Today, at 2pm the Economic Matters Committee of the Maryland House of Delegates will hold a hearing to consider H.B. 131, which would ban non-disparagement clauses in consumer contracts. Like the parallel California law enacted in 2014, H.B. 131 has a laudably strong enforcement provision: both private individuals and state authorities are able to take action, via the enforcement mechanisms under Maryland's Consumer Protection Act.
The federal counterpart, the Consumer Review Freedom Act, has passed the Senate and awaits action in the House.
