HB 1612 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Gaming - Campaign Financing Contributions and Study on Independent Evaluation of Sports Wagering

HB 1612 requires sports wagering businesses that advertise in Maryland to contract with state-licensed independent evaluators to assess their advertising content, experts, influencers, and content partners. This law directly affects licensed sports wagering operators and licensees advertising within the state, replacing a permissive "may" with a mandatory "shall" under Maryland’s State Government Article §9-1E-17(d). The bill mandates that at least three independent evaluators must be licensed by the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission before the requirement takes effect on July 1, 2026. It focuses on evaluating advertising practices rather than altering gambling rules or financial regulations.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 17, 2026 Last action Mar 25, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Sports Wagering - Independent Evaluation of Sports Wagering → Third - Gaming - Campaign Financing Contributions and Study on Independent Evaluation of Sports Wagering · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly expanded to include new campaign finance restrictions and a study requirement, while also updating the effective date and adding a repeal of election law provisions. The original focus on independent sports wagering evaluations was broadened to address potential conflicts of interest for video lottery operators and to gather data on the evaluation program's usage.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from solely regulating independent sports wagering evaluations to also prohibiting video lottery licensees and owners from making campaign contributions to nonfederal candidates and requiring a state study on the evaluation program's effectiveness.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a prohibition preventing video lottery license applicants, holders, and owners from making direct or indirect contributions to campaign finance entities for nonfederal public office candidates.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for the State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency to study and report on the number and utilization of independent evaluators by July 1, 2026.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the campaign finance provisions and the study requirement to January 1, 2027, while keeping the sports wagering evaluation provisions effective July 1, 2026.

TECHNICAL

Removed the repeal of Section 13-237 of the Election Law Article, which was likely an error in the previous version.

SCOPE

Updated the bill title and purpose statement to reflect the new campaign finance restrictions and the requirement for the independent evaluation study.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 10, 2026

How they voted

131–2

Passed · 9 other

Total votes 142

Mar 10, 2026

D Democratic103

95 Yea 8

92% Yea

R Republican39

36 Yea 2 Nay 1

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

Referred Budget and Taxation

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Rereferred to Ways and Means

lower

Mar 10, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (131-2-9)

house of delegates

Feb 17, 2026

Committee

First Reading House Rules and Executive Nominations

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors