HB 459 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Counties - Cancer Screening for Professional Firefighters - Required Coverage (James "Jimmy" Malone Act)

HB 459, the "James 'Jimmy' Malone Act," requires health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations in Maryland to cover preventive cancer screenings for professional firefighters without copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles. It applies to all insurers offering coverage in the state and mandates that counties, municipalities, and state employee health programs comply with these screening coverage requirements. The bill specifies that screenings must follow guidelines from the International Association of Fire Fighters and takes effect January 1, 2026. This directly affects firefighters employed by state, county, or municipal entities and their health insurance providers.

Sub-Topics: Public Employees

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 20, 2025 Signed May 20, 2025

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What changed between versions

First - Health Insurance - Cancer Screening for Professional Firefighters - Required Coverage (James "Jimmy" Malone Act) → Third - Counties - Cancer Screening for Professional Firefighters - Required Coverage (James "Jimmy" Malone Act) · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to expand its scope from requiring health insurers to cover cancer screenings for firefighters to also requiring counties with self-insured health plans to provide the same coverage. The amendments add specific provisions allowing counties to satisfy the requirement through annual examinations or grants, while prohibiting copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles for these screenings.

Scope change

Expanded from applying only to health insurers and HMOs to also include counties and municipalities with self-insured employee health benefit plans.

SCOPE

Added requirements for counties and municipalities with self-insured health plans to provide cancer screening coverage for professional firefighters.

REQUIREMENT

Added provisions allowing counties to satisfy the screening requirement by providing no-cost annual examinations or applying for grants for innovative cancer screening technologies.

Added prohibition on counties imposing copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles on cancer screening coverage for firefighters.

Modified the bill title and subject matter to reflect the expanded scope from 'Health Insurance' to 'Health Insurance Counties'.

TECHNICAL

Added committee report and house action status indicating the bill was favorably amended and adopted.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 3, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 20, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 655

executive

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Returned Passed

lower

Mar 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

upper

Mar 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Finance

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Committee

Referred Finance

upper

Mar 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Health and Government Operations

lower

Mar 3, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (139-0-1)

house of delegates

Jan 20, 2025

Committee

First Reading Health and Government Operations

lower

22 primary · 0 co-sponsors