HB 377 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Physician Assistants and Midwives - Parity With Other Health Care Practitioners

HB 377 expands the scope of practice for physician assistants (PAs) in Maryland by adding them to specific healthcare roles that previously required physicians or other practitioners. The bill allows PAs to certify incapacity for treatment decisions, participate in guardianship petitions for disabled persons, and order infirmary care for pregnant inmates - previously limited to physicians or nurse practitioners. It also requires the Maryland Department of Health to cover PA examinations for emergency evaluees and adds PAs to the Statewide Advisory Commission on Immunization. These changes aim to create parity by treating PAs as equivalent to other licensed healthcare providers in key clinical and administrative processes.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 19, 2026 Signed Apr 28, 2026

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What changed between versions

First - Physician Assistants - Parity With Other Health Care Practitioners → Third - Physician Assistants and Midwives - Parity With Other Health Care Practitioners · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was expanded from focusing solely on physician assistants to also include certified nurse-midwives and licensed certified midwives. This change broadens the scope of the legislation to ensure parity in legal authority for all three groups of providers. The primary substantive change is the addition of midwives to the list of professionals authorized to order infirmary care for pregnant incarcerated individuals and to serve as second physicians for incapacity certifications.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include certified nurse-midwives and licensed certified midwives alongside physician assistants, extending the parity provisions to these additional groups of health care practitioners.

ELIGIBILITY

Added certified nurse-midwives and licensed certified midwives to the list of health care practitioners eligible for parity with other providers.

Updated the list of authorized providers for ordering infirmary care for pregnant incarcerated individuals to include nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, licensed certified midwives, physician assistants, and physicians.

Updated the list of authorized second physicians for incapacity certification petitions to include physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and licensed physicians.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'certified nurse-midwife' and 'licensed certified midwife' to the Health Occupations Article.

TECHNICAL

Removed the specific requirement for a second physician in incapacity certification cases when a patient is unconscious or unable to communicate.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Feb 28, 2026

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

Apr 28, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 223

executive

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

Returned Passed

lower

Apr 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 31, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Finance

upper

Mar 13, 2026

Committee

Referred Finance

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Health

lower

Feb 28, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (134-0-8)

house of delegates

Jan 19, 2026

Committee

First Reading Health

lower

13 primary · 0 co-sponsors