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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
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*sb0345*
SENATE BILL 345
R4 (6lr1888)
ENROLLED BILL
— Judicial Proceedings/Economic Matters —
Introduced by Senator Waldstreicher
Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
_______ day of _______________ at _________________ _______ o’clock, ________M.
______________________________________________
President.
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
2 SENATE BILL 345
Article – Transportation 1
Section 15–201(a–1) and (f) 2
Annotated Code of Maryland 3
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 4
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 5
Article – Transportation 6
Section 15–201(f) and 15–214 7
Annotated Code of Maryland 8
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 9
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 10
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 11
Article – Transportation 12
15–201. 13
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 14
(A–1) “DEALER ASSOCIATION” MEANS A BUSINESS ENTITY THAT: 15
(1) IS PRIMARILY OWNED BY OR COMPOSED OF DEALE RS THAT 16
COLLECTIVELY REPRESE NT A MAJORITY OF THE FRANCHISED DEALERS I N THE 17
STATE; AND 18
(2) PRIMARILY REPRESENTS THE INTERESTS OF DEALERS. 19
(F) “MANUFACTURER ASSOCIATION” MEANS A BUSINESS ENTITY THAT: 20
(1) IS PRIMARILY OWNED BY OR COMPOSED OF MANUF ACTURERS 21
THAT COLLECTIVELY RE PRESENT A MAJORITY O F THE MANUFACTURERS IN THE 22
STATE; AND 23
(2) PRIMARILY REPRESENTS THE INTERESTS OF MANUFACTURERS. 24
[(f)] (G) “Second–stage manufacturer” has the meaning stated in § 13 –113.2 of 25
this article. 26
15–214. 27
(A) [In] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (B) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION 28
(B) OF THIS SECTION AND EXCEPT AS PROVIDED I N SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS 29
SECTION, IN addition to any other right to request a h earing under this subtitle and 30
notwithstanding any provisions of the franchise agreement to the contrary, a dealer, 31
SENATE BILL 345 3
designated dealer successor as provided in § 15 –211.1 of this subtitle, DEALER 1
ASSOCIATION ON BEHAL F OF ITSELF , A DEALER , OR A GROUP OF DEAL ERS, 2
manufacturer, MANUFACTURER ASSOCIA TION ON BEHALF OF IT SELF, A 3
MANUFACTURER, OR A GROUP OF MANUFACTURERS, distributor, or factory branch may 4
request a hearing under Title 12, Subtitle 2 of this article to: 5
(1) Resolve a dispute under any provision of this title between a dealer [or], 6
a designated dealer successor , OR A DEALER ASSOCIAT ION and a manufacturer, 7
MANUFACTURER ASSOCIATION, distributor, or factory branch; or 8
(2) Seek clarification or interpretation of any provision of this [subtitle] 9
TITLE. 10
(B) A DEALER ASSOCIATION MAY REQUEST A HEARING UNDER SUBSECTION 11
(A)(1) OF THIS SECTION ONLY IF: 12
(1) AT LEAST ONE MEMBER O F THE DEALER ASSOCIA TION HAS A 13
DISPUTE UNDER ANY PR OVISION OF THIS TITL E WITH A MANUFACTURE R, 14
DISTRIBUTOR, OR FACTORY BRANCH; 15
(2) THE INTERESTS THAT TH E DEALER ASSOCIATION SEEKS TO 16
PROTECT ARE GERMANE TO THE PURPOSE OF THE DEALER ASSOCIATION; AND 17
(3) THE CLAIM ASSERTED AN D THE RELIEF REQUEST ED DO NOT 18
REQUIRE THE PARTICIPATION OF EACH OF THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS. 19
(C) SUBSECTION (A)(1) OF THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A DISPU TE 20
INVOLVING A MANUFACT URER, DISTRIBUTOR, OR FACTORY BRANCH TH AT DOES 21
NOT HAVE AT LEAST ONE FRANCHISED DEALER IN THIS STATE. 22
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 23
October 1, 2026. 24
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.