§ 19–303
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Bus. Reg. § 19-303 (2026)
Title 19. Miscellaneous State Business Regulation
Subtitle 3. Returnable Containers and Returnable Textiles
§ 19–303LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
A person may register:
(i)
a class of returnable containers if:
(1)
the person owns or deals in goods handled or delivered in a returnable container; and
(2)
the returnable container has an identifying name, mark, or device securely attached, impressed, or imprinted; or
(ii)
a class of returnable textiles, if the person:
(1)
is in the business of regularly supplying clean laundered returnable textiles; and
(2)
periodically exchanges the clean returnable textiles for soiled returnable textiles.
(2)
A person who has registered a returnable container or returnable textile under State law is not required to reregister the returnable container or returnable textile.
(b)
To register a returnable container or returnable textile a person shall:
(1)
(i)
prepare a clear statement of the character of the returnable container or returnable textile; and
(ii)
prepare a comprehensive description of the identifying name, mark, or device attached, impressed, imprinted, woven, or produced;
(2)
sign and acknowledge the comprehensive description before an officer qualified to take an acknowledgment to deeds in the State;
(3)
publish the signed and acknowledged comprehensive description:
(i)
in two successive issues, in different weeks, of a newspaper published in the county in which the principal office, place of business, or agency of the person is located; or
(ii)
twice a week for 2 successive weeks in a daily newspaper published in Baltimore City if the principal office, place of business, or agency of the person is located in Baltimore City; and
(4)
file with the Secretary of State the comprehensive description and a certificate of publication, certified by the owner or manager of the newspaper in which the comprehensive description was published.
(c)
A person may transfer a registration by filing a copy of the assignment or transfer with the Secretary of State.
(d)
(1)
The Secretary of State shall record each:
(i)
comprehensive description filed under subsection (b) of this section;
(ii)
certificate of publication filed under subsection (b) of this section; and
(iii)
transfer filed under subsection (c) of this section.
(2)
On application, the Secretary of State shall provide to the applicant a certified copy of a recorded filing.
(3)
The Secretary of State shall establish reasonable fees:
(i)
for recording under this section; and
(ii)
for providing copies of records filed under this section.
(e)
A certified copy of a comprehensive description and a certificate of publication or of a transfer with the seal of the Secretary of State attached is:
(1)
evidence that the person complied with this subtitle; and
(2)
prima facie evidence of:
(i)
title to or right to use, collect, or deliver the corresponding returnable containers; and
(ii)
title to the corresponding returnable textiles.