SB 790 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Public Health Reform Act

SB 790, the Public Health Reform Act, requires the Maryland Department of Health to organize the Maryland Medical Reserve Corps - a statewide volunteer network for emergencies like disease outbreaks or disasters. It allows county health directors to hire staff without state approval if positions are fully funded locally and to enter contracts if the state fails to respond within a set timeframe. The bill creates the Public Health Workforce Development Fund (using interest earnings and transfers from another fund) to support workforce training, and mandates health equity impact assessments for new legislation. These changes directly affect county health departments, state health agencies, and public health emergency response systems.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 6, 2026 Last action Apr 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Public Health Reform Act → Third - Public Health Reform Act · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly amended to clarify its scope, adding requirements for a Community Benefits Modernization subcommittee and a specific workgroup, while removing a mandate for the Department of Legislative Services to assess health equity impacts. The text also reorganized the bill's structure, moving sections related to the Public Health Workforce Development Fund and State Finance articles to different locations and changing their repeal/reenactment status.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include the establishment of a Community Benefits Modernization subcommittee and a new workgroup, while the requirement for a legislative health equity impact assessment process was removed.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for the Commission to establish a Community Benefits Modernization subcommittee.

Added a requirement for the Maryland Department of Health to convene a specific workgroup.

Removed the requirement for the Department of Legislative Services to develop a process to assess the health equity impacts of relevant legislation.

FISCAL

Modified the description of the Public Health Workforce Development Fund to require money transfers be made in a manner consistent with a certain agreement.

TECHNICAL

Reorganized the bill's structure by moving sections regarding the Maryland Medical Reserve Corps and State Finance articles to different positions and altering their repeal/reenactment status.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 25, 2026

How they voted

35–12

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 49

Mar 25, 2026

D Democratic36

35 Yea 1

97% Yea

R Republican13

12 Nay 1

92% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 13, 2026

Committee

Referred Rules and Executive Nominations

lower

Apr 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance

upper

Mar 25, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (35-12-2)

senate

Feb 6, 2026

Committee

First Reading Finance and Budget and Taxation

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors