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HB 968

Tobacco, Tobacco Products - As enacted, requires the department of revenue to maintain a directory on its website that lists all vapor products certified as authorized to be sold in this state; levies certain privilege taxes. - Amends TCA Title 10, Chapter 7, Part 5; Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 15; Title 47, Chapter 25; Title 67, Chapter 4, Part 10 and Title 67, Chapter 4, Part 26.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by David Hawk

Maryland HB 968 removes self-service storage from storage warehouse definition, exempting operators from licensing/fees; minor state revenue drop, effective Oct 1, 2025.

Comp. became Pub. Ch. 324
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Bill Summary · HB 968

HB 968 — Summary (Business Regulation: Definition of “Storage Warehouse”)

Note: The materials provided include documents from multiple jurisdictions and bills with differing subjects. This summary focuses on the Maryland bill text and fiscal note labeled HB 968 (Business Regulation – Licensing – Definition of Storage Warehouse), which consistently appears in the packet.

Purpose / Intent

To amend Maryland business licensing law to exclude self‑service storage facilities from the statutory definition of “storage warehouse,” thereby removing the requirement that such facilities obtain a storage warehouse license.

Key provisions

  • Amends Article — Business Regulation, §17‑1201 (definition section) to add an explicit exclusion:
    • “Storage warehouse” does not include a self‑service storage facility.
  • Leaves in place §17‑1202, which requires a storage warehouse license where goods are kept for a fee; but by changing the definition, self‑service facilities are no longer subject to that licensing requirement.
  • Effective date stated in bill versions: October 1, 2025.

Fiscal impact (from Department of Legislative Services fiscal note)

  • General fund revenues: Expected to decrease, likely minimally, beginning in FY 2026 because self‑service storage facilities would no longer pay storage warehouse license fees.
  • Expenditures: Not materially affected.
  • Small business effect: Meaningful — self‑service storage businesses would be exempted from paying the license fee.

Additional detail from the fiscal note:
- Current license fee schedule (collected by clerks of court and remitted to the Comptroller/general fund) includes tiered fees (example figures shown in the note include $30 and $150 depending on jurisdiction population). Exact fee by county/municipality follows the existing statute’s schedule.

Who is affected

  • Primary: Operators/owners of self‑service (self‑storage) facilities in Maryland — they would no longer need a “storage warehouse” license or pay the associated fee.
  • Secondary: State general fund receipts would decline slightly; clerks of court and agencies handling licensing paperwork would have reduced administrative processing for these licenses.

Procedural history and status

  • Introduced/first read (Maryland): January 31, 2025; bill text assigned to Economic Matters committee.
  • Bill versions show committee consideration and readings. One version indicates enactment as Chapter 359 and approval by the Governor (approved May 6, 2025; effective October 1, 2025). The packet also contains mixed/contradictory status notes (including “Died In Committee” in one header).
  • Recommendation: Confirm the relevant jurisdiction/version and the final enacted status (if you need a definitive legal status for compliance or research), because the provided materials include documents from other states and differing statuses.

Practical effect

If enacted as drafted, self‑service storage operators would be relieved of a statutory licensing requirement and associated fees in Maryland, slightly reducing state revenues and regulatory burden for small businesses operating self‑storage facilities.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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