A bill has moved further along in the legislative process that would prohibit price increases above 15% during a state of emergency.  The general assembly is considering bills based on a proposal from Democrat Attorney General Anthony Brown before the end of the legislative session in a few weeks.

In March 2020, shortly after the first case of Covid19 was diagnosed in Maryland, Republican Gov. Larry Hogan issued an executive order prohibiting businesses selling essential goods or services from increasing their prices by more than 10%. The executive order restricted price gouging for items like food, medicine, child care, and car parts expired in 2021.

Mr. Brown’s proposal would prohibit businesses from raising above 15% the price for goods or services that the governor deems essential unless the business can justify an increase above that threshold based on higher costs the business is paying for supplies or labor to prepare its product for sale.  Both the State House of Delegates and Senate have passed versions of the A.G.'s proposal.