Business Regulation - Travel Services - Special Fund, Fees, and Surety Requirement (Don't You Worry (Wurie) Act)
HB0994 creates a new regulatory framework for “sellers of travel” and certain independent agents in Maryland, to be administered by the Department of Labor. The bill establishes the Sellers of Travel Services Registration Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund and directs collected fees into that fund to cover the department’s direct and indirect administrative costs. It also requires the Secretary of Labor to annually calculate those costs, and authorizes the department to set fees by regulation based on that calculation, with annual fee increases capped at 12.5%.
The bill requires sellers of travel and independent agents to file annual proof of professional liability and errors-and-omissions insurance of at least $1 million, along with a list of affiliated independent agents. It also prohibits a person from accepting payment for travel services unless the seller or agent has met the annual filing requirements. The Department of Labor must provide notice, enforce the subtitle, and adopt regulations to implement the registration and enforcement system. The act takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB0994 adds new provisions to the Business Regulation Article by creating §§ 2-106.17 and 2-106.18 and new Subtitle 22, “Travel Services,” in Title 17. It imposes new registration, insurance, and fee obligations on travel service businesses operating in or selling to Maryland residents, while exempting airlines, ocean carriers, and certain lodging and short-term rental businesses and platforms. The bill also creates a dedicated special fund for program administration and requires fee revenue to be deposited there, changing how the state finances oversight of travel sellers.
The available record shows no committee transcripts or recorded votes, so there is no documented floor or committee debate to gauge sentiment directly. Based on the enacted text, the bill appears to have been treated as a consumer-protection and financial-responsibility measure rather than a controversial policy change, and it was ultimately approved by the Governor as Chapter 611. The absence of recorded opposition in the provided materials suggests either limited public controversy or simply an incomplete discussion record.
The main potential points of contention are the new compliance costs and insurance requirements for travel sellers and independent agents, especially the $1 million coverage threshold and the annual filing fee. Businesses in the travel industry may view the registration and fee structure as burdensome, while consumer advocates may support the added financial security and enforcement tools. Another possible issue is the scope of the exemptions, particularly for hotels, short-term rental operators, and platforms, which could raise questions about which entities should be regulated as travel sellers and which should remain outside the new subtitle.