Maryland Bills

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 1259: Health Insurance - Breast and Lung Cancer Screening - Coverage Requirements

This Maryland bill requires health insurers and health plans to cover specific breast and lung cancer screening services without imposing copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles, with the exception of high-deductible health plans. For breast cancer, the law expands the definition of supplemental screening to include image-guided breast biopsies and mandates that these services be covered at the same cost as standard breast cancer screening. Regarding lung cancer, the bill ensures coverage for recommended screenings and necessary follow-up diagnostic imaging, such as CT scans and biopsies, while explicitly prohibiting plans from requiring prior authorization for these services. These coverage requirements apply to all health policies issued, delivered, or renewed in the state on or after January 1, 2025.

Jamila Woods (D) Harry Bhandari (D) Deni Taveras (D) Diana Fennell (D) Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D)

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 338: Criminal Procedure – Facial Recognition Technology – Requirements, Procedures, and Prohibitions

Maryland's HB 338 establishes strict rules for how law enforcement agencies can use facial recognition technology in criminal investigations. The bill prohibits using this technology to identify individuals in public spaces or for real-time tracking, except when investigating specific serious crimes like violence, human trafficking, or stalking. Additionally, results from facial recognition software cannot be the only evidence used to identify a suspect or establish probable cause; they must be supported by other independent proof. The law also prevents officers from telling witnesses that a suspect was identified via this technology before a formal lineup and bans comparing images against databases other than official driver's license or mugshot records. Finally, the state law overrides any local rules that might have been in place regarding the use of facial recognition.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 694: Maryland Department of Health – Health Commissions and Maryland Insurance Administration – Study

This bill requires the Maryland Department of Health to hire an independent consultant to study four state health agencies: the Health Services Cost Review Commission, the Maryland Health Care Commission, the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission, and the Maryland Insurance Administration. The consultant will examine overlaps in these agencies' duties, suggest ways to streamline operations, and assess how their functions align with state health equity and cost models. The study must include input from the agencies themselves and conclude with a report to the Governor and legislative committees by January 1, 2026.

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 · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 125: Courts – Military Records – Recordation and Inspection

This Maryland bill requires circuit court clerks to record and index discharge papers for anyone who has served in the U.S. armed forces, with the option to use either a physical book or an electronic record. The law prohibits clerks from charging fees for recording or indexing these documents and establishes that the records or certified copies are admissible as evidence in state and federal courts. Access to the records is restricted to parties involved in legal proceedings, the individuals themselves, or relatives of the service member if at least 70 years have passed since the discharge papers were filed. Additionally, the bill mandates that clerks must redact social security numbers from all portions of the records to protect personal privacy.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 151: Prince George's County - Workgroup on Health and Wellness

This bill establishes a Workgroup on Health and Wellness in Prince George's County to study local health options and offer recommendations to county leaders. The group is made up of elected officials, representatives from local businesses and nonprofits, and health experts who will meet without pay but can receive travel reimbursement. Their main tasks include reviewing how to improve access to healthy food and safe places for physical activity, suggesting ways to reduce fast-food density, and exploring the creation of community wellness hubs. The Workgroup must submit its final report by December 1, 2025, to county executives, the governor, and state legislators. The law goes into effect on July 1, 2024, and will remain in force for two years before automatically ending.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 712: State-Owned Nursing Homes - Deficiencies, Citations, and Fines - Reporting Requirements

This Maryland bill requires the state department overseeing nursing homes to directly report deficiencies and enforcement actions to the Governor, state legislators, and local county officials, rather than letting the private contractors running these homes handle the notifications. The law mandates that notices about initial survey findings be sent within 15 days, while updates regarding correction plans or dispute resolutions must be provided within 30 days of their completion. Additionally, the department must submit an annual report starting in 2024 detailing all survey activities and enforcement actions taken against state-owned nursing homes during the previous year. These changes aim to increase transparency and ensure that elected officials and community leaders are promptly informed about the conditions and regulatory history of these facilities.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 544: Criminal Law - Sexual Extortion, Stalking, and Revenge Porn - Statute of Limitations and In Banc Review

This Maryland law extends the time limit for prosecuting sexual extortion and stalking crimes to five and ten years respectively, allowing authorities to pursue charges long after the offenses occurred. Additionally, the bill removes the standard time restrictions for prosecuting revenge porn, permitting the state to initiate these cases at any point in the future. The legislation also classifies these offenses as serious misdemeanors that can result in prison time and allows for special appellate review of related cases. By updating these statutes, the bill aims to provide victims with more time to report crimes and ensures that perpetrators face potential legal consequences regardless of how much time has passed since the incident.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 42: Public Health - Public Health Services and Protections - Revisions

This Maryland bill primarily updates tobacco sales laws to close exceptions that previously allowed active-duty military members aged 18 to 21 to purchase tobacco products and related items. By removing these specific age-based exemptions, the legislation ensures that all tobacco retailers must strictly enforce the state-wide minimum age of 21 for sales, eliminating confusion for sellers regarding military identification. The bill also streamlines public health administration by allowing the Department of Health to move unspent cancer grant funds between counties and removing redundant reporting requirements. Additionally, it shifts the responsibility for paying emergency medical costs in child abuse cases from the Department of Health to the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services, while adjusting the duties of the State Council on Child Abuse and Neglect.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 999: Certified Nursing Assistants - Licensing Requirements and Administrative Updates

This Maryland bill updates the licensing rules for certified nursing assistants and geriatric nursing assistants to align with federal regulations and improve workplace safety. It exempts individuals who have worked under federal rules for less than a certain number of months from the state's certification requirement and mandates that all applicants complete a competency evaluation. The legislation also clarifies definitions for various health support roles and requires nursing homes with 45 or more beds to include certified nursing assistants on committees that assess workplace safety and reduce employee injuries.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 932: Health Insurance - Utilization Review - Revisions

This Maryland bill updates health insurance rules to improve how prior authorization requests are handled and to ensure patients receive clearer cost information. It requires insurance companies to create online systems that allow doctors to submit and receive approval for drug coverage electronically, while also displaying real-time out-of-pocket costs and cheaper medication options at the point of prescribing. The law further prohibits insurers from charging fees for accessing these digital tools and restricts their ability to use provider data without consent. Additionally, the bill removes prior authorization requirements for specific prescription drugs used to treat opioid use disorder, such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. These changes aim to streamline the approval process and increase transparency for both healthcare providers and insured individuals.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 51: Prince George's County - Alcoholic Beverages - License Renewal

This bill updates the rules for renewing alcoholic beverage licenses in Prince George's County, Maryland, by allowing the licensing board to grant deadline extensions. It specifically addresses licenses that expired between March 5, 2020, and December 31, 2023, due to missed renewal applications, granting them a grace period until July 1, 2025. To regain their licenses during this period, affected business owners must prove they meet all other requirements and pay any outstanding fees. The changes take effect on July 1, 2024, and apply to Class A, B, C, and D license holders in the county.

Bill results