Secondhand Precious Metal Object Dealers - Temporary Event-Based Dealer Limited License - Establishment

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb1191*

HOUSE BILL 1191
C2 6lr3263

By: Delegate Boafo Delegates Boafo and Adams
Introduced and read first time: February 11, 2026
Assigned to: Economic Matters
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 6, 2026

CHAPTER ______

AN ACT concerning 1

Secondhand Precious Metal Object Dealers – Temporary Event–Based Dealer 2
Limited License – Establishment 3

FOR the purpose of establishing a limited license to do business as a temporary 4
event–based dealer in the State; authorizing a person that does not maintain a fixed 5
business address in the State to apply for a limited license; authorizing the Secretary 6
of Labor to issue a limited license to a person for the purpose of doing business at 7
certain locations; and generally relating to a limited license to do business as a 8
temporary event–based dealer in the State. 9

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 10
Article – Business Regulation 11
Section 12–101(a), (d), and (e), 12–303, and 12–305(a)(1)(i) 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14

BY adding to 15
Article – Business Regulation 16
Section 12–101(e–1) and (l) and 12–202.1 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 19

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 20
Article – Business Regulation 21
2 HOUSE BILL 1191

Section 12 –101(b), 12 –201, 12 –205 through 12 –210, 12 –212, 12 –304, 12 –306, 1
12–403, and 12–501 2
Annotated Code of Maryland 3
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 4

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 5
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 6

Article – Business Regulation 7

12–101. 8

(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 9

(b) (1) “Dealer” means: 10

(i) an individual who acquires commercially from the public or 11
trades commercially with the public in secondhand precious metal objects; 12

(ii) an individual who for compensation arranges for the sale or 13
delivery of a secondhand precious metal object on behalf of a person that does not hold a 14
license under this title; [or] 15

(iii) unless otherwise provided, a pawnbroker; OR 16

(IV) A TEMPORARY EVENT–BASED DEALER. 17

(2) “Dealer” includes a retail jeweler as to transactions in which the retail 18
jeweler acquires commercially from the public or trades commercially with the public in 19
secondhand precious metal objects. 20

(d) “Fixed business address” means a single physical location in Maryland where 21
a licensee regularly conducts business and at which the licensee or an employee of the 22
licensee is physically present: 23

(1) during normal business hours; or 24

(2) other hours as provided in the application for the license which are 25
sufficient to provide an authorized law enforcement officer or agent access to the licensee’s 26
place of business as provided in § 12–306 of this title. 27

(e) “License” means a license issued by the Secretary to do business as a dealer. 28

(E–1) “LIMITED LICENSE” MEANS A LICENSE ISSU ED BY THE SECRETARY TO 29
DO BUSINESS AS A TEMPORARY EVENT–BASED DEALER. 30

HOUSE BILL 1191 3

(L) “TEMPORARY EVENT –BASED DEALER ” MEANS A PERSON WHO 1
ACQUIRES COMMERCIALLY FROM THE PUBLIC OR TRADES COMMERCIALLY WITH 2
THE PUBLIC IN SECONDHAND PRECIOUS METAL OBJECTS AT DISCRETE EVENTS OF 3
LIMITED DURATION AT ONE OR MORE LOCATIONS THAT: 4

(1) ARE NOT THE PERMANEN T PLACE OF BUSINESS OF THE LIMITED 5
LICENSEE; AND 6

(2) ARE THE P ERMANENT PLACES OF B USINESS OF ONE OR MO RE 7
LICENSEES UNDER THIS TITLE. 8

12–201. 9

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this title, an individual shall have a license 10
before the individual does business as a dealer in the State. 11

(b) Except those pawnbroker s who are exempt from State licensing under § 12
12–102(c) of this title, all pawnbrokers must be licensed as dealers. 13

(C) A PERSON SHALL HAVE A LIMITED LICENSE BEFORE THE PERSON DOES 14
BUSINESS AS A TEMPORARY EVENT–BASED DEALER IN THE STATE. 15

12–202.1. 16

(A) AN APPLICANT THAT DOES NOT MAINTAIN A FIXED BUSINESS ADDRESS 17
IN THE STATE MAY APPLY TO THE SECRETARY FOR A LIMITED LICENSE UNDER THIS 18
SUBTITLE. 19

