MD HB883: Consumer Protection - Artificial Intelligence - Behavioral Health Care Prohibitions

In one paragraph

Maryland's HB 883 (2026, third reader text) would have barred developers of AI offered to Maryland consumers from representing that the AI is a behavioral health care provider or can provide behavioral health care, and from offering AI specifically programmed or designed to provide a service that would be behavioral health care if a provider delivered it. A violation would be an unfair, abusive or deceptive trade practice under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act. It passed the House 110-23 and was referred to Senate Finance, with a hearing set for April 1, 2026, but no further action is recorded and it died when the 2026 session ended.

Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.

What it means for business

None: the bill died and did not become law. It would have barred AI developers from presenting AI as a behavioral health provider and required human-status notices and crisis protocols.

Key provisions

1. 1Would have added Commercial Law Title 14, Subtitle 51 (sections 14-5101 and 14-5102) and listed violations as unfair, abusive or deceptive trade practices under section 13-301(14)
2. 2Developer: a person that offers for sale, sells, leases, gives or otherwise provides AI to a consumer in Maryland; AI has the meaning in Insurance section 15-10B-05.1
3. 3A developer could not make, or knowingly cause AI to make, a statement indicating the AI is a behavioral health care provider or can provide behavioral health care
4. 4AI provided to a Maryland consumer would have to give a clear, conspicuous notice at the start of each use that the consumer is not communicating with a human
5. 5AI would have to have protocols to take reasonable steps to detect and address suicidal ideation or self-harm and refer the consumer to behavioral health services or the Maryland Behavioral Health Crisis Response System
6. 6A violation would be an unfair, abusive or deceptive trade practice subject to Title 13 enforcement (the House amendment struck a $1,000,000-per-violation civil penalty); the Attorney General could investigate and sue; civil penalty revenue would go to the Behavioral Health Workgroup Investment Fund
7. 7Did not bar advertising for products giving behavioral health advice that do not claim to provide behavioral health care, or a provider's AI for administrative tasks
8. 8Would have taken effect October 1, 2026; passed the House 110-23 and died in Senate Finance

Latest legislative action

Mar 25, 2026. Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m.; died when the Maryland General Assembly's 2026 session ended April 13, 2026

Sponsors (showing 5 of 29)

Roll call votes