Maryland Bills

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 16, 2026

HB 355: Education - Sexual Abuse and Assault Awareness and Prevention Program - Human and Sex Trafficking

This bill requires Maryland public and private schools to include human and sex trafficking awareness in their existing sexual abuse and assault prevention education programs for students in grades 6 through 8. The program must be taught by trained instructors as part of the health curriculum, expanding current requirements that already cover sexual abuse prevention. It applies to all schools meeting the definition of "nonpublic school" under Maryland law, including those participating in state textbook and technology grant programs. The changes take effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 356: Income Tax Credit - Parent of a Stillborn Child

SB 356 creates a $1,000 refundable state income tax credit for Maryland parents who experience a stillbirth, as documented by a certified birth certificate or fetal death certificate issued under Maryland law or equivalent from another state. The credit can be claimed in the tax year the stillbirth occurred, and if it exceeds the parent's state income tax liability, they receive a cash refund for the difference. This policy directly affects eligible Maryland parents of stillborn children, providing financial relief tied to the year of the stillbirth. The credit applies to all taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026, and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · Maryland · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 350: Public Schools - Open Enrollment - Policies and Funding

SB 350 authorizes Maryland county school boards to adopt open enrollment policies, allowing students to attend public schools in a different county than where they reside with their parent or guardian. The bill requires counties to establish application processes with enrollment preferences for zoned students and siblings, use equitable selection methods (like lotteries) when capacity is exceeded, and publish enrollment capacity data online. Crucially, it directs state funding for students enrolled under open enrollment to the county where the student attends school (the "receiving county"), not the student's home county ("sending county"), changing how education funds are distributed. This policy affects families seeking school options beyond their local district and alters how public school funding is allocated across county lines.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

died · Maryland · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 476: State Government – Maryland Reparations Commission – Revisions

SB 476 revises the structure and operations of Maryland's Reparations Commission. It adds new membership roles, including a representative from the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a representative from the Maryland Commission for African American History and Culture, two faith leaders (one appointed by each chamber), and Governor-appointed experts in mental health, historical research, civil rights law, and African American financial institutions. The bill requires the Commission to hold at least three public hearings, study benefits for those impacted by historical inequality, and submit a preliminary report by September 1, 2028, and a final report by December 1, 2028. The Commission will sunset automatically on June 30, 2029, ending its work without further legislative action.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 15, 2026

HB 333: General Assembly Vacancy - Political Party Central Committee - Procedures

HB 333 updates Maryland's rules for filling vacancies in the General Assembly when a Senator or Delegate position becomes empty. It requires political party central committees to follow specific public procedures: opening a 7-day application window, publishing clear public notices about meetings and processes, and posting all applications online for at least 30 days after voting. Committees must hold open public meetings for candidate interviews and voting, with roll-call or signed ballots, and members who apply must recuse themselves from the selection process. These changes aim to increase transparency and public access when parties fill legislative vacancies under state law.

died · Maryland · Senate Mar 13, 2026

SB 884: Internet Poker Authorization and Regulation Act of 2026

SB 884 would authorize Maryland’s State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to issue licenses for regulated internet skill-based gaming operations (not traditional poker). It creates a new regulatory framework under "Subtitle 1F" defining key terms, requiring licenses for operators, and directing proceeds to existing state funds like the Economic Development Account and Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund. The bill specifies that licensees must operate in "economically disadvantaged areas" meeting specific income, unemployment, or poverty criteria. This legislation directly affects the Commission, qualified gaming operators, and state funds receiving new revenue streams.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Technology

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 13, 2026

HB 1287: Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity - BURDEN Analysis (CHERISH Our Communities Act)

HB 1287 (CHERISH Our Communities Act) requires developers seeking permits for new power plants in Maryland to submit a BURDEN report with their application if the plant is located in an "at-risk census tract." This report must analyze environmental and health burdens in the area using Maryland's EJ tool, which identifies communities facing multiple pollution and health stressors. The Public Service Commission must deny permits if issuing them would worsen environmental or public health stressors in these overburdened communities. The bill directly affects power plant developers and the Commission, focusing on preventing further harm in neighborhoods already facing significant environmental challenges.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 13, 2026

HB 1461: Health Insurance - Coverage for Specialty Drugs - Rheumatologic Conditions

HB 1461 requires Maryland insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations to cover specialty drugs for rheumatologic conditions (like rheumatoid arthritis) when administered or dispensed by in-network rheumatology providers meeting state regulations. It prohibits insurers from excluding coverage for these drugs based solely on the provider’s location (e.g., office-based vs. specialty pharmacy) and mandates fair reimbursement rates comparable to those paid to designated specialty pharmacies. The bill specifically applies to oral medications requiring complex dosing, auto-injected drugs, or those used with infusion therapies. It does not override medical necessity standards for coverage denial but aims to prevent treatment delays and ensure access to office-based care for patients with chronic rheumatologic conditions.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 13, 2026

HB 1464: Health Insurance - Third-Party Administrators - Verification of Eligibility

HB 1464 requires health insurance companies (referred to as "carriers" or "third-party administrators") to create a simple, timely process for healthcare providers to verify if a patient is eligible for covered services before treatment. If a provider uses this process and receives confirmation of eligibility, the insurer cannot later retroactively deny payment for that service, even if the patient was ultimately ineligible. The bill also sets strict time limits for retroactive denials (6 months for most cases, 18 months for coordination with other insurers) and mandates written explanations for denials. This directly affects healthcare providers (like clinics and hospitals) and insurers in Maryland by reducing billing disputes and payment delays.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 13, 2026

HB 1435: Health Insurance - Required Coverage - Hormone-Related Care

HB 1435 requires Maryland health insurance companies, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations to cover hormone-related care for perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms. This includes hormone therapy, hormone-modulating medications, related lab testing, and clinical visits, with coverage not denied based on diagnosis (like menopause symptoms), age, or prior treatment history. The bill prohibits extra approval steps, stricter limitations, or higher costs for this care compared to similar treatments. It also mandates that coverage decisions follow evidence-based guidelines and the treating provider’s clinical judgment, ensuring timely access to care.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 13, 2026

HB 1107: Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Health Insurance - Required Coverage for Aesthetic Services and Restorative Care for Victims of Domestic Violence (Healing Our Scars Act)

HB 1107 (Healing Our Scars Act) requires Maryland Medicaid and specific health insurers (including nonprofit health plans, HMOs, and managed care organizations) to cover aesthetic services and restorative care for scars resulting from domestic violence injuries, starting January 1, 2027. This applies only to services deemed medically necessary by a licensed physician to treat physical injuries caused by domestic violence, as defined under Maryland Family Law. The law mandates this coverage for all policies issued or renewed in Maryland on or after the effective date. It does not expand eligibility for Medicaid but adds a specific coverage requirement for victims of domestic violence.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 13, 2026

HB 1251: Health Facilities and Health Insurance - Palliative Care - Required Access and Coverage (Edna G. Neal Palliative Care Act)

HB 1251, the Edna G. Neal Palliative Care Act, requires Maryland hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice facilities to provide patients with access to palliative care programs and inform them about these services at key points like diagnosis and hospital admission, starting October 1, 2027. It also mandates that health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations cover specific palliative care services - including pain management, counseling, and family support - without copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles, and prohibits denial of coverage for patients receiving concurrent curative treatment. The bill affects all covered health facilities and insurers operating in Maryland, ensuring equitable access to palliative care for patients with serious illnesses like cancer or heart disease. Annual reports on palliative care access and quality will be required starting in 2028.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Bill results