(B) (1) AN APPLICANT FOR A LIMITED LICENSE SHALL: 20

(I) SUBMIT TO THE SECRETARY AN APPLICATION ON THE FORM 21
THAT THE SECRETARY PROVIDES; AND 22

(II) PAY TO THE SECRETARY AN APPLICATION FEE OF $300. 23

(2) THE APPLICATION FEE IS NONREFUNDABLE. 24

(C) THE APPLICANT SHALL SIGN THE APPLICATION UNDER OATH. 25

(D) IN ADDITION TO ANY OT HER INFORMATION THAT THE SECRETARY 26
REQUIRES, THE APPLICATION SHALL STATE: 27

(1) THE NAME AND PRINCIPAL ADDRESS OF THE APPLICANT; 28

4 HOUSE BILL 1191

(2) A TELEPHONE NUMBER A T WHICH THE APPLICAN T CAN BE 1
REACHED DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS; 2

(3) EACH ADDRESS WHERE T HE APPLICANT HAS CON DUCTED ANY 3
BUSINESS DURING THE 36 MONTHS BEFORE APPLICATION; 4

(4) THE NAME AND PERMANE NT ADDRESS OF EACH E MPLOYEE WHO 5
WILL WORK WITH THE A PPLICANT IN THE BUSI NESS OF THE APPLICAN T AS A 6
TEMPORARY EVENT–BASED DEALER; 7

(5) (I) THE FIXED BUSINESS A DDRESS OF AN INDIVID UAL 8
LICENSED UNDER THIS TITLE WHERE THE APPL ICANT PRIMARILY WILL CONDUCT 9
BUSINESS AS A TEMPORARY EVENT–BASED DEALER; 10

(II) THE NAME AND TELEPHO NE NUMBER OF AN INDI VIDUAL 11
WHO HAS AUTHORITY TO GRANT ACCESS TO THE PREMISES AT THE FIXED BUSINESS 12
ADDRESS SPECIFIED IN ITEM (I) OF THIS ITEM AND WHO CAN BE REACHED DURING 13
NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS; AND 14

(III) THE INFORMATION SPECIFIED IN ITEMS (I) AND (II) OF THIS 15
ITEM FOR EACH ADDITI ONAL FIXED BUSINESS ADDRESS OF AN INDIVI DUAL 16
LICENSED UNDER THIS TITLE WHERE THE APPLICANT WILL CONDUCT BUSINESS AS 17
A TEMPORARY EVENT–BASED DEALER, IF ANY; AND 18

(6) THE FIXED ADDRESS IN THE STATE WHERE PRECIOUS METAL 19
OBJECTS WILL BE STOR ED, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT A BANK OR SAFE DEPOSIT 20
BOX IS NOT AN ACCEPT ABLE STORAGE LOCATIO N UN LESS WRITTEN CONSENT BY 21
THE APPLICANT AND A BANK OFFICIAL AUTHOR IZING ACCESS TO THE STORAGE 22
FACILITY AND EXAMINA TION OF ITS CONTENTS BY LAW ENFORCEMENT O FFICERS 23
OR AGENTS ACCOMPANIES THE APPLICATION. 24

(E) THE APPLICATION FORM SHALL CONTAIN , IMMEDIATELY ABOVE THE 25
SIGNATURE LINE, THE FOLLOWING: 26

“IF ISSUED A LIMITED LICENSE, I AGREE TO ALLOW A MUNICIPAL, COUNTY, OR 27
STATE POLICE OFFICER OR AGENT ACTING IN THE COURSE OF A STOLEN PROPERTY 28
INVESTIGATION OR AN INVESTIGATION OF A V IOLATION OF TITLE 12 OF THE 29
BUSINESS REGULATION ARTICLE TO INSPECT AN D PHOTOGRAPH ALL PRE CIOUS 30
METAL OBJECTS AND RECORDS AT MY BUSINESS OR STORAGE LOCATIONS.”. 31

12–205. 32

(a) Upon receipt of a complete national and State criminal record report from the 33
Central Repository in accordance with § 12–204 of this subtitle, the Secretary shall issue a 34
HOUSE BILL 1191 5

license OR LIMITED LICENSE to each applicant who meets the requirements of this 1
subtitle. 2

(b) The Secretary: 3

(1) may issue a license only for a fixed business address; but 4

(2) may not issue a license for an address that is: 5

(i) a hotel or motel room; 6

(ii) a motor vehicle; 7

(iii) a post office box; or 8

(iv) a location which does not meet the qualifications as defined in § 9
12–101(d) of this title. 10

(c) The Secretary may not issue more than 1 license for any single business 11
location unless the dealers at that location are in partnership. 12

