Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland HB1048: Public Health - Chain Restaurants - Sodium and Added Sugars Warning Icons and Disclosure and Notice
Status: In committee, March 23, 2026
Requiring the Maryland Department of Health to adopt certain regulations relating to the sale of food items with a high added sugars content or high sodium content by a chain restaurant by January 1, 2027, and to direct chain restaurants to its website for details on how to comply with the requirements of the Act; and requiring certain chain restaurants to display certain icons next to certain food items with a high added sugars content or high sodium content on each menu or menu board beginning January 1, 2027.
What the bill says
A bill ENTITLED AN ACT concerning Public Health - Chain Restaurants - Sodium and Added Sugars Warning Icons FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Department of Health to adopt certain regulations relating to the sale of food items with a high added sugars content or high sodium content by a chain restaurant by a certain date and to administer a certain continuing education campaign within a certain time; requiring certain chain restaurants to display certain icons next to food items with a high added sugars content or high sodium content on each menu or menu board…
From the introduced text, February 10, 2026:
A BILL ENTITLED AN ACT concerning Public Health - Chain Restaurants - Sodium and Added Sugars Warning Icons FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Department of Health to adopt certain regulations relating to the sale of food items with a high added sugars content or high sodium content by a chain restaurant by a certain date and to administer a certain continuing education campaign within a certain time; requiring certain chain restaurants to display certain icons next to food items with a high added sugars content or high sodium content on each menu or menu board; and generally relating to chain restaurants and high sodium and added sugars menu icons. BY renumbering Article - Health - General Section 21-330.3 and 21-330.4 to be Section 21-330.4 and 21-330.5, respectively Annotated Code of Maryland (2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - Education Section 13-517(a)(1) Annotated Code of Maryland (2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Education Section 13-517(a)(4) Annotated Code of Maryland (2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - Health - General EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW. [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from exist in g l aw . *hb1048* HOUSE BILL 1048 Section 21-301(a) and (h) Annotated …