ANNAPOLIS, MD – Recent public comments by Governor Wes Moore regarding so-called “predatory pricing” in grocery stores have created confusion about both existing law and the scope of newly signed legislation. In describing the issue, Governor Moore stated that two individuals could be charged different prices for the same item based on personal data. This characterization is inaccurate under current Maryland law. Such practices are already prohibited under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act, which clearly defines unfair or deceptive trade practices including misleading or discriminatory pricing as illegal. Any retailer engaging in the conduct described would already be subject to pre-existing enforcement action. Importantly, the newly enacted “Protection from Predatory Pricing Act” does not address or prohibit individualized grocery pricing as described. Suggesting otherwise misrepresents both the scope and the legal effect of the legislation. Grocery stores also operate within one of the most competitive sectors of the economy, typically sustaining profit margins of just 1–3 percent. This highly competitive environment benefits consumers by keeping prices low and limiting the ability of any single retailer to artificially inflate prices without losing business. The notion that widespread, individualized price gouging could occur in such a market is inconsistent with the economic realities of the industry. Further, even prior to this law the Maryland Office of the Attorney General has no record of substantiated complaints indicating a pattern of grocery stores engaging in unlawful “predatory pricing increases” of the type described. It is also important to distinguish where individualized or dynamic pricing models are more commonly used. Industries such as third-party delivery platforms, hotels, rideshare apps, and airlines have long relied on variable pricing based on demand, timing, and consumer data. These sectors, unlike traditional grocery retail, are actually where such pricing practices are most prevalent and where policy discussions would be more appropriately focused. Accurate public communication about consumer protection laws is essential. Maryland residents deserve clarity about their rights and confidence that existing laws already safeguard them from unfair and deceptive practices. We urge public officials to ensure that statements regarding consumer protection and pricing practices reflect the law as written and enforced.

As published by The Hill : MARYLAND ( WDCW ) – Maryland is on track to become the first state to ban so-called dynamic pricing in grocery stores across the state. The practice, officials say, allows prices to change based on demand or even customer data. Earlier this month, the state legislature passed the Protection from Predatory Pricing Act, introduced as part of Gov. Wes Moore’s (D) legislative agenda . The bill targets a system whereby retailers can use technology to adjust prices throughout the day or show different prices to different customers, especially in online shopping. Lawmakers said the goal is to prevent that type of pricing from being used in grocery stores across Maryland. Moore said last week that he is excited to sign the new bill. The move comes as consumers say grocery costs are already stretching their budgets. “It’s literally kind of out of hand, almost to the point where it’s like I’m coming twice a week, and twice a week you’re spending easily $125 on a little bit of items,” shopper Deshawn Singleton told Nexstar’s WDCW. “I feel as though it’s a little bit high. … I feel like we can save on the food if we can just, I guess, cut down on the prices,” Latasha Johnson added. Moore has warned that without regulation, shoppers could end up paying different prices for the same items without knowing it. “Digital price tags are replacing paper ones… cameras are watching aisles… apps are moving from search-based to predictive and having true curated experiences that end up harming the average shopper,” Moore said during testimony last month. “If Myles [a member of Moore’s staff] and I were to go in a supermarket at the same time… we could pick up the exact same item and be charged a different price for it, because they know that I’ll pay it. This type of manipulation of data is not fair.” Some shoppers say the bill could make grocery costs more predictable, especially for families on tight budgets. “You never know what the price is going to be… it fluctuates week on week. So that will be a strong basis to have a set number for families to play around with,” one customer said. Justin Brookman, director of marketplace policy at Consumer Reports, says the bill is a step in the right direction but raises concerns about enforcement. “Another problem is there’s no real enforcement. Like, if you got caught doing it, all you need to do is stop once you get caught, and then there can’t be any fines,” Brookman said. The Maryland Retailers Alliance said the bill is a “workable framework.” “The final bill reflects a workable framework that achieves the stated policy goal of prohibiting the use of consumer data to increase prices while preserving the ability for retailers to offer discounts and promotions that benefit consumers,” a statement from the alliance reads. If signed into law, Maryland would become one of the first states in the country to restrict dynamic pricing in grocery stores. Once the bill is signed, it will go into effect in October. Click here to read the full article from The Hill .

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As published by Newsmax : Maryland has become the first state to ban "surveillance pricing" in grocery stores after lawmakers passed the Protection from Predatory Pricing Act earlier this month. The legislation, which takes effect Oct. 1, bans dynamic pricing and the use of surveillance data to tailor individual prices in grocery stores, protecting residents from intrusive data practices and sudden price swings that drive up the cost of groceries. "Marylanders deserve to know that the price they see on the shelf is the price they will pay at the register," Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement Monday. "Our administration is laser-focused on protecting Marylanders from skyrocketing costs. At a time when Marylanders are already stretched by the rising cost of groceries, housing, and everyday necessities, we must ensure that new technologies are not used to drive up the bill for working families." "I can't wait to sign it," Moore wrote in an April 14 post on X . Moore said the legislation can help shield Marylanders "from invasive data practices and unpredictable price spikes." Businesses that don't follow the new guidelines could be fined up to $10,000 for their first offense. Consumer Reports says the final draft of the bill falls short in its protection of consumers. "While it's encouraging to see the Maryland legislature take up this issue, this bill has loopholes that will limit its real-world impact," the organization said in a press release. "We urge other state legislatures considering personalized pricing legislation to build in stronger consumer protections and avoid loopholes that weakened this bill," the release added. The Maryland Retailers Alliance said the bill is a "workable framework."  "The final bill reflects a workable framework that achieves the stated policy goal of prohibiting the use of consumer data to increase prices while preserving the ability for retailers to offer discounts and promotions that benefit consumers," a statement from the alliance read. Click here to read the article from Newsmax .

As excerpted from Newsweek : Maryland lawmakers have are debating a bill that would require many retailers to accept cash for in-person purchases, with potential effects for about 6.1 million residents statewide. House Bill 191 would bar merchants from refusing cash in most in-person transactions and set civil penalties for violations, a change intended to preserve access for unbanked and underbanked consumers. Supporters said cashless policies can exclude low-income households, undocumented residents, and people without bank accounts from buying essentials, while opponents warned of added costs and potential safety risks for retailers. Cash usage has declined across the U.S. in recent years, though plenty of Americans still use it frequently. According to a 2025 report by the Federal Reserve, 14 percent of transactions in 2024 were completed in cash, and more than 90 percent of U.S. consumers intend to use cash as either a means of payment or store of value in the future. HB 191, titled "Consumer Protection—Retail Transactions—Cash Payments," was pre-filed by Delegate Greg Wims, a Montgomery County Democrat, and assigned to the House Economic Matters Committee. The measure would prohibit merchants, in covered transactions, from declining cash , requiring card payments, or charging a fee to customers who pay with cash, and violations would be enforced as unfair or deceptive practices under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act. The bill applies to in-person retail transactions between $5 and $300, with exclusions for phone, mail, internet, and parking transactions, according to the legislative summary. ... Delegate Gregory Wims said: "Cash is the staple of our country. No person should be prohibited from using legal tender when trying to buy groceries at the supermarket or clothes at a clothing store." Cailey Locklair, president of the Maryland Retailers Alliance , said: "There are many reasons why businesses are moving toward a cashless model," said, citing concerns about safety, organized retail crime, and costs such as safes and deposit fees. She said many retailers are using "app based, mobile kiosk-kind of models that are designed to be cashless for efficiency and speed." Click here to read the full article from Newsweek .