Read the full stored bill text
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1556*
HOUSE BILL 1556
C2 6lr3542
By: Delegate Ross
Introduced and read first time: February 13, 2026
Assigned to: Health
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Business Regulation – Sugary Beverage Advertisements – Warning Labels 2
FOR the purpose of prohibiting a person from placing an advertisement for a sugary 3
beverage on certain property unless the advertisement includes a certain warning; 4
and generally relating to advertisements for sugary beverages. 5
BY adding to 6
Article – Business Regulation 7
Section 19–110 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 10
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12
Article – Business Regulation 13
19–110. 14
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 15
INDICATED. 16
(2) “DIVISION” MEANS THE CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION OF 17
THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. 18
(3) (I) “NONNUTRITIVE SWEETENE R” MEANS A NONNUTRITIVE 19
SUBSTANCE SUITABLE FOR CONSUMPTION THAT HUMANS PERCEIVE AS SWEET AND 20
CONTAINS FEWER THAN FIVE CALORIES PER SERVING. 21
2 HOUSE BILL 1556
(II) “NONNUTRITIVE SWEETENER” INCLUDES: 1
1. ASPARTAME; 2
2. ACESULFAME–K; 3
3. NEOTAME, SACCHARIN; 4
4. SUCRALOSE, STEVIA; AND 5
5. OTHER ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS. 6
(III) “NONNUTRITIVE SWEETENER” DOES NOT INCLUDE SUGAR. 7
(4) “SUGARY BEVERAGE ” MEANS A BEVERAGE , WHETHER 8
CARBONATED OR NONCARBONATED, THAT IS INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION 9
AND CONTAINS ADDED SUGARS OR NONNUTRITIVE SWEETENERS. 10
(B) A PERSON MAY NOT PLACE AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR A SUGARY 11
BEVERAGE ON PROPERTY OWNED BY THE STATE, A COUNTY, OR A MUNICIPAL 12
CORPORATION UNLESS THE ADVERTISEMENT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING WARNING 13
LABEL: “WARNING: DRINKING BEVERAGES WITH ADDED SUGAR CAN CONTRIBUTE 14
TO OBESITY , TYPE 2 DIABETES, AND TOOTH DECAY . NOT RECOMMENDED FOR 15
CHILDREN. MARYLAND STATE HEALTH WARNING.”. 16
(C) THE WARNING LABEL REQUIR ED UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS 17
SECTION SHALL: 18
(1) BE IN BOLD TYPEFACE; 19
(2) BE PRINTED IN A BOX , VISUALLY SEPARATING THE WARNING 20
LABEL FROM THE OTHER CONTENT IN THE ADVERTISEMENT; AND 21
(3) BE HIGHLY VISIBLE TO A VIEWER OF THE ADVERTISEMENT. 22
(D) (1) THE DIVISION MAY IMPOSE A CIVIL PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED 23
$1,000 ON A PERSON THAT VIOLATES THIS SECTION. 24
(2) EACH DAY AN ADVERTISE MENT THAT VIOLATES T HIS SECTION 25
REMAINS ON PROPERTY OWNED BY THE STATE, A COUNTY , OR A MUNICIPAL 26
CORPORATION IS A SEPARATE VIOLATION. 27
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 28
October 1, 2026. 29