HB 1106 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Business Regulation - Travel Services - Special Fund, Fees, and Surety Requirement (Don't You Worry (Wurie) Act)

HB 1106 requires travel service providers in Maryland (called "Sellers of Travel" or "Independent Agents") to prove financial security annually to the Department of Labor. Providers must file a surety bond, certificate of deposit, insurance, or cash deposit based on their annual gross income in Maryland, ranging from $10,000 for businesses under $200,000 in revenue to $50,000 for those over $1 million. The annual filing fee is $300, and providers cannot accept payments from customers unless they meet this requirement. The law aims to protect consumers by ensuring travel businesses can cover financial losses if they fail or violate regulations.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 5, 2025 Last action Mar 17, 2025

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What changed between versions

First - Business Regulation - Travel Services - Surety Requirement (Don't You Worry (Wurie) Act) → Third - Business Regulation - Travel Services - Special Fund, Fees, and Surety Requirement (Don't You Worry (Wurie) Act) · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision expands HB 1106 from a simple surety requirement to include the creation of a special nonlapsing fund, fee-setting authority, and annual cost calculations. The changes add financial oversight mechanisms to ensure funds are properly managed and used for departmental costs, while maintaining the core requirement for travel service providers to obtain financial security.

Scope change

The bill now establishes a Sellers of Travel Registration Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund in the Maryland Department of Labor, with investment earnings credited to the General Fund of the State.

FISCAL

Created a new Sellers of Travel Registration Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to state finance restrictions.

Added requirement that all fees collected under the travel services subtitle be paid to the Comptroller and distributed to the Fund.

Added requirement that any investment earnings from the Fund be credited to the General Fund of the State.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for the Secretary of Labor to annually calculate direct and indirect costs attributable to the department under the travel services subtitle.

Authorized the Department to establish fees based on the Secretary's cost calculations, with annual fee increases capped at 12.5%.

Changed Section 17-2202 to require proof of professional liability and errors and omissions insurance of at least $1,000,000 as evidence of financial security, replacing the previous surety bond requirements.

ENFORCEMENT

Added requirement for the Legislative Auditor to audit the Fund's accounts and transactions as provided in State Government Article.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'Fund' and 'Registration Fund' to clarify the financial structure.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 8, 2025

How they voted

112–24

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 140

Mar 8, 2025

D Democratic101

98 Yea 3

97% Yea

R Republican39

14 Yea 24 Nay 1

61% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 17, 2025

Committee

Referred Finance

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Economic Matters

lower

Mar 8, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (112-24-4)

house of delegates

Feb 5, 2025

Committee

First Reading Economic Matters

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors