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ARTICLE · 21 MAY 2026

Maryland Prohibits Tipping In Earned Wage Access Programs

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On April 28, Maryland enacted SB 94, which revises the state’s earned wage access (EWA) framework and amends tipping provisions under Maryland’s Consumer Loan Law...

United StatesConsumer Protection
A.J. Dhaliwal
A.J. Dhaliwal
Mehul Madia
Mehul Madia
Maxwell Earp-Thomas
Maxwell Earp-Thomas
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On April 28, Maryland enacted SB 94, which revises the state’s earned wage access (EWA) framework and amends tipping provisions under Maryland’s Consumer Loan Law and Secondary Mortgage Loan Law. The law prohibits lenders and EWA providers from soliciting, charging, or accepting tips from consumers and expands certain consumer protection requirements applicable to EWA providers.

The legislation eliminates Maryland’s prior framework permitting optional tipping with a default tip amount set at zero. Instead, the law broadly prohibits lenders and EWA providers from accepting tips or giving consumers the option to provide them. In addition, the bill prevents EWA providers from making false, misleading, or deceptive statements about fees, rates, terms, or conditions. Providers also must disclose in service contracts that Maryland law prohibits tips or donations.

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