SB 579 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Counties - No-Cost Preventive Cancer Screenings for Volunteer and Retired Volunteer Firefighters

SB 579 requires Maryland counties with volunteer fire companies to provide no-cost preventive cancer screenings to volunteer firefighters, based on guidelines from the International Association of Fire Fighters. Volunteer fire companies must maintain and annually submit updated lists of their members to the county, which must then keep these records. Counties can meet this requirement by offering annual exams including cancer screenings or applying for specific grants to fund innovative screening technologies. The bill directly affects volunteer firefighters and counties, creating a structured process for access to preventive care without cost to the firefighters.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Feb 4, 2026 Signed Apr 28, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Third - Counties - No-Cost Preventive Cancer Screenings for Volunteer and Retired Volunteer Firefighters → Enrolled - Counties - No-Cost Preventive Cancer Screenings for Volunteer and Retired Volunteer Firefighters · 4 edits · Apr 28, 2026

MODERATE

The bill transitioned from a Senate draft to an enrolled final version, adding formal signatures and proofreading details. The substantive policy content regarding cancer screenings for volunteer firefighters remained unchanged, with no modifications to eligibility criteria, funding mechanisms, or implementation dates.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; the text represents the final enrolled version of the same legislation.

TECHNICAL

Added formal enrolled bill formatting, including placeholders for the Governor's signature, the Great Seal, and proofreader signatures.

Added a note explaining that italics indicate amendments from the opposite chamber or conference committee.

Removed the list of specific Senators who introduced the bill, replacing it with a generic 'Introduced by Senators' statement.

Updated the bill header to reflect its status as an 'Enrolled Bill' and assigned to the Finance/Health committee.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 22, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 22, 2026

How they voted

42–0

Passed · 7 other

Total votes 49

Mar 22, 2026

D Democratic36

30 Yea 6

83% Yea

R Republican13

12 Yea 1

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 28, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 319

executive

Apr 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Enrolled

upper

Apr 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 9, 2026

Introduced

Senate Concurs House Amendments

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Health

lower

Mar 22, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (42-0-7)

senate

Mar 20, 2026

Committee

Referred Health

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Mar 16, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Committee

First Reading Finance

upper

16 primary · 0 co-sponsors