SB 277 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Health Equality for Service Members Act

SB 277, the "Health Equality for Service Members Act," updates Maryland law to include members of the Public Health Service and NOAA Commissioned Corps under the definitions of "uniformed services" and "veteran." This change ensures these service members qualify for state health programs, housing assistance, and veterans' benefits currently available to military veterans. The bill amends multiple sections of Maryland’s health, housing, and veterans’ codes to apply these provisions broadly. It directly affects service members in these federal health agencies who were previously excluded from state-level benefits.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 10, 2025 Signed May 6, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Health Equality for Service Members Act → Third - Health Equality for Service Members Act · 4 edits

MODERATE

SB 277 was amended to change its legislative status from a first reading bill to an adopted bill with amendments, and the bill text was reorganized to repeal and reenact existing health-related statutes rather than adding new ones. The amendments also updated the list of sections being modified and corrected some formatting and citation references in the bill's explanatory notes.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from proposing new additions to existing law to repealing and reenacting existing sections with amendments, indicating a revision of current statutes rather than expansion of new provisions.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill status from first reading to adopted with amendments, indicating legislative progress.

Reorganized the bill structure to use repeal and reenact language instead of adding new sections to existing law.

Updated the list of specific Maryland Code sections being amended and corrected replacement volume references.

Added explanatory notes about underlining and strike-through formatting conventions used in the amended bill.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 23, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 14, 2025

How they voted

46–0

Passed

Total votes 46

Feb 23, 2025

D Democratic33

33 Yea

100% 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 6, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 260

executive

Mar 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

Returned Passed

upper

Mar 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable Report by Health and Government Operations

lower

Mar 14, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (130-0-9)

house of delegates

Mar 13, 2025

Committee

Referred Health and Government Operations

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Mar 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance

upper

Feb 23, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (46-0)

senate

Jan 10, 2025

Committee

First Reading Finance and Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

6 primary · 0 co-sponsors