Delivery Network Companies and Delivery Network Services - Regulation and Transparency

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1584*

HOUSE BILL 1584
C5 6lr2706

By: Delegate Stewart
Introduced and read first time: February 13, 2026
Assigned to: Economic Matters

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Delivery Network Companies and Delivery Network Services – Regulation and 2
Transparency 3

FOR the purpose of establishing a framework for the regulation of delivery network 4
companies and delivery network services in the State, including establishing 5
permitting and licensing requirements, digital network requirements, reporting 6
requirements, and payment, earnings, and receipt requirements ; and generally 7
relating to delivery network companies and delivery network services. 8

BY adding to 9
Article – Public Utilities 10
Section 10A–101 through 10A –109 to be under the new title “Title 10A. Delivery 11
Network Services” 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 15
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 16

Article – Public Utilities 17

TITLE 10A. DELIVERY NETWORK SERVICES. 18

10A–101. 19

(A) IN THIS TITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 20
INDICATED. 21

2 HOUSE BILL 1584

(B) “DELIVERY NETWORK COMPANY” MEANS A COMPANY THAT OPERATES 1
IN THE STATE USING A DIGITAL NETWORK TO FACILITATE DELIVERY NETWORK 2
SERVICES WITHIN THE STATE ON AN ON–DEMAND BASIS. 3

(C) “DELIVERY NETWORK OPERATOR ” OR “OPERATOR” MEANS AN 4
INDIVIDUAL WHO: 5

(1) HAS BEEN ISSUED A DELIVERY NETWORK OPERATOR’S LICENSE 6
OR IS OTHERWISE AUTH ORIZED BY THE COMMISSION TO PROVIDE DELIVERY 7
NETWORK SERVICES; 8

(2) RECEIVES, THROUGH A DELIVERY NETWORK COMPANY’S DIGITAL 9
NETWORK APPLICATION OR PLATFORM, A CONNECTION TO A POTENTIAL CUSTOMER 10
TO FULFILL A REQUEST FOR DELIVERY NETWORK SERVICES IN EXCHANGE FOR THE 11
PAYMENT OF A FEE TO THE DELIVERY NETWORK COMPANY; AND 12

(3) USES A MOTOR VEHICLE THAT IS OWNED, LEASED, OR OTHERWISE 13
AUTHORIZED FOR USE B Y THE INDIVIDUAL AND IS APPROVED F OR USE IN 14
PROVIDING DELIVERY NETWORK SERVICES BY THE COMMISSION. 15

(D) “DELIVERY NETWORK SERVICES” MEANS AN OPERATOR’S COLLECTION 16
AND DELIVERY OF ITEMS TO A CUSTOMER FOR ITEMS THAT: 17

(1) ARE REQUESTED BY A CUSTOMER THROUGH A DELIVERY 18
NETWORK COMPANY’S DIGITAL NETWORK; AND 19

(2) THE COLLECTION AND DELIVERY OF WHICH ARE FACILITATED BY 20
A DELIVERY NETWORK COMPANY. 21

(E) “ON–DEMAND BASIS ” MEANS A DELIVERY NETWORK O PERATOR IS 22
PROVIDED WITH THE OP PORTUNITY TO ACCEPT OR REJECT A REQUEST FOR 23
DELIVERY NETWORK SERVICES. 24

10A–102. 25

THIS TITLE APPLIES TO DELIVERY NETWORK COMPANIES, OPERATORS, AND 26
DELIVERY NETWORK SERVICES. 27

10A–103. 28

(A) THE COMMISSION SHALL ADOP T REGULATIONS TO ENS URE THAT 29
DELIVERY NETWORK COMPANIES AN D OPERATORS ARE MAKI NG REASONABLE 30
HOUSE BILL 1584 3

EFFORTS TO MAKE DELIVERY NETWORK SERVICES ACC ESSIBLE TO ALL PEOPL E, 1
INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. 2

