to the owner or consignee of the freight.

(c)

  (1) A judge of the circuit court for a county in which freight is located that has been forwarded by a common carrier or forwarder may pass an order for the sale of the freight if the judge deems the sale expedient, on the terms and notice that the order prescribes, if:

    (i) the common carrier or forwarder files with the judge an application, verified by affidavit, that sets forth the reasons for which the application is made;

    (ii) the freight is livestock, is perishable, or is so damaged or of such other character as to make it impracticable for it to remain in the possession of the company owning or operating the common carrier or forwarder for 3 months after its arrival at its destination; and

    (iii) the owner or consignee cannot be found after diligent inquiry, or, for 24 hours after being found and notified of the arrival of the freight, does not receive the freight and pay the legal charges on the freight.

  (2) Out of the proceeds of the sale, the common carrier or forwarder:

    (i) may pay the expenses incident to the sale and legal charges, including the cost of the keep of the livestock or the cost of storage of the freight; and

    (ii) shall pay, on demand, any balance to the owner or consignee of the freight.

(d)

  (1) In this subsection, "baggage" includes personal baggage, sample packages, bundles, or luggage.

  (2) A common carrier or forwarder may sell at public auction baggage that is transported by the common carrier or forwarder to any point in the State if:

    (i) the baggage remains at its destination for 3 months or, if it is lost or stray baggage, remains unclaimed by the owner or the consignee for 3 months at the place to which it has been transported;

    (ii) the owner or consignee cannot be found after diligent inquiry, or, after being found and notified of the arrival of the baggage, does not receive the baggage and pay the reasonable charges on the baggage; and

    (iii) the common carrier or forwarder at least 10 days before the sale has posted notices of the time and place of the sale in three public places in the county or municipal corporation in which the sale is to be made.

  (3) Out of the proceeds of the sale the common carrier or forwarder:

    (i) may pay the legal charges, including the costs of storage of the baggage; and

    (ii) shall pay, on demand, any balance to the owner or consignee of the baggage.

#### Section 19-103

(a)

  (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

  (2) "Adult entertainment" means live entertainment:

    (i) in which individuals appear for public view in a state of nudity or partial nudity; or

    (ii) that, applying contemporary standards, the average individual would find, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest.

  (3) "Adult entertainment establishment" means a business establishment where adult entertainment is offered.

  (4) "Truck stop" means a facility:

    (i) the primary purpose of which is to provide services to long-haul truck drivers; and

    (ii) that provides:

      (1) shower facilities to the truck drivers for a fee; or

      (2) parking for the truck drivers' vehicles.

(b)

  (1) The owner of a privately owned bus station, truck stop, or adult entertainment establishment shall post the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline information sign described in Sec. 15-207 of this article in each restroom of the bus station, truck stop, or adult entertainment establishment.

  (2) A sign required under this section shall be posted:

    (i) on the inside of each stall door in the restroom; or

    (ii) on the back of the door at the entrance to the restroom.

(c)

  (1) An agency that enforces this section and determines that a violation of this section has occurred shall notify the business owner of the bus station, truck stop, or adult entertainment establishment, or the business owner's agent, of the violation.

  (2) If the business owner of the bus station, truck stop, or adult entertainment establishment does not post signs as required under this section within 24 hours after receiving the notice required under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the business owner is subject to a civil penalty not exceeding $1,000.

  (3) For each restroom in which a business owner fails to post a sign in accordance with this section, the business owner is subject to a separate civil penalty.

#### Section 19-104

A business registered with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation that offers a discount or preference on products or services to veterans shall accept a valid driver's license or identification card issued under Sec. 12-302 of the Transportation Article that includes a notation of veteran status as verification of the veteran status of the holder of the driver's license or identification card for purposes of claiming the discount or preference.

#### Section 19-105

(a) This section does not apply to:

  (1) an animal welfare organization or animal control unit displaying dogs or cats for adoption or the adoption of dogs or cats from an animal welfare organization or animal control unit; or

  (2) a dog breeder and a specific individual purchaser conducting a prearranged sale of a dog if the location of the prearranged sale is not at a regularly scheduled or recurring event.

(b) A person may not offer for sale, sell, offer to transfer, transfer, barter, trade, or auction a dog or cat at any public place, including:

  (1) a street;

  (2) a highway;

  (3) a public right-of-way;

  (4) a public parking lot;

  (5) a carnival;

  (6) a boardwalk;

  (7) a swap meet;

  (8) a fair; or

  (9) a flea market.

(c) An animal control officer under the jurisdiction of the State or a local governing body and an officer of a society or association, incorporated under the laws of the State for the prevention of cruelty to animals, authorized to make arrests under Sec. 10-609 of the Criminal Law Article may enforce subsection (b) of this section.

(d) A person who violates this section is subject to:

  (1) for a first violation, a civil penalty not exceeding $500;

  (2) for a second violation, a civil penalty not exceeding $1,000; and

  (3) for a third or subsequent violation, a civil penalty not exceeding $1,500.

#### Section 19-106

(a)

  (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

  (2) "Entity" means:

    (i) a commercial enterprise or business that is in good

    standing with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation and is: 

      (1) incorporated in the State; or

      (2) registered to do business in the State; or

    (ii) a corporation, foundation, school, hospital, or other legal entity for which none of the net earnings inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual holding an interest in the entity.

  (3) "State benefit" means:

    (i) State capital grant funding totaling $1,000,000 or

    more in a single fiscal year; 

    (ii) State tax credits totaling $1,000,000 or more in a single fiscal year; or

    (iii) the receipt of a State contract with a total value of $1,000,000 or more.

  (4) "State contract" means a contract that:

    (i) resulted from a competitive procurement process; and

    (ii) is not federally funded in any way.

  (5) "Underrepresented community" means a community whose members self-identify:

    (i) as Black, African American, Hispanic, Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American, Native Hawaiian, or Alaska Native; or

    (ii) with one or more of the racial or ethnic groups listed in item (i) of this paragraph.

(b) This section does not apply to:

  (1) a sole proprietor;

  (2) a limited liability company owned by a single member;

  (3) a privately held company if at least 75% of the company's shareholders are family members; or

  (4) an entity that:

    (i) has an annual operating budget or annual sales  less than $5,000,000; and

    (ii) does not qualify for a State benefit.

(c) An entity may not qualify for a State benefit unless the entity is able to demonstrate:

  (1) membership of underrepresented communities in the entity's board or executive leadership; or

  (2) support for underrepresented communities in the entity's mission.

(d) The Department of Commerce and the Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs shall:

  (1) develop and maintain a State Equity Report that compiles diversity data for each entity on:

    (i) the membership of underrepresented communities in the entity's board or executive leadership; and

    (ii) the support of underrepresented communities in the entity's mission; and

  (2) adopt regulations to carry out this section, including directives for State agencies and entities to comply with the requirements in this section.

#### Section 19-107

A person may not serve or act as a contractor, a subcontractor, or a broker between a contractor and subcontractor in the State during the 5-year period immediately following the date the person was convicted of an offense constituting criminal malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance under any federal or state law.

#### Section 19-108

A cellular phone carrier shall allow:

(1) the customer of record who is responsible for payment on an account to designate other individuals as authorized users on the account; and

(2) an individual designated as an authorized user on an account to purchase services or devices or to take additional action under any service contract connected to the account to the extent that the authorization extends to the action.

#### Section 19-109

(a) A person may not sell, offer for sale, transfer, or distribute non-arc-resistant jacketed corrugated stainless steel tubing.

(b) A person who violates this section is subject to a civil penalty not exceeding $1,000.

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Md. Code Ann., Bus. Reg. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)