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Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland prohibits sending unsolicited loan checks and caps fines at $500
Last action · April 28, 2026: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 316Sponsors: J.B. Jennings and 2 others
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What This Bill Does
Maryland prohibits creditors from sending unsolicited checks or s for secured credit or real property purchases, starting October 1, 2026. Recipients are not liable for these funds unless they cash or deposit the instrument, and violators face charges and fines up to $500.
Consumers gain legal protection against unexpected financial liability from unrequested credit offers, while lenders face penalties for mailing unsolicited financial instruments.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
consumers
Consumers are shielded from liability for unrequested checks and protected against receiving unsolicited loan instruments in the mail.
creditors
Creditors are barred from mailing unsolicited checks for secured credit or real property purchases and face misdemeanor penalties and fines for noncompliance.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I required to pay back or report an unsolicited check I received in the mail?
Does this ban apply to all convenience checks sent by credit card companies?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
18 actions- Apr 28, 2026Governor of MarylandEnrolledApproved by the Governor - Chapter 316
- Apr 10, 2026SenateFloorPassed Enrolled
- Apr 10, 2026SenateFloorThird Reading Passed (42-0)
- Apr 10, 2026SenateFloorSenate Concurs House Amendments
- Apr 10, 2026HouseFloorThird Reading Passed (136-0)
- Apr 8, 2026HouseFloorSecond Reading Passed with Amendments
Show 12 earlier actions
- Apr 8, 2026HouseFavorable with Amendments { 573927/1 Adopted
- Apr 8, 2026HouseCommitteeFavorable with Amendments Report by Economic Matters
- Mar 23, 2026HouseHearing 3/26 at 2:30 p.m.
- Mar 23, 2026HouseHearing canceled
- Mar 21, 2026HouseHearing 3/26 at 1:00 p.m.
- Mar 20, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred Economic Matters
- Mar 19, 2026SenateFloorThird Reading Passed (45-0)
- Mar 17, 2026SenateFloorSecond Reading Passed with Amendments
- Mar 17, 2026SenateFavorable with Amendments { 583026/1 Adopted
- Mar 16, 2026SenateCommitteeFavorable with Amendments Report by Finance
- Feb 4, 2026SenateHearing 2/19 at 1:00 p.m.
- Feb 4, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst Reading Finance
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance50How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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