As reported by the Southern Maryland Chronicle: Annapolis, Maryland – Maryland will suspend its 6 percent state sales tax on qualifying ENERGY STAR appliances during Shop Maryland Energy Weekend, scheduled for Saturday, February 14, through Monday, February 16, 2026, allowing residents to purchase energy-efficient products at reduced upfront costs. Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman announced the tax holiday on February 4, 2026, highlighting its role in providing savings to households facing rising everyday expenses and utility bills. The exemption applies to both new and used eligible appliances purchased in stores or online during the three-day period, which runs from 12:01 a.m. on February 14 to 11:59 p.m. on February 16. “We are waiving the state’s 6% sales tax on qualifying Energy Star appliances to deliver real savings to Maryland families that can help offset increasing household costs on everyday items and higher utility bills,” Lierman stated. “I encourage Marylanders to consider purchasing any needed new appliances during Shop Maryland Energy Weekend to take advantage of lower upfront costs and long-term energy savings.” Qualifying ENERGY STAR products include room air conditioners, clothes washers and dryers, standard-size refrigerators, furnaces, heat pumps, boilers, compact fluorescent light bulbs, dehumidifiers, and programmable thermostats. Solar water heaters remain exempt from sales tax year-round. To earn the ENERGY STAR certification, products must satisfy strict energy-efficiency criteria established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The initiative, which began in 2011, results in the state forgoing an estimated $800,000 in sales tax revenue each year based on purchases of eligible items during the weekend. The temporary exemption encourages consumers to invest in appliances that deliver ongoing reductions in energy consumption and lower utility costs over the products’ lifetimes. Cailey Locklair, president of the Maryland Retailers Alliance, described the event as mutually beneficial. “Maryland’s Energy Star tax-free weekend is a win for both consumers and retailers. It helps families save money on energy-efficient appliances while encouraging smarter purchases that lower utility bills and reduce energy use over time,” she said. The tax holiday aligns with broader state efforts to promote energy efficiency and support household affordability. Retailers across Maryland, including big-box stores, appliance specialists, and online sellers, typically participate by stocking eligible ENERGY STAR models and highlighting the promotion. Marylanders planning purchases during the weekend can verify product eligibility by checking for the ENERGY STAR label or consulting retailer lists. Additional details, including a complete list of qualifying items and answers to common questions, are available through the Comptroller’s Office Frequently Asked Questions resource on the state website. Shop Maryland Energy Weekend provides a recurring annual opportunity for residents to combine immediate tax savings with long-term reductions in household energy use, particularly relevant amid ongoing pressures on family budgets in Southern Maryland and across the state. Click here to view the article from the Southern Maryland Chronicle .

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman has announced the return of Shop Maryland Energy Weekend, a three-day tax holiday designed to provide financial relief to Maryland families while promoting energy efficiency. From February 14 through February 16, 2026, the state will waive its 6% sales tax on qualifying Energy Star-certified appliances. The tax exemption applies to both new and used products, whether purchased in-person at local retailers or through online platforms. By waiving the sales tax, state officials aim to help residents offset rising household costs and reduce long-term utility expenses. Eligible Appliances and Savings To qualify for the tax-free status, appliances must bear the Energy Star label, indicating they meet strict energy-efficiency standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The following items are included in the 2026 holiday: Air conditioners and dehumidifiers Clothes washers and dryers Standard-size refrigerators Furnaces, heat pumps, and boilers Programmable thermostats Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) While the tax holiday is a temporary three-day event, Maryland law currently exempts solar water heaters from sales tax year-round. Economic and Environmental Impact Shop Maryland Energy Weekend has been an annual staple since 2011. Comptroller Lierman noted that the state forgoes approximately $800,000 in tax revenue each year during this event to encourage smarter, greener consumer choices. Cailey Locklair, President of the Maryland Retailers Alliance, called the weekend a “win for both consumers and retailers,” noting that it supports local businesses during a typically slow shopping season while helping families invest in appliances that lower their carbon footprint. Important Dates and Information The event begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, February 14, and concludes at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026. Consumers are encouraged to check with local utility providers, as some may offer additional rebates on top of the state’s tax savings. Marylanders can learn more about Shop Maryland Energy Weekend by viewing the Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) . Click here to view the announcement from NottinghamMD.com

