HB 5582

Abstract

Creates the Gender-Neutral Toy Act. Provides that a retail department store that offers childcare items or toys for sale shall maintain a gender-neutral section or area, to be labeled at the discretion of the retailer, in which a reasonable selection of the items and toys for children that it sells shall be displayed, regardless of whether they have been traditionally marketed for either girls or for boys. Provides that the provision shall apply only to retail department stores that are physically located in the State that have a total of 500 or more employees across all retail department store locations in the State. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2025, a retail department store that fails to comply with the Act is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $250 for a first violation and not to exceed $500 for any subsequent violation, that may be assessed and recovered in a civil action by the Attorney General in circuit court.