(d) The Secretary may not issue a license OR LIMITED LICENSE to a minor. 13

(e) Whenever a license is suspended or revoked, another license may not be issued 14
to a dealer for the same business location unless the applicant provides the documentation 15
and information, which the Secretary establishes by regulation, is necessary to 16
demonstrate that the applicant will be engaging in a business which is separate and 17
independent from the business of the revoked or suspended license. 18

(F) THE SECRETARY MAY ISSUE A LIMITED LICENSE TO A PERSON FOR THE 19
PURPOSE OF DOING BUSINESS AS A TEMPORARY EVENT–BASED DEALER AT ONE OR 20
MORE FIXED BUSINESS ADDRESSES OF I NDIVIDUALS LICENSED UNDER THIS 21
SUBTITLE. 22

12–206. 23

(a) A license authorizes the licensee to do business as a dealer only at the address 24
for which the license is issued. 25

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a dealer who holds a license 26
under this subtitle may: 27

(1) make purchases at an estate and judicial sale; and 28

(2) transact business at the residence of the owner of a precious metal 29
object or a place where the owner keeps a precious metal object: 30
6 HOUSE BILL 1191

(i) on request of the owner; and 1

(ii) after giving written notice of the proposed transaction and its 2
location to the local law enforcement unit with jurisdiction over that location. 3

(C) (1) A LIMITED LICENSE AUTHORIZES THE LIMITED L ICENSEE TO DO 4
BUSINESS AS A TEMPOR ARY EVENT–BASED DEALER ONLY AT THE F IXED BUSINESS 5
ADDRESSES OF INDIVID UALS LICENSED UNDER THIS TITLE INCLUDED IN THE 6
LICENSEE’S APPLICATION FOR A LIMITED LICENSE. 7

(2) FOR THE PURPOSES OF T HIS TITLE , THE FIXED BUSINESS 8
ADDRESS OF AN INDIVI DUAL LICENSED UNDER THIS TITLE WHERE THE LIMITED 9
LICENSEE PRIMARILY W ILL CONDUCT BUSINESS AS A TEMPORARY EVENT –BASED 10
DEALER SHALL BE CONS IDERED THE FIXED BUS INESS ADDRESS OF THE LIMITED 11
LICENSEE. 12

(3) THE HOLDER OF A LIMITED LICENSE SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR 13
ALL RECORD –KEEPING REQUIREMENTS, RECORD RETENTION REQ UIREMENTS, 14
HOLDING PERIOD REQUIREMENTS, AND INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS IMPOSED ON 15
DEALERS UNDER SUBTITLES 3 AND 4 OF THIS TITLE. 16

12–207. 17

(a) Unless a license OR LIMITED LICENSE is renewed for a 2 –year term as 18
provided in this section, the license OR LIMITED LICENSE expires on the first April 30 that 19
comes: 20

(1) after the effective date of the license OR LIMITED LICENSE; and 21

(2) in an even–numbered year. 22

(b) (1) At least 1 month before a license OR LIMITED LICENSE expires, the 23
Secretary shall mail or electronically transmit to the licensee OR LIMITED LICENSEE: 24

(i) a renewal application form; and 25

(ii) a notice that states: 26

1. the date on which the current license OR LIMITED 27
LICENSE expires; and 28

2. the amount of the renewal fee. 29

HOUSE BILL 1191 7

(2) If an electronic transmission under paragraph (1) of this subsection is 1
returned to the Secretary as undeliverable, the Secretary shall mail to the licensee OR 2
LIMITED LICENSEE, at the last known address of the license e OR LIMITED LICENSEE, 3
the materials required under paragraph (1) of this subsection within 10 business days of 4
the date the Secretary received the notice that the electronic transmission was 5
undeliverable. 6

(c) Before a license OR LIMITED LICENSE expires, the licensee OR LIMITED 7
LICENSEE periodically may renew it for an additional 2 –year term, if the licensee OR 8
LIMITED LICENSEE: 9

(1) submits to the Secretary a renewal application on the form that the 10
Secretary provides; 11

(2) signs the renewal application under oath; 12

(3) updates the information submitted in the original application and 13
states that the information is current; 14

(4) except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, agrees to comply 15
with each requirement applicable to the original application; 16

(5) states that the licensee OR LIMITED LICENSEE: 17

(i) has not violated this title; 18

(ii) has not been convicted of an offense specified in § 12–209 of this 19
subtitle; and 20

(iii) has not had a similar license denied, suspended, or revoked in 21
another jurisdiction; 22

