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County seeks to modernize consumer protection law; businesses urge clearer definitions
Summary
Howard County staff proposed updates to the consumer protection statute to reflect digital commerce and new enforcement tools; business groups asked for clearer definitions and requested participation in a drafting work group to avoid unintended scope expansion.
County consumer protection staff told the council the department is proposing updates to bring the county statute into alignment with modern commerce and enforcement practices, citing new modalities such as online transactions, influencers and algorithm-driven marketplaces.
The agency representative said the revisions are largely clarifying and intended to reflect existing investigative practice rather than expand regulatory reach. He said the department reviewed neighboring jurisdictions’ statutes (Montgomery County, Prince George's County, DC and Fairfax) while drafting changes.
Stakeholder commenters urged refinement. Robert Enten, an attorney representing several trade groups, asked the council to convene a work group to refine terminology such as the bill’s proposed definition of “merchandise,” which he said could be overly broad. Donald Maurice, outside counsel to the Receivables Management Association International, warned that a proposed addition referring to the “supply side of the transaction” could sweep in incidental financial-service providers and asked that the definition be tightened to avoid drawing in entities that did not make representations about product quality or price.
Council members suggested opportunities for a short work session and invited stakeholders to work with the agency to produce clearer language before the council considers the bill in early November.
What happens next: Stakeholders will be invited to a work session or follow-up meeting with the consumer protection office to refine definitions prior to formal council action.
