# Commercial Law (GCL)

## Title 14. Miscellaneous Consumer Protection Provisions

### Subtitle 39. Transparency in Consumer Arbitrations Act

#### Section 14-3901

(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b) "Arbitration activity" means the initiation, conduct, sponsorship, or administration of, or the appointment of an arbitrator in, a consumer arbitration.

(c) "Arbitration organization" means a nongovernmental association, agency, board, commission, corporation, or other entity that performs arbitration activities.

(d) "Consumer" means an individual who is:

  (1) A resident of the State; and

  (2) An actual or prospective purchaser or lessee of any goods, services, real property, or credit primarily for personal, family, or household purposes.

(e)

  (1) "Consumer arbitration" means a binding arbitration conducted in accordance with a consumer arbitration agreement.

  (2) "Consumer arbitration" does not include:

    (i) A binding arbitration conducted in accordance with the provisions of a policy of property insurance, casualty insurance, or surety insurance, as those terms are defined in Sec. 1-101 of the Insurance Article;

    (ii) An arbitration governed by rules adopted by a securities self-regulatory organization and approved by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission under federal law; or

    (iii) An arbitration between a consumer and a related institution that is licensed by the Maryland Department of Health, if the consumer arbitration agreement between the consumer and the related institution is not mandated as a condition of admission of the consumer to the related institution.

(f)

  (1) "Consumer arbitration agreement" means a standardized contract that:

    (i) Is between a consumer and another person who is not a consumer;

    (ii) Provides for the sale or lease of any goods, services, real property, or credit primarily for personal, family, or household purposes; and

    (iii) Requires that disputes arising under the contract be submitted to binding arbitration.

  (2) "Consumer arbitration agreement" does not include a public or private sector collective bargaining agreement.

(g) "Related institution" has the meaning stated in Sec. 19-301 of the Health - General Article.

---

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