MD HB752

Establishes a method for valuing gift cards in theft crimes as the greatest of: the face value, the value the defendant represented it to be, or the actual loss incurred by any person

Creates a new misdemeanor offense of "gift card forgery" for altering or tampering with a gift card or its packaging with intent to defraud

Penalties for gift card forgery include imprisonment up to 18 months, a fine up to $500, or both

Defines "gift card" to include both open-loop cards (usable at multiple merchants or ATMs) and closed-loop cards (redeemable at a single merchant or affiliated group), but excludes credit cards, electronic funds transfers, checks, and similar instruments

Takes effect October 1, 2026