Consumer protection, localized
Currently, Maryland allows local governments to regulate consumer protection. However, Baltimore has been operating under a consumer protection ordinance since the 1970s, which only imposes criminal penalties for false advertising and limits the city's ability to take legal action against companies that directly harm the city.
Mayor Brandon Scott aims to change this with Bill 23-0424, which seeks to empower Baltimore's Law Department to safeguard residents by holding businesses accountable for unfair, deceptive and abusive practices. This ordinance will enable the city to take action against companies that engage in harmful practices affecting consumers beyond just the city itself. This is a move that's worth considering for entrepreneurs and for consumers.
In the digital age, with social media, there are so many instances I can think of where I've seen folks get ripped off or they were provided poor customer service, or where the person fell victim to data privacy violations, so hopefully this helps.
