Governor Wes Moore announced the Protection from Predatory Pricing Act as part of his 2026 legislative agenda, proposing to ban dynamic pricing and the use of surveillance data to set individualized grocery prices in Maryland.
The bill targets emerging retail technologies such as electronic shelf labels, which allow prices to change instantly and could enable grocery costs to fluctuate based on factors like time of day, weather, or consumer data. “Marylanders deserve to know that the price they see on the shelf is the price they will pay at the register,” Moore said, adding that the proposal is intended to prevent unpredictable price spikes and protect consumers already facing rising living costs.
Under the legislation, grocery prices would be required to remain fixed for at least one business day, and retailers would be prohibited from using consumer surveillance data to automate individualized pricing. Violations would be enforced by the Office of the Attorney General as unfair or deceptive trade practices, with potential civil penalties. Supporters including House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk and Delegate Kriselda Valderrama said dynamic pricing is unfair to consumers, while labor and consumer advocates warned it could lead to discrimination and erode trust. UFCW representatives and retail workers echoed those concerns, arguing that charging different customers different prices for the same groceries undermines fairness for both shoppers and businesses.