(6) otherwise is entitled to be licensed; and 23

(7) pays to the Secretary a renewal fee of $265. 24

(d) The Secretary may require a licensee OR LIMITED LICENSEE to submit a 25
national and State criminal history records check with the renewal application. 26

(e) The Secretary shall renew the license of each licensee , OR THE LIMITED 27
LICENSE OF EACH LIMITED LICENSEE, who meets the requirements of this section. 28

(f) A license OR LIMITED LICENSE is not transferable and may be us ed only to 29
benefit the licensee OR LIMITED LICENSEE. 30

8 HOUSE BILL 1191

(g) (1) A licensee may change the place of business for which a license is issued 1
only if the licensee: 2

(i) submits to the Secretary an application to transfer the license to 3
a new business location on a form that the Secretary provides; and 4

(ii) receives the written approval of the Secretary. 5

(2) A LIMITED LICENSEE MAY CHANGE THE LIST OF FIXED BUSINESS 6
ADDRESSES OF INDIVID UALS LICENSED UNDER THIS TITLE WHERE THE LIMITED 7
LICENSEE IS AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT BUSINESS ONLY IF THE LIMITED LICENSEE: 8

(I) SUBMITS TO THE SECRETARY AN APPLICATION TO CHANGE 9
THE LOCATIONS ON A FORM THAT THE SECRETARY PROVIDES; AND 10

(II) RECEIVES THE WRITTEN APPROVAL OF THE SECRETARY. 11

[(2)] (3) Within 45 days after the application is filed with the Secretary, 12
the Secretary shall approve or disapprove the application and notify the licensee OR 13
LIMITED LICENSEE of the approval or disapproval, in writing. 14

[(3)] (4) If the Secretary approves a proposed change of place of business, 15
the licensee shall: 16

(i) submit to the Secretary a current list of names of each employee 17
to be employed at the new location; and 18

(ii) attach the written approval of the Secretary to the license until 19
an amended license is received by the licensee. 20

(5) IF THE SECRETARY APPROVES A PROPOSED CHANGE TO T HE 21
LOCATIONS WHERE A LI MITED LICENSEE IS AU THORIZED TO CONDUCT BUSINESS 22
UNDER PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE LIMITED LICENSEE SHALL 23
ATTACH THE WRITTEN A PPROVAL OF THE SECRETARY TO THE LIMIT ED LICENSE 24
UNTIL AN AMENDED LIMITED LICENSE IS RECEIVED BY THE LIMITED LICENSEE. 25

(h) The Secretary may determine that licenses AND LIMITED LICENSES issued 26
under this subtitle shall expire on a staggered basis. 27

12–208. 28

(a) (1) Each licensee shall display the license conspicuously in the place of 29
business of the licensee. 30

HOUSE BILL 1191 9

(2) EACH LIMITED LICENSEE SHALL DISPLAY THE LI MITED LICENSE 1
CONSPICUOUSLY AT EAC H LOCATION THAT THE LIMITED LICENSEE ACT S AS A 2
TEMPORARY EVENT–BASED DEALER. 3

(b) (1) Only a licensed dealer OR LIMITED LICENSEE may advertise for the 4
commercial trading with the public or acquiring from the public in secondhand precious 5
metal objects. 6

(2) An advertisement for the commercial trading with the public or 7
acquiring from the public in secondhand precious metal objects shall include the name and 8
license number of the licensee OR LIMITED LICENSEE , in compliance with applicable 9
regulations adopted by the Department. 10

12–209. 11

(A) IN THIS SECTION , “LICENSE” INCLUDES A LIMITED L ICENSE ISSUED 12
UNDER THIS TITLE. 13

[(a)] (B) (1) Except as otherwise provided, in this subsection, a dealer’s or 14
applicant’s agents, employees, management personnel, or partners include only those 15
individuals who are directly involved in pawn transactions or the acquisition or sale of 16
secondhand precious metals on behalf of the dealer or applicant. 17

(2) Subject to the hearing provisions of § 12 –210 of this subtitle, the 18
Secretary may deny a license to an applicant, reprimand a licensee, or suspend or revoke a 19
license if the applicant or licensee or an agent, employee, manager, or partner of the 20
applicant or licensee: 21

(i) fraudulently or deceptively obtains or attempts to obt ain a 22
license for the applicant or licensee or for another person; 23

(ii) fraudulently or deceptively uses a license; 24

(iii) has a similar license denied, suspended, or revoked in another 25
jurisdiction; 26

