HB 334 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Workgroup on Newborn Nurse Home Visiting Services - Establishment

HB 334 establishes a statewide program requiring the Maryland Department of Health to provide universal newborn nurse home visiting services to all families with newborns (up to 12 weeks old) residing in Maryland. The program must be evidence-based, offered by licensed nurses, and delivered in homes or virtually, focusing on infant health, maternal well-being, family support, and child development. Crucially, the bill mandates that health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations cover and reimburse these services under existing policies. The program is voluntary for families, with no penalties for declining participation, and requires data collection on outcomes across key domains like reducing child maltreatment and improving school readiness.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Signed May 20, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Universal Newborn Nurse Home Visiting Services - Program Establishment and Insurance Coverage → Third - Workgroup on Newborn Nurse Home Visiting Services - Establishment · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to rename the program from 'Universal Newborn Nurse Home Visiting Services' to 'Universal Workgroup on Newborn Nurse Home Visiting Services' and to establish a new Workgroup to study and recommend improvements to the program. The original program establishment and insurance coverage sections were removed, replaced with provisions creating a Workgroup to analyze current home visiting programs, identify service gaps, and make recommendations by December 31, 2025.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from immediately establishing a universal newborn nurse home visiting program with insurance coverage to creating a Workgroup to study existing programs and make recommendations before implementation.

SCOPE

The bill title and subtitle were changed from 'Universal Newborn Nurse Home Visiting Services' to 'Universal Workgroup on Newborn Nurse Home Visiting Services', indicating a shift from program implementation to program study.

Changed the bill's purpose from requiring immediate program establishment and insurance coverage to establishing a Workgroup to compile data, compare programs, identify gaps, and identify funding sources.

REQUIREMENT

Removed Section 1 provisions that would have required the Department of Health to establish a mandatory statewide program and mandate insurance coverage for newborn nurse home visiting services.

Added provisions creating a Workgroup on Newborn Home Visiting Services with 11 specific members including legislators, health officials, hospital representatives, and medical professionals.

TIMELINE

Added a deadline of December 31, 2025 for the Workgroup to submit findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 10, 2025 · House of Delegates Feb 27, 2025

How they voted

44–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 46

Mar 10, 2025

D Democratic33

31 Yea 2

93% Yea

R Republican13

13 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 20, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 719

executive

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Returned Passed

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted

upper

Mar 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Finance

upper

Mar 10, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (44-0-2)

senate

Mar 7, 2025

Committee

Referred Finance

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Health and Government Operations

lower

Feb 27, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (112-22-5)

house of delegates

Jan 13, 2025

Committee

First Reading Health and Government Operations

lower

31 primary · 0 co-sponsors