Read the full stored bill text
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.
*hb1214*
HOUSE BILL 1214
R4 6lr2053
HB 1275/24 – ECM CF SB 345
By: Delegate Amprey
Introduced and read first time: February 11, 2026
Assigned to: Economic Matters
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 23, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Vehicle Manufacturers and Dealers – Dealer and Manufacturer Associations – 2
Administrative Hearings 3
FOR the purpose of authorizing a vehicle dealer association and a vehicle manufacturer 4
association to request an administrative hearing on certain matters , subject to 5
certain requirements ; and generally relating to vehicle dealer and vehicle 6
manufacturer associations. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 8
Article – Transportation 9
Section 15–201(a) 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 12
BY adding to 13
Article – Transportation 14
Section 15–201(a–1) and (f) 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 17
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 18
Article – Transportation 19
Section 15–201(f) and 15–214 20
Annotated Code of Maryland 21
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 22
2 HOUSE BILL 1214
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 2
Article – Transportation 3
15–201. 4
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 5
(A–1) “DEALER ASSOCIATION” MEANS A BUSINESS ENTITY THAT: 6
(1) IS PRIMARILY OWNED BY OR COMPOSED OF DEALE RS THAT 7
COLLECTIVELY REPRESE NT A MAJORITY OF THE FRANCHISED DEALERS I N THE 8
STATE; AND 9
(2) PRIMARILY REPRESENTS THE INTERESTS OF DEALERS. 10
(F) “MANUFACTURER ASSOCIATION” MEANS A BUSINESS ENTITY THAT: 11
(1) IS PRIMARILY OWNED BY OR COMPOSED OF MANUF ACTURERS 12
THAT COLLECTIVELY RE PRESENT A MAJORITY O F THE MANUFACTURERS IN THE 13
STATE; AND 14
(2) PRIMARILY REPRESENTS THE INTERESTS OF MANUFACTURERS. 15
[(f)] (G) “Second–stage manufacturer” has the meaning stated in § 13 –113.2 of 16
this article. 17
15–214. 18
(A) [In] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (B) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION 19
(B) OF THIS SECTION AND EXCEPT AS PROVIDED I N SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS 20
SECTION, IN addition to any other right to request a hearing under this subtitle and 21
notwithstanding any provisions of the franchise agreement to the contrary, a dealer, 22
designated dealer successor as provided in § 15 –211.1 of this subtitle, DEALER 23
ASSOCIATION ON BEHAL F OF ITSELF , A DEALER , OR A GROUP OF DEALER S, 24
manufacturer, MANUFACTURER ASSOCIA TION ON BEHALF OF IT SELF, A 25
MANUFACTURER, OR A GROUP OF MANUFACTURERS, distributor, or factory branch may 26
request a hearing under Title 12, Subtitle 2 of this article to: 27
(1) Resolve a dispute under any provision of this title between a dealer [or], 28
a designated dealer successor , OR A DEALER ASSOCIAT ION and a manufacturer, 29
MANUFACTURER ASSOCIATION, distributor, or factory branch; or 30
HOUSE BILL 1214 3
(2) Seek clarification or interpretation of any provision of this [subtitle] 1
TITLE. 2
(B) A DEALER ASSOCIATION MAY REQUEST A HEARING UNDER SUBSECTION 3
(A)(1) OF THIS SECTION ONLY IF: 4
(1) AT LEAST ONE MEMBER O F THE DEALER ASSOCIA TION HAS A 5
DISPUTE UNDER ANY PR OVISION OF THIS TITL E WITH A MANUFACTURE R, 6
DISTRIBUTOR, OR FACTORY BRANCH; 7
(2) THE INTERESTS THAT TH E DEALER ASSOCIATION SEEKS TO 8
PROTECT ARE GERMANE TO THE PURPOSE OF THE DEALER ASSOCIATION; AND 9
(3) THE CLAIM ASSERTED AN D THE RELIEF REQUEST ED DO NOT 10
REQUIRE THE PARTICIPATION OF EACH OF THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS. 11
(C) SUBSECTION (A)(1) OF THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A DISPU TE 12
INVOLVING A MANUFACT URER, DISTRIBUTOR, OR FACTORY BRANCH TH AT DOES 13
NOT HAVE AT LEAST ONE FRANCHISED DEALER IN THIS STATE. 14
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 15
October 1, 2026. 16
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.