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SB 349 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Medical Debt - Complaints for Money Judgment and Real Property Liens

SB 349 prohibits medical debt from creating liens on a homeowner’s primary residence. It bans contracts or breach-of-contract actions by medical providers to place liens on owner-occupied homes for unpaid medical bills (defined as debt for medication, procedures, or services). If a lien is improperly placed, courts must remove it and may award economic damages to the homeowner. The bill applies prospectively from October 1, 2025, and does not affect cases filed before that date.
Issues: ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits medical debt liens on primary residences, protecting patients from financial harm due to unpaid medical bills and safeguarding patient rights.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingPrevents medical debt liens on primary residences, protecting homeowners' property rights and reducing financial risk to housing stability.90% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Signed May 13, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Medical Debt - Complaints for Money Judgment and Real Property Liens → Third - Medical Debt - Complaints for Money Judgment and Real Property Liens · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill amends Maryland's medical debt protection laws by clarifying definitions, adding procedural requirements for complaints, and strengthening protections against liens on owner-occupied homes. The changes make it clearer what constitutes medical debt and require creditors to include specific information when filing complaints.
Scope change
The bill maintains its focus on protecting consumers from medical debt liens but adds more specific definitions and procedural requirements to strengthen enforcement.
DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'medical debt' that specifies it applies to debt owed to providers whose primary business is medical services, products, or devices, and excludes credit card debt unless the card was issued specifically for healthcare services.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement that complaints seeking money judgments for medical debt must include the defendant's primary residence address.

ENFORCEMENT

Modified the remedy for lien violations to require courts to remove the lien rather than awarding damages, making enforcement more straightforward for affected homeowners.

TECHNICAL

Added committee report status and Senate adoption dates, indicating the bill has progressed through the legislative process.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 23, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 18, 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
19
Key actions
10
Committee
6
May 13, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 497
executive
Apr 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Returned Passed
upper
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable Report by Health and Government Operations
lower
Mar 18, 2025
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (137-0-2)
house of delegates
Mar 13, 2025
Committee
Referred Health and Government Operations
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Mar 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Mar 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings
upper
Feb 23, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (46-0)
senate
Jan 16, 2025
Committee
First Reading Judicial Proceedings
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Sara Love
Sara Love
DDemocratic
MD
16