Annapolis, MD – The Maryland Retailers Alliance opposes legislation that would prohibit so-called “surveillance pricing” because it is based on misconceptions about how pricing actually works in grocery stores and retail more broadly. Retailers do not set prices based on individual consumers’ personal data, identity, or purchasing history. Grocery shelf prices are the same for every customer who walks through the door, regardless of who they are, where they live, or what they have purchased in the past. Claims suggesting otherwise are simply inaccurate. Much of the confusion stems from a misunderstanding of dynamic or algorithmic pricing , which retailers use to manage inventory, respond to wholesale cost changes, and remain competitive. This technology helps retailers adjust prices uniformly across all shoppers based on factors such as supplier costs, seasonality, promotions, and market competition—not personal consumer data. Recent academic research, including a University of California San Diego study examining the use of electronic shelf labels in grocery stores, found no evidence of surge pricing or individualized pricing as a result of these technologies. The study concluded that fears of grocery “surge pricing” are not supported by real-world data. Grocery retailers already operate on razor-thin margins, often between one and three percent. Restricting legitimate pricing tools would increase operational costs, reduce flexibility, and ultimately harm consumers through higher prices, reduced promotions, or fewer choices—particularly in communities already facing affordability challenges.  Maryland should focus on policies grounded in facts, not fear, and the fact is that retail technology utilizing consumer data is used to lower prices, not increase them. Legislation that bans practices retailers do not engage in risks unintended consequences while failing to address real consumer concerns. We urge lawmakers to reject proposals that mischaracterize retail pricing practices and instead work collaboratively with businesses to protect consumers and maintain a competitive, affordable marketplace. ###

As excerpted from The Washington Times : The Maryland Consumer Freedom Coalition, backed by the Maryland Retailers Alliance trade association, is renewing its effort for the state to legalize beer and wine sales in grocery stores. Maryland Retailers Alliance President Cailey Locklair said outside a Giant grocery store Thursday that, since grocery stores and other similar retailers operate on such thin margins, allowing beer and wine sales could be the difference between shutting down and their ability to stay open, especially given competition from stores in nearby jurisdictions. “In Maryland, we are at a competitive disadvantage,” Ms. Locklair said. Residents who live near the state’s borders cross state lines into the District, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, “where there is one-stop shopping and grocery stores where they can not only buy their groceries, but also purchase their beer and wine.” She was backed up at the press conference by state Delegate Marlon Amprey, a Democrat and sponsor of previous failed bills to legalize the sale of beer and wine outside of a select group of grandfathered-in stores. Mr. Amprey, whose district mostly includes West Baltimore, said he was reintroducing his Alcoholic Beverages Modernization Act for the upcoming Maryland legislative session, which starts in January. Mr. Amprey said Maryland should allow beer and wine sales in grocery stores to make it more convenient for families and workers, give grocery stores more of an edge to stay in neighborhoods that they might otherwise leave, and because of customer safety. Click here to read the full article from The Washington Times .

As excerpted from The Shelby Report: The Maryland Consumer Freedom Coalition has launched a campaign to advocate for legalizing beer and wine sales in grocery stores. Maryland is one of just four U.S. states where grocery stores can’t sell alcohol, though the coalition said significant momentum has grown to pass legislation addressing the issue in 2026. “It’s past time that we pass this bill that has strong support from constituents across the political spectrum,” said Delegate Marlon Amprey, the bill’s lead sponsor in the House of Delegates. “Beyond providing busy, working families with the convenience they deserve, this measure will help attract and keep grocery stores in communities that too often don’t have sufficient access to fresh foods.” Sen. Antonio Hayes, the bill’s lead sponsor in the state Senate, added, “The current law is outdated and it’s time for a change. Grocery stores are important economic development anchors and we should be promoting policies that drive investment in our communities and have the potential to attract more high-quality grocery stores to communities that need fresh, healthy food access. “Maryland cannot continue to be an outlier on this policy.” Polls have consistently found strong support for allowing beer and wine sales in grocery stores, with the most recent statewide Maryland Now poll showing 80 percent of respondents back the issue. “Marylanders know that residents of other states are able to do all of their grocery shopping in one stop, and they want the same convenience for themselves,” said Cailey Locklair, president of the Maryland Retailers Alliance (MRA). “Grocery stores operate with some of the smallest profit margins in the retail sector, and this change would go a long way toward attracting and retaining stores in our communities.” Click here to read the full article from The Shelby Report .