(B) THE REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSION UNDER SUBSECTION 3
(A) OF THIS SECTION SHALL PROVIDE FOR: 4

(1) THE ACCESSIBILITY OF WEBSITES AND MOBILE APPLICATIONS 5
USED TO PROVIDE DELIVERY NETWORK SERVICES; 6

(2) THE REASONABLE ACCOM MODATIONS NECESSARY TO SERVE 7
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES; AND 8

(3) THE PROVISION OF INF ORMATION TO AN OPERA TOR BY A 9
DELIVERY NETWORK COMPANY RELATED TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL AND 10
STATE LAWS RELATED TO ANTIDISCRIMINATION. 11

10A–104. 12

A DELIVERY NETWORK COMPANY MAY NOT OPERATE IN THE STATE UNLESS 13
THE COMMISSION HAS ISSUED A PERMIT TO THE DELIVERY NETWORK COMPANY. 14

10A–105. 15

(A) AN OPERATOR MAY NOT P ROVIDE DELIVERY NETW ORK SERVICES 16
UNLESS THE COMMISSION HAS AUTHOR IZED THE OPERATOR TO OPERATE ON A 17
PROVISIONAL BASIS OR HAS ISSUED A VALID TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT DELIVERY 18
NETWORK OPERATOR’S LICENSE TO PROVIDE DELIVERY NETWORK SERVICES. 19

(B) THE COMMISSION MAY APPROV E AN APPLICANT TO BE AN OPERATOR 20
AND ISSUE A TEMPORAR Y DELIVERY NETWORK O PERATOR’S LICENSE TO THE 21
APPLICANT IF: 22

(1) THE APPLICANT PROVID ES ALL INFORMATION T HAT THE 23
COMMISSION REQUIRES F OR THE APP LICATION, INCLUDING THE INFORM ATION 24
SPECIFIED IN ITEM (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION; AND 25

(2) THE COMMISSION IS SATISFI ED WITH THE SUCCESSF UL 26
SUBMISSION OF THE APPLICANT’S: 27

(I) NATIONAL CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS CHECK: 28

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1. CONDUCTED BY A CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCY AS 1
DEFINED UNDER § 14–1201 OF THE COMMERCIAL LAW ARTICLE OR A COMPARABLE 2
ENTITY APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION; AND 3

2. THAT INCLUDES: 4

A. A MULTI–STATE MULTI–JURISDICTION CRIMINAL 5
RECORDS DATABASE SEARCH OR A SEARCH OF A SIMILAR NATIONWIDE DATABASE 6
WITH VALIDATION; 7

B. A SEARCH OF THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY; AND 8

C. A SEARCH OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE’S 9
NATIONAL SEX OFFENDER PUBLIC WEBSITE; AND 10

(II) DRIVING RECORD CHECK THAT INCLUDES A DRIV ING 11
HISTORY RESEARCH REPORT. 12

(C) A DELIVERY NETWORK COM PANY MAY SUBMIT THE INFORMATION 13
UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION ON BEHALF OF AN OPERATOR. 14

(D) THE COMMISSION SHALL ADOP T REGULATIONS THAT P ROVIDE A 15
PROCESS THAT IS AS EXPEDITIOUS AS POSSIBLE AND USES ELECTRONIC MEANS FOR: 16

(1) THE SUBMISSION OF TH E INFORMATION UNDER SUBSECTION (B) 17
OF THIS SECTION; 18

(2) THE ISSUANCE OF A TE MPORARY OR PERMANENT DELIVERY 19
NETWORK OPERATOR’S LICENSE AND ALTERNATIVE AUTHORITY TO OPERATE ON A 20
PROVISIONAL BASIS; AND 21

(3) THE RENEWAL OF A DELIVERY NETWORK OPERATOR’S LICENSE. 22

(E) (1) RECORDS OR INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE COMMISSION BY A 23
DELIVERY NETWORK COM PANY UNDER THIS SECT ION OR DISCLOSED BY THE 24
COMMISSION UNDER PARA GRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION A RE NOT SUBJECT TO 25
RELEASE UNDER THE PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT. 26