(iv) under the laws of the United States or o f any state, is convicted 27
of a: 28

1. felony; or 29

2. misdemeanor that is directly related to the fitness and 30
qualification of the applicant or licensee to be involved in a pawn transaction or the sale or 31
acquisition of secondhand precious metals; 32

10 HOUSE BILL 1191

(v) knowingly employs or knowingly continues to employ, after being 1
notified by the Secretary, an individual who, under the laws of the United States or of any 2
state, is convicted of: 3

1. a felony; or 4

2. a misdemeanor that is directly related to the fitness and 5
qualification of the employee to be involved in a pawn transaction or the sale or acquisition 6
of secondhand precious metals; 7

(vi) knowingly employs or knowingly continues to employ in any 8
capacity, after being notified by the Secretary, an individual whose precious metals dealer’s 9
license has been revoked; 10

(vii) willfully fails to provide or willfully misrepresents any 11
information required to be provided under this title; 12

(viii) violates this title; or 13

(ix) violates a regulation adopted under this title. 14

(3) (i) Instead of or in addition to reprimanding a licensee or 15
suspending or revoking a license under this subsection, the Secretary may impose a penalty 16
not exceeding $5,000 for each violation. 17

(ii) To determine the a mount of the penalty imposed under this 18
subsection, the Secretary shall consider: 19

1. the seriousness of the violation; 20

2. the harm caused by the violation; 21

3. the good faith of the licensee; and 22

4. any history of previous violations by the licensee. 23

(4) The Secretary shall pay any penalty collected under this subsection into 24
the General Fund of the State. 25

(5) The Secretary shall distribute periodically to all dealers a list of 26
individuals whose licenses have been revoked in the State. 27

[(b)] (C) (1) If a licensee is charged with a violation of this title that could 28
result in suspension or revocation of the license, or if the Secretary has probable cause to 29
believe that this title has been, or will be, violated through transactions likely to occur 30
pursuant to § 12 –206 of this subtitle, the Secretary may seek from a circuit court an 31
immediate restraining order to prohibit the licensee from: 32
HOUSE BILL 1191 11

(i) buying or selling a secondhand precious metal object; 1

(ii) disposing of a secondhand precious metal object; or 2

(iii) disposing of a record about a secondhand precious metal object. 3

(2) The restraining order is in effect until: 4

(i) the court lifts the order; 5

(ii) the charges are adjudicated or dismissed; or 6

(iii) in the case of an event held in accordance with § 12 –206 of this 7
subtitle, arrangements are made by the licensee which will ensure compliance with the 8
provisions of this title. 9

[(c)] (D) The Secretary shall consider the following facts in the granting, denial, 10
renewal, suspension, or revocation of a license or the reprimand of a licensee when an 11
applicant or licensee is convicted of a felony or misdemeanor described in subsection 12
[(a)(2)(iv)] (B)(2)(IV) of this section: 13

(1) the nature of the crime; 14

(2) the relationship of the crime to the activities authorized by the license; 15

(3) with respect to a felony, the relevance of the conviction to the fitness 16
and qualification of the applicant or licensee to act as a pawnbroker or a secondhand 17
precious metal object dealer; 18

(4) the length of time since the conviction; and 19

(5) the behavior and activities of the applicant or licensee before and after 20
the conviction. 21

12–210. 22

(A) IN THIS SECTION , “LICENSE” INCLUDES A LIMITED L ICENSE ISSUED 23
UNDER THIS TITLE. 24

[(a)] (B) Except as otherwise provided in § 10 –226 of the State Government 25
Article, before the Secretary takes any final action under § 12 –209 of this subtitle, the 26
Secretary shall give the individual against whom the action is contemplated an opportunity 27
for a hearing before the Secretary. 28

12 HOUSE BILL 1191

[(b)] (C) The Secretary shall give notice and hold the hearing in accordance with 1
Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the State Government Article. 2

[(c)] (D) The Secretary may administer oaths in a proceeding under this section. 3

[(d)] (E) If, after due notice, the individual against whom the action is 4
contemplated does not appear, nevertheless the Secretary may hear and determine the 5
matter. 6

12–212. 7

The Secretary shall inform each primary law enforcement unit of each license OR 8
LIMITED LICENSE that is issued, renewed, changed to a new business location, denied, 9
suspended, or revoked. 10

12–303. 11

Unless otherwise authorized by the Secretary, a dealer sh all keep the records 12
required by this subtitle, at a location within the State, for 3 years after the date of the 13
transaction. 14

