DISSINTER

SB 970 — Maryland

Sports Wagering - Independent Evaluation of Sports Wagering

Requiring, rather than authorizing, certain sports wagering licensees and sports wagering operators that advertise in the State to contract with certain independent evaluators to evaluate and rate the sports wagering licensee's sports wagering content, sports wagering experts, sports wagering influencers, and content partners; and making the Act contingent on the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission issuing licenses to at least three independent evaluators.

Latest action: Hearing 4/02 at 1:00 p.m. · Mar 25, 2026

Passed one chamberAdvertisingCommerce and BusinessContractsEvaluations and ReviewsGamingGaming and GamblingLicensesLottery and Gaming Control Agency, StateSports and Recreation

Synopsis written by the legislature's own staff, as published on the official bill page. Status label is derived from the recorded actions. The full text below is the record.

Committees: Budget and Taxation (Senate); Ways and Means (House of Delegates)

Updated Mar 30, 2026

Timeline

  1. First Reading Senate Rules

    Feb 13, 2026 · Senate

  2. Rereferred to Budget and Taxation

    Mar 4, 2026 · Senate

  3. Hearing 3/11 at 1:00 p.m.

    Mar 5, 2026 · Senate

  4. Favorable Report by Budget and Taxation

    Mar 19, 2026 · Senate

  5. Favorable Adopted

    Mar 19, 2026 · Senate

  6. Floor Amendment {

    Mar 19, 2026 · Senate

  7. Second Reading Passed with Amendments

    Mar 19, 2026 · Senate

  8. Third Reading Passed

    Mar 20, 2026 · Senate

  9. Referred Ways and Means

    Mar 21, 2026 · House of Delegates

  10. Hearing 4/02 at 1:00 p.m.

    Mar 25, 2026 · House of Delegates

Sponsored by Craig Zucker, Bill Ferguson

Senate vote — 41–0

On Third Reading · Mar 5, 2026 · result: pass

41 yea · 0 nay · 6 absent, excused, abstain or not voting

Jason GallionDistrict 35YeaShelly HettlemanDistrict 11YeaKaren YoungDistrict 3YeaWill SmithDistrict 20YeaMalcolm AugustineDistrict 47YeaDawn GileDistrict 33YeaCarl JacksonDistrict 8YeaSara LoveDistrict 16YeaCharles SydnorDistrict 44YeaJack BaileyDistrict 29YeaGuy GuzzoneDistrict 13YeaMary-Dulany JamesDistrict 34YeaJohnny MautzDistrict 37YeaJeff WaldstreicherDistrict 18YeaPam BeidleDistrict 32YeaKevin HarrisDistrict 27YeaJ.B. JenningsDistrict 7YeaCory McCrayDistrict 45YeaAlonzo WashingtonDistrict 22YeaBen BrooksDistrict 10YeaAntonio HayesDistrict 40YeaCheryl KaganDistrict 17YeaMike McKayDistrict 1YeaMary WashingtonDistrict 43YeaMary Beth CarozzaDistrict 38YeaShaneka HensonDistrict 30YeaNancy KingDistrict 39YeaJustin ReadyDistrict 5YeaRon WatsonDistrict 23YeaNick CharlesDistrict 25YeaSteve HersheyDistrict 36YeaBen KramerDistrict 19YeaJim RosapepeDistrict 21YeaChris WestDistrict 42YeaPaul CordermanDistrict 2YeaKatie HesterDistrict 9YeaClarence LamDistrict 12YeaJohnny SallingDistrict 6YeaCraig ZuckerDistrict 14YeaBrian FeldmanDistrict 15YeaArthur EllisDistrict 28Not votingAnthony MuseDistrict 26Not votingDalya AttarDistrict 41AbsentJoanne BensonDistrict 24AbsentBill FoldenDistrict 4AbsentBryan SimonaireDistrict 31Absent
Mr. Presidentas recorded — not linked to a profileYea
Official record — Maryland General Assembly roll call
Fiscal and Policy Note — official analysis by legislative staff (PDF) Bill text (First reading) — Maryland General Assembly (PDF) Bill text (Third reading) — Maryland General Assembly (PDF) Official record — Maryland General Assembly bill page

Official records. Maryland legislators, bills and roll-call votes from the Maryland General Assembly, imported through Open States on Oct 27, 2026 (partial import — not yet the full session). Accuracy review against the official site is still under way. Campaign-finance records for Maryland are not imported yet.