(2) THE COMMISSION MAY NOT DI SCLOSE RECORDS OR 27
INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE COMMISSION UNDER THIS SECTION TO ANY 28
PERSON UNLESS: 29

HOUSE BILL 1584 5

(I) THE DISCLOSURE IS REQUIRED BY COURT ORDER OR ORDER 1
OF THE MARYLAND TAX COURT; OR 2

(II) THE DISCLOSURE IS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 10–119.3 3
OF THE FAMILY LAW ARTICLE. 4

(3) ON NOTICE THAT A PERS ON IS SEEKING RECORD S OR 5
INFORMATION UNDER PA RAGRAPH (2)(I) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE COMMISSION 6
PROMPTLY SHALL NOTIFY THE DELIVERY NETWORK COMPANY BEFORE DISCLOSING 7
THE RECORDS OR INFORMATION. 8

10A–106. 9

(A) A DELIVERY NETWORK COMPANY’S DIGITAL NETWORK APPLICATION OR 10
PLATFORM SHALL ILLUS TRATE FOR EACH OPERA TOR, BEFORE ACCEPTING OR 11
REJECTING A REQUEST FOR DELIVERY NETWORK SERVICES: 12

(1) THE ESTIMATED DISTAN CE AND TIME ASSOCIATED WITH THE 13
DELIVERY NETWORK SERVICE; 14

(2) THE MINIMUM GUARANTE ED PAY , EXCLUDING GRATUITIES OR 15
TIPS; AND 16

(3) INFORMATION ON HOW G RATUITIES OR TIPS MA Y BE MODIFIED 17
AFTER COMPLETION OF THE DELIVERY NETWORK SERVICE. 18

(B) A DELIVERY NETWORK COMPANY MAY NOT REQUIRE AN OPERATOR TO 19
ACCEPT A SPECIFIC DELIVERY REQUEST AS A CONDITION OF MAINTAINING ACCESS 20
TO THE DELIVERY NETWORK COMPANY’S DIGITAL NETWORK. 21

10A–107. 22

(A) ALL GRATUITIES AND TI PS EARNED BY AN OPER ATOR FOR DELIVERY 23
NETWORK SERVICES SH ALL BE PROVIDED TO T HE OPERATOR IN FULL AND 24
SEPARATELY ITEMIZED. 25

(B) A DELIVERY NETWORK COM PANY MAY NOT REDUCE IN ANY WAY AN 26
OPERATOR’S PAY IN RESPONSE TO GRATUITIES OR TIPS EARNED BY THE OPERATOR. 27

10A–108. 28

(A) A DELIVERY NETWORK COM PANY SHALL PROVIDE EACH CUSTOMER 29
AND OPERATOR A DIGITAL RECEIPT FOR EACH DELIVERY NETWORK SERVICE THAT 30
6 HOUSE BILL 1584

INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IN PL AIN LANGUAGE AND IN A FORMAT 1
THAT ALLOWS A PERSON TO EASILY UNDERSTAND HOW OPERATOR COMPENSATION 2
WAS CALCULATED: 3

(1) THE TOTAL CUSTOMER PAYMENT; 4

(2) AN ITEMIZED LIST OF ALL CHARGES AND FEES PAID BY THE 5
CUSTOMER; 6

(3) THE TOTAL OPERATOR C OMPENSATION, INCLUDING A 7
BREAKDOWN OF THE OPERATOR’S: 8

(I) BASE PAY; 9

(II) INCENTIVES AND BONUSES; AND 10

(III) GRATUITIES AND TIPS; 11

(4) THE AMOUNT RETAINED BY THE DELIVERY NETW ORK COMPANY; 12
AND 13

(5) THE TOTAL TIME AND DISTANCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DELIVERY 14
NETWORK SERVICE. 15

(B) A DELIVERY NETWORK COMPANY SHAL L PROVIDE EACH OPERA TOR 16
WITH A WEEKLY PAYMENT AND EARNINGS SUMMARY THAT INCLUDES: 17