12–304. 15

(a) (1) A dealer shall submit the required information from each record to the 16
primary law enforcement unit in accordance with subsection (b) of this section. 17

(2) If the dealer transacts business in accordance with § 12 –206(b) of this 18
title, the dealer also shall submit the required information from the records to the local law 19
enforcement unit in accordance with subsection (b) of this section. 20

(3) On the request of a dealer, the Secretary shall provide to the dealer a 21
list of local law enforcement units. 22

(b) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the dealer shall submit the 23
records by transmitting the required information from the records electronically, in a 24
format acceptable to the receiving law enforcement unit, by noon of the next business day. 25

(2) A dealer may request an extension of up to 48 hours to submit the 26
records required under paragraph (1) of this subsection. 27

(c) Each record, submitted to the primary law enforcement unit and, if applicable, 28
local law enforcement unit, shall include: 29

(1) the license OR LIMITED LICENSE number of the dealer; 30

(2) the location of each item listed in the record; and 31
HOUSE BILL 1191 13

(3) the information required under § 12–302 of this subtitle. 1

(d) The required information from a record submitted under this section: 2

(1) shall be kept confidential; 3

(2) is not a public record; and 4

(3) is not subject to Title 4 of the General Provisions Article. 5

(e) The primary law enforcement unit shall adopt a procedure for a dealer to 6
amend a record required to be submitted under this section. 7

(f) A law enforcement unit may cease to maintain a record submitted under this 8
section after 1 year from the date the law enforcement unit receives the copy. 9

12–305. 10

(a) (1) (i) 1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a dealer who 11
acquires a precious metal object shall keep it in the county where the dealer holds a license 12
from the time of acquisition until at least 18 days after submitting a copy of a record of its 13
acquisition under § 12–304 of this subtitle. 14

2. Notwithstanding subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the 15
18–day holding period established under thi s subparagraph applies to a precious metal 16
object that: 17

A. a dealer licensed in Prince George’s County acquired in a 18
pawn transaction; and 19

B. an individual seeks to redeem by presenting the original 20
ticket issued as part of the pawn transaction. 21

12–306. 22

(a) A dealer shall allow an authorized law enforcement officer or agent, on 23
request, to enter the place of business or storage premises of the dealer during business 24
hours to inspect a record required to be maintained under this title or precious metal object 25
as part of a stolen property investigation or an investigation of a violation of this title. 26

(b) (1) On request of the dealer, the officer or agent shall make the inspection 27
in the presence of the dealer or an agent of the dealer. 28

(2) If the dealer refuses to allow access or produce the record or precious 29
metal object for inspection, the officer or agent shall seek a search warrant. 30

14 HOUSE BILL 1191

(3) A warrant authorizing an administrative inspection for possible 1
regulatory violations shall be issu ed if the officer or agent establishes probable cause for 2
the selection of the place of business in question for inspection and that the inspection will 3
be reasonably limited in time, place, and scope. 4

(c) A dealer who refuses to allow access or to produ ce records or precious metal 5
objects for inspection on request, shall be subject to the provisions of § 12 –209 of this title 6
and, in addition, may be assessed a civil penalty as provided in subsection (d) of this section. 7

(d) (1) The Secretary may impose on a licensee OR LIMITED LICENSEE who 8
violates this section a civil penalty not exceeding $500 for each violation. 9

(2) In setting the amount of a civil penalty under this subsection, the 10
Secretary shall consider: 11

(i) the seriousness of the violation; 12

(ii) the good faith of the violator; 13

(iii) any previous violations; 14

(iv) the harmful effect of the violation on the complainant, the public, 15
and the business of the dealer or pawnbroker; and 16

(v) any other relevant factors. 17

12–403. 18

(a) If there is probable cause to believe that a violation of this title has occurred, 19
the Secretary shall have the authority to issue subpoenas for records, reports, or articles in 20
connection with any investigation or administrative proceeding under this title. 21

(b) If a licensee [or a licensee’s ], A LICENSEE ’S EMPLOYEE , A LIMITED 22
LICENSEE, OR A LIMITED LICENSEE’S employee fails to comply with a subpoena issued 23
under this section, on petition of the Secretary, a circuit court may compel compliance with 24
the subpoena. 25

12–501. 26

Except as otherwise provided in this title, a person may not do business as a dealer 27
in the State unless the person has a license OR A LIMITED LICENSE. 28

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 29
1, 2026. 30