This bill requires Maryland's Office of the Comptroller, with assistance from the Department of Human Services, to conduct a feasibility study on creating a program that would provide monthly payments to caregivers of specific family members. The study will examine economic impacts like potential increases in workforce participation, tax revenue, and reduced reliance on public benefits, while also identifying funding sources and administrative costs. It must be completed by July 1, 2027, and reported to relevant legislative committees. The bill does not establish the program itself but sets the groundwork for evaluating its potential. This study directly affects state agencies responsible for conducting the analysis, with no direct impact on caregivers or families until a future decision to implement the program.
SB 892 modifies Maryland's State Advisory Council on Health and Wellness to include a member with expertise in perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal care. It requires health occupations boards (like those for nurses or doctors) to grant at least two continuing education credits for every hour of training on these conditions, directly affecting healthcare professionals renewing their licenses. The bill also mandates the Maryland Health Care Commission, Commission for Women, and Department of Health to take specific actions related to these health conditions. These changes aim to improve provider knowledge and care for women experiencing these common health transitions.
SB 813 prohibits dental insurers and plan organizations from blocking direct payments to dentists (nonpreferred providers) when patients assign benefits to them, instead of paying patients who then pay dentists. It requires dentists to provide patients with clear cost disclosures - including potential balance billing - before services and submit a disclosure form to insurers. The bill applies specifically to dental care under Maryland law, amending sections 14-205.3 and adding 14-410.1 to the Insurance Article. Insurers may refuse direct payment only in limited cases, such as if a patient paid the dentist upfront or withdrew assignment after payment. This aims to simplify reimbursement for dental patients and dentists outside insurance networks.
SB 729 expands a legal aid program that provides representation to tenants facing eviction to include residents of mobile home parks, ensuring they receive legal help during eviction proceedings. The bill requires mobile home park owners to establish pet policies, ensure water meets safety standards, and follow new rules for fees and utility billing, while banning them from denying services due to unpaid rent or personal characteristics. It also mandates a time period for residents to pay overdue rent before eviction and requires park owners to include subtenants as defendants in eviction cases. These changes strengthen tenant protections and clarify responsibilities for mobile home park owners.
SB 839 requires Maryland's Department of Health to conduct a survey of pharmacy dispensing costs in the state every three years starting in 2026. Within six months after each survey, the Department must establish a fee charged to pharmacies for dispensing drugs under the state's Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid). This fee will be based directly on the survey results, aiming to reflect actual dispensing costs. The bill applies specifically to pharmacies participating in Maryland's Medicaid program and takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 1330 changes Maryland's homeowners' property tax credit application process to be year-round. It eliminates the previous October 1 deadline, allowing eligible homeowners to apply anytime within specific windows: within one year after April 15 for first-time applicants or those who applied on time for three consecutive years, or within three years after April 15 for homeowners aged 70+ or enrolled in the Homeowner Protection Program. The bill directly affects Maryland homeowners with combined gross income under $60,000 or net worth under $200,000 who qualify for the credit. Key mechanisms include extended application periods and revised payment timing based on when the application is submitted. This applies to all taxable years beginning after June 30, 2027.
HB 1249 prohibits certified recovery residences in Maryland from refusing services to individuals receiving medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder or requiring them to stop or change their MAT as a condition for housing. The bill amends certification standards for recovery residences (which provide non-clinical housing for people with substance use disorders) to ensure credentialing entities cannot allow such discrimination. It directly affects certified recovery residences and individuals using MAT for opioid addiction, requiring certification rules to explicitly ban these practices. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and applies only to opioid use disorder treatment under MAT.
HB 1321 modifies Maryland's Child Care Scholarship Program to protect certain low-income families from enrollment freezes. It prohibits enrollment freezes from applying to families receiving Temporary Cash Assistance, TANF, children on Social Security Income, or homeless children - ensuring these groups maintain access. If a freeze occurs, the State Department of Education must create a waitlist prioritizing these protected individuals. The bill also limits copay increases for specific participants and requires the Department to identify applicants eligible for free prekindergarten.
HB 849 prevents certain groups from being cut off from Maryland's Child Care Scholarship Program if a freeze on new enrollments is implemented. It specifically protects families receiving Temporary Cash Assistance, TANF, or Social Security Income; siblings of currently enrolled children; individuals who recently lost jobs (within 30 days); and government workers furloughed due to a shutdown lasting over 7 days. The bill adds these exceptions to the existing rules that would otherwise allow the program to freeze enrollment. This change ensures these vulnerable groups maintain access to child care assistance during enrollment freezes.
HB 874 increases the Anne Arundel County Board of License Commissioners from three to five members and changes how members are appointed. The Governor must now select members from a list recommended by the county's legislative delegations to the Maryland General Assembly, replacing the previous process. The bill also updates eligibility rules to allow up to three members from the same political party (up from two) and requires the board to adopt and publish a written ethics policy on conflicts of interest and recusal. These changes directly affect the composition and governance of the county's board, which oversees liquor and cannabis licensing. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 1470 requires Maryland's Department of Health to conduct an in-state cost-of-dispensing survey for Medicaid drugs at least once every three years, starting in 2026. Within six months after each survey, the Department must set a fee-for-service reimbursement rate for pharmacists dispensing Medicaid-covered drugs based on the survey results. This directly affects pharmacies participating in Maryland's Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid), as the new fee structure will determine their reimbursement for drug dispensing services. The bill establishes a regular, data-driven process to update these fees, ensuring they reflect actual dispensing costs.
HB 1280 directs Maryland's Comptroller to study whether a program providing monthly payments to caregivers for specific family members would be feasible. The study must examine economic impacts like potential job growth, increased tax revenue, and reduced public benefits use, while assessing costs and funding options. It requires collaboration with the Department of Human Services and agencies like the Department of Aging, with a final report due by July 1, 2027. The bill expires June 30, 2028, and does not create the program itself.