(1) THE TOTAL PAYMENTS COLLECTED BY THE DELIVERY NETWORK 18
COMPANY FOR THE DELIVERY NETWORK SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY ’S 19
OPERATORS IN A GIVEN WEEK; 20

(2) THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF ANY ADDITIONAL FEES THAT WERE 21
CHARGED TO CUSTOMERS BY THE DELIVERY NETWORK COMPANY FOR THE 22
DELIVERY NETWORK SERVICES PRO VIDED BY THE COMPANY ’S OPERATORS IN A 23
GIVEN WEEK; 24

(3) THE TOTAL AMOUNT THE OPERATOR EARNED THAT WEEK, 25
INCLUDING: 26

(I) BASE PAY; 27

(II) INCENTIVES AND BONUSES; AND 28

HOUSE BILL 1584 7

(III) GRATUITIES AND TIPS; 1

(4) THE TOTAL AMOUNT THE OPERATOR EARNED FROM THE TOTAL 2
PAYMENTS COLLECTED THAT WEEK, EXPRESSED AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL 3
PAYMENTS COLLECTED; 4

(5) THE TOTAL AMOUNT THE OPERATOR EARNED FROM THE 5
ADDITIONAL FEES SPEC IFIED IN ITEM (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION T HAT WERE 6
COLLECTED THAT WEEK, EXPRESSED AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL ADDITIONAL 7
FEES CHARGED; 8

(6) THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF ANY PAYMENTS OR F EES RETAINED BY 9
THE DELIVERY NETWORK COMPANY; 10

(7) THE TOTAL TIME SPENT AND MILES TRAVELED BY THE OPERATOR 11
ON DELIVERY NETWORK SERVICES THAT WEEK; AND 12

(8) ANY ADDITIONAL INFOR MATION THE DELIVERY NETWORK 13
COMPANY CONSIDERS APPROPRIATE. 14

10A–109. 15

(A) ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 1 EACH YEAR , A DELIVERY NETWORK 16
COMPANY SHALL REPORT TO THE COMMISSION THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IN 17
AN AGGREGATED FORMAT FOR THE STATE AND BY COUNTY FOR THE PRIOR YEAR: 18

(1) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF OPERATORS; 19

(2) THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF CUSTOMER PAYMENTS; 20

(3) THE TOTAL MILES AND TIME DRIVEN BY OPERA TORS WHILE 21
PROVIDING IN–STATE DELIVERY NETWORK SERVICES FOR THE DELIVERY NETWORK 22
COMPANY; 23

(4) THE TOTAL AMOUNT EAR NED BY OPERATORS FOR PROVIDING 24
IN–STATE DELIVERY NETWORK SERVICES FOR THE DELIVERY NETWORK COMPANY; 25

(5) THE AVERAGE AND MEDI AN OPERATOR COMPENSA TION PER 26
HOUR OF DELIVERY NETWORK SERVICES; AND 27

(6) THE AVERAGE OPERATOR SHARE OF CUSTOMER PA YMENTS 28
EXPRESSED AS A PERCENTAGE. 29

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(B) ANY INFORMATION OBTAI NED BY THE COMMISSION UNDER THIS 1
SECTION THAT IS NOT OTHERWISE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE: 2

(1) IS CONSIDERED: 3

(I) A TRADE SECRET; AND 4

(II) CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION; AND 5

(2) IS NOT SUBJECT TO DI SCLOSURE UNDER THE PUBLIC 6
INFORMATION ACT. 7

(C) THE REPORT REQUIRED UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION MAY 8
BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON REQUEST , PROVIDED THAT 9
THE REPORT REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL AND EXEMPT FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE. 10

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 11
October 1, 2026. 12