Maryland Bills

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 865: Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Health Insurance - Coverage for Prostheses (So Every Body Can Move Act)

This Maryland law requires medical assistance programs and private health insurers to cover custom devices known as orthoses, which are used to treat neuromuscular or musculoskeletal conditions. Starting in 2025, these plans must provide coverage for both the initial devices and their replacements, ensuring that replacement costs are not unfairly restricted if repairs would be too expensive or if the patient's condition changes. The legislation also mandates that insurers treat these devices as essential health benefits without imposing separate deductibles, higher copayments, or lifetime spending caps. Additionally, the bill prohibits discrimination in coverage decisions based on disability and sets clear standards for when a doctor can determine a device is medically necessary for daily living or physical activities.

Nicole Williams (D) Jamila Woods (D) Harry Bhandari (D) Deni Taveras (D) Jeff Long (D)

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 975: Maryland Department of Health - Reproductive Health Care Clinic Security Grant Program - Establishment (Supporting Reproductive Health Care Clinics Act)

This Maryland law establishes a grant program to help reproductive health care clinics improve their physical security and safety operations. Administered by the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services, the program provides funding for specific upgrades such as better lighting, fencing, access control systems, and alarm networks. To qualify, clinics must offer legally protected reproductive health services, and the program includes strict rules to keep applicant information confidential to protect the safety of the recipients. The legislation authorizes an initial budget of $500,000 for fiscal year 2026, with up to 5% of those funds reserved for administrative costs.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 1000: Maryland Health Care Commission - Nursing Homes - Acquisitions

This bill establishes a new review process for the acquisition of nursing homes in Maryland, requiring owners to notify the Maryland Health Care Commission at least 60 days before finalizing a sale or transfer of more than 5% ownership. The legislation mandates that the Commission evaluate potential buyers based on their history of maintaining quality committees, conducting inspections, and managing lawsuits across all facilities they currently or previously own. If the Commission approves the request, the transaction can proceed without further regulatory hurdles, but the new owner must still submit periodic reports to the agency. This change aims to ensure that nursing home acquisitions are scrutinized for their potential impact on care quality and facility resources before they are completed.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 209: Prison Education Delivery Reform Commission

This bill establishes the Prison Education Delivery Reform Commission in Maryland to study how education impacts the criminal justice system and to develop strategies for reducing recidivism. The commission will be composed of state officials, experts, community representatives, and individuals with prior experience in the correctional system, who will meet to gather public input and research best practices across all levels of education. Over a two-year period, the group is tasked with creating a data-driven policy framework that evaluates current workforce programs and identifies ways to improve employment outcomes for incarcerated individuals. The commission must submit an interim report by June 2025 and a final report by January 2026, after which the legislation will automatically expire.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 115: Criminal Procedure - Victims' Rights - Notification of Release From Confinement (Jaycee Webster Victims' Rights Act)

This bill, known as the Jaycee Webster Victims' Rights Act, requires Maryland commitment units to inform victims, their representatives, and witnesses when a defendant or child respondent is released from confinement. When sending these notifications, the facility must include the name and phone number of a specific victim services employee from the Maryland Crime Victims Resource Center to assist those affected. The law also mandates that commitment units notify these individuals about other significant events, such as escapes, transfers, or the death of the person in custody. Additionally, the legislation protects the privacy of witnesses and victims by prohibiting commitment units from sharing their contact information with the defendants.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 167: Physician Assistants - Revisions (Physician Assistant Modernization Act of 2024)

This Maryland law modernizes the practice of physician assistants by replacing the requirement for a delegation agreement with a collaboration agreement, which allows them to work more closely with a patient care team. The bill also updates the education and licensure standards for physician assistants and expands the list of advanced duties they are authorized to perform. Additionally, it clarifies that federal government physician assistants can carry out their duties during declared disasters and directs the State Board of Physicians to regularly review and update the scope of practice. These changes directly affect physician assistants, their supervising physicians, and healthcare facilities in Maryland.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 966: Prior Authorizations of State Debt - Alterations

SB 966 amends several existing state debt authorizations to update the names of grant recipients and modify the intended uses of those funds. The bill specifically alters provisions related to local projects such as a turf field in Carroll County, an amphitheater in Prince George's County, and a medical facility in Baltimore City. These changes include correcting organizational titles, adjusting project descriptions, and extending the termination dates for certain grants. By repealing and reenacting previous legislation with these amendments, the bill ensures that the legal framework for these public works projects remains accurate and current.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 1065: Public Safety - Maryland Entertainment District Security Grant Program

This bill establishes the Maryland Entertainment District Security Grant Program to help fund security operations in areas with high concentrations of bars, hookah lounges, or live entertainment venues. The program is designed to assist community organizations, nonprofits, and local governments in places where police call volumes for reported crimes are higher than average during times of heavy pedestrian traffic. An application process will be created by the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services, which will set specific criteria for eligibility based on business density, foot traffic, and crime statistics. Starting in fiscal year 2026, the state may annually appropriate up to $1 million to a special fund dedicated solely to these grants and administrative costs.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 947: Civil Actions - Public Nuisances - Firearm Industry Members (Gun Industry Accountability Act of 2024)

This Maryland law, known as the Gun Industry Accountability Act of 2024, allows the state and private individuals to sue firearm companies for creating public nuisances if they knowingly sell or market products that cause harm to the public. The bill requires these industry members to implement strict controls to prevent sales to prohibited persons, such as convicted felons or straw purchasers, and to stop the theft or loss of firearms. Violations of these rules can lead to civil lawsuits seeking monetary damages, court orders to stop specific practices, and legal fees, without requiring proof that the company intended to break the law. Additionally, the act directs the Attorney General to study whether the state can legally require gun manufacturers to pay for the costs of crime prevention and victim compensation.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 447: Income Tax Credit - Venison Donation

This Maryland bill creates a state income tax credit for individuals who harvest antlerless deer and donate the meat to specific nonprofit organizations. To qualify, hunters must follow state laws and donate the processed venison to a 501(c)(3) group that sells or offers donated food for sale. The credit covers up to $300 of butchering and processing costs per deer, with a maximum total credit of $600 per year that cannot be carried over to future years. Additionally, the law grants donors immunity from civil liability for the condition of the donated meat and requires donation programs to report donor names and deer counts to the state comptroller annually.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 9, 2024

SB 570: Public Utilities - Thermal Energy Network Systems - Authorization and Establishment (Working for Accessible Renewable Maryland Thermal Heat (WARMTH) Act)

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 563

signed · Maryland · Senate May 9, 2024

SB 42: Vehicle Laws - Horse Riding - Helmet Requirement for Minors

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 466

Bill results