EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0639*
HOUSE BILL 639
C2, F2 5lr2079
By: Delegates Ruth, Fair, Guyton, Harris, Lehman, and Terrasa
Introduced and read first time: January 23, 2025
Assigned to: Economic Matters
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Sports Venues – Reusable Beverage Containers – Use During Sporting Events 2
FOR the purpose of requiring the owner or operator of a sports venue and the governing 3
body of an institution of higher education that operates a sports venue to allow an 4
individual attending a sporting event at the sports venue to bring and use a reusable 5
beverage container during a sporting event; and generally relating to reusable 6
beverage containers and sports venues. 7
BY adding to 8
Article – Business Regulation 9
Section 19–1001 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 10. Sports Venues” 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2024 Replacement Volume) 12
BY adding to 13
Article – Education 14
Section 11–2001 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 20. Sports Venues” 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 17
Preamble 18
WHEREAS, It is the intent of the General Assembly to reduce plastic waste and 19
improve public health by ensuring the availability of choices for the consumption of water; 20
now, therefore, 21
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 22
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 23
Article – Business Regulation 24
2 HOUSE BILL 639
SUBTITLE 10. SPORTS VENUES. 1
19–1001. 2
(A) (1) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 3
INDICATED. 4
(2) “REUSABLE BEVERAGE CON TAINER” MEANS A DRINKING VES SEL 5
THAT: 6
(I) IS MADE PRIMARILY OF ALUMINU M OR STAINLESS STEEL ; 7
(II) CAN HOLD UP TO 24 OUNCES OF LIQUID ; AND 8
(III) IS DESIGNED TO BE USED MORE THAN ONCE . 9
(3) “SPORTS VENUE” MEANS A BUILDING , STRUCTURE, FACILITY, OR 10
OTHER PLACE WHERE PR OFESSIONAL OR COLLEG IATE SPORTING EVENTS ARE 11
HELD. 12
(B) (1) THE OWNER OR OPERATOR OF A SPORTS VENUE SHALL ALLOW AN 13
INDIVIDUAL ATTENDING A PROFESSIONAL OR CO LLEGIATE SPORTING EV ENT AT 14
THE SPORTS VENUE TO BRING AND USE A REUSABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER DURING 15
A SPORTING EVENT . 16
(2) THE OWNER OR OPERATOR OF A SPORTS VENUE MAY REQUIRE A 17
REUSABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER TO BE EMPT Y ON ENTERING THE SP ORTS VENUE. 18
Article – Education 19
SUBTITLE 20. SPORTS VENUES. 20
11–2001. 21
(A) (1) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 22
INDICATED. 23
(2) “REUSABLE BEVERAGE CON TAINER” MEANS A DRINKING VES SEL 24
THAT: 25
(I) IS MADE PRIMARILY OF ALUMINU M OR STAINLESS STEEL ; 26
(II) CAN HOLD UP TO 24 OUNCES OF LIQUID ; AND 27 HOUSE BILL 639 3
(III) IS DESIGNED TO BE USED MORE THAN ONCE . 1
(3) “SPORTS VENUE” MEANS ANY BUILDING , STRUCTURE, FACILITY, 2
OR PLACE OWNED OR OPERATED BY AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION WHERE 3
PROFESSIONAL OR COLL EGIATE SPORTING EVEN TS ARE HELD. 4
(B) (1) THE GOVERNING BODY OF AN INSTITUT ION OF HIGHER 5
EDUCATION THAT OPERATES A SPOR TS VENUE SHALL ALLOW ANY INDI VIDUAL 6
ATTENDING A PROFESSI ONAL OR COLLEGIATE S PORTING EVENT AT A SPORTS 7
VENUE TO BRING AND USE A REUSABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER DURING A SPORTING 8
EVENT. 9
(2) THE GOVERNING BODY OF AN INSTITUTE OF HIGH ER EDUCATION 10
MAY ESTABLISH A RULE O R POLICY REQUIRING REUSABLE BEVERAGE CO NTAINERS 11
TO BE EMPTY ON ENTER ING THE SPORTS VENUE . 12
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 13
October 1, 2025. 14