HB 498 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Certificate of Need - Intermediate Health Care Facilities

HB 498 removes an existing exemption that allowed intermediate care facilities providing substance use disorder treatment to change bed capacity without a certificate of need. It specifically targets facilities offering "medically managed residential substance use disorder treatment services," requiring them to file 45 days' written notice with the health commission before operating or expanding. The commission must then review and approve these changes based on whether they align with the state health plan, improve service efficiency, and serve the public interest. This bill directly affects facilities providing residential substance use treatment by adding a review process for bed capacity changes or new operations, replacing the previous exemption.
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 27, 2026 Signed Apr 14, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Certificate of Need - Intermediate Health Care Facilities Third - Certificate of Need - Intermediate Health Care Facilities · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was formally adopted and moved to a third reading, adding standard legislative signatures and formatting. Substantively, the text of the law remains unchanged, preserving existing rules for Certificate of Need requirements regarding health care facilities and bed capacity changes.
TECHNICAL

Added committee report status (Favorable), House action (Adopted), and second reading date to the bill header.

Changed the document title from 'A BILL ENTITLED' to 'CHAPTER ______' to reflect its status as an adopted act.

Added signature lines for the Governor, Speaker of the House, and President of the Senate.

Removed draft markings such as page numbers and bill identifiers that were present in the earlier version.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 17, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 20, 2026

How they voted

480
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 49
Mar 17, 2026
D Democratic36
36 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican13
12 Yea 1
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
10
Committee
6
Apr 14, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 69
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 17, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (48-0-1)
senate
Feb 27, 2026
Committee
Referred Finance
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable Adopted
lower
Feb 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable Report by Health
lower
Feb 20, 2026
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (133-4-5)
house of delegates
Jan 27, 2026
Committee
First Reading Health
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Bonnie Cullison
Bonnie Cullison
DDemocratic
MD
19