Maryland Bills

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 1142: Public Health - Maryland Interested Parties Advisory Group - Establishment

HB 1142 establishes the Maryland Interested Parties Advisory Group within the Department of Health to address two key issues: ensuring Medicaid payment rates for home and community-based services are sufficient to maintain access, and supporting the development of an adequate direct care workforce. The advisory group will include 11 voting members representing consumers, consumer organizations, direct care workers, worker organizations, provider associations, and the public, plus a nonvoting data expert. It must reflect Maryland’s diversity in disability, race, ethnicity, gender, and other demographics. The group will meet quarterly starting November 1, 2025, and the Department of Health will provide staff and logistical support to ensure meaningful participation from consumers and direct care workers. This bill directly affects Medicaid recipients needing home/community services, direct care workers, and organizations serving these groups.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 655: Wicomico County - Alcoholic Beverages - Temporary To-Go Event Permit and Class C Per Diem Municipal To-Go Beer, Wine, and Liquor License

HB 655 creates two new alcohol licensing options in Wicomico County. It establishes a "Class C per diem municipal to-go license" for the county to authorize special events, and a "temporary to-go event permit" for existing Class B license holders (restaurants/hotels) to sell beer, wine, and liquor in approved to-go cups during designated events in specific areas. The bill modifies Maryland's alcohol code to allow these sales outside the licensed premises but within event zones, with permits tied to the event's duration. This directly affects restaurants and event venues holding Class B licenses in Wicomico County.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 72: Health Occupations Boards - English Proficiency Requirements and Licensure by Endorsement for Nursing

SB 72 prohibits Maryland health boards from requiring additional English proficiency proof for nursing licensure if an applicant holds a valid out-of-state license that already requires English proficiency. It requires boards to post on their websites a list of states with equivalent English proficiency standards. The bill updates acceptable proof methods for English proficiency, including recognizing graduates of English-speaking schools, passing approved exams, or holding a valid multistate nursing license. This primarily affects nurses seeking licensure in Maryland through endorsement, streamlining the process for those already licensed elsewhere.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 765: Hospitals - Medical Debt Collection - Sale of Patient Debt

HB 765 allows Maryland hospitals to sell patient medical debt **only to government units or their contractors for debt cancellation**, not for profit. It requires hospitals to dismiss all pending collection actions for sold debt, stop all collection efforts on that debt, and report detailed data on debt sales (including amounts sold, payments received, and patient demographics) annually. The bill directly affects hospitals by mandating new financial policies and patient reporting requirements, and impacts patients whose debt is sold by preventing further collection attempts. Key provisions include prohibiting interest charges before court judgment, requiring refunds for patients later found eligible for free care, and banning hospitals from reporting adverse credit information during an 180-day grace period.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 745: State Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists - Behavior Analysts - Licensure Applications

HB 745 requires Maryland's State Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists to issue behavior analyst licenses within 10 days of receiving a complete application, or within 30 days if additional information is needed to complete an initially incomplete application. The bill mandates the Board send email notifications to applicants at four key stages: when an application is received, review begins, completeness is confirmed (or more info is needed), and when a license is issued or denied. This directly affects individuals applying for behavior analyst licensure in Maryland by setting clear timelines for processing and improving communication. The bill does not change eligibility requirements but focuses on streamlining the application process and transparency. It takes effect October 1, 2025.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 508: State Procurement Preferences - Blind Industries and Services of Maryland - Packaging and Repackaging

HB 508 requires Maryland state agencies and state-controlled entities to include in janitorial maintenance contracts a provision mandating prime contractors to purchase janitorial products packaged or repackaged by Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM) when those products are available. The bill amends procurement law to prioritize BISM-made products specifically for packaging and repackaging services, directly affecting state contractors bidding on janitorial contracts. It applies to all state or state-aided entities with contracts containing housekeeping or janitorial components, ensuring BISM's participation in the supply chain for these products. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, aiming to support employment opportunities for blind workers through state procurement practices.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 693: State Retirement and Pension System - Reemployment Earnings Limitations - Maximum Average Final Compensation

This bill clarifies that state retirees with an average final compensation below the minimum annual salary on the standard Maryland state pay scale (as of January 1 of the previous year) are exempt from reemployment earnings limitations when taking new state jobs. It specifically applies to retirees who accept permanent, temporary, or contractual positions with participating state employers within 12 months of retirement. The bill also adds a similar exemption for disability retirees who meet the same compensation threshold. These changes modify existing Maryland pension laws (sections 22-406, 23-407, 25-403, 29-115, and 29-116 of the State Personnel and Pensions article) to establish a clear, consistent income threshold for exemption.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 459: Counties - Cancer Screening for Professional Firefighters - Required Coverage (James "Jimmy" Malone Act)

HB 459, the "James 'Jimmy' Malone Act," requires health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations in Maryland to cover preventive cancer screenings for professional firefighters without copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles. It applies to all insurers offering coverage in the state and mandates that counties, municipalities, and state employee health programs comply with these screening coverage requirements. The bill specifies that screenings must follow guidelines from the International Association of Fire Fighters and takes effect January 1, 2026. This directly affects firefighters employed by state, county, or municipal entities and their health insurance providers.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 653: Procurement - Employee Stock Ownership Plan Preference - Pilot

SB 653 creates a pilot program that gives a price preference in government contracts to companies using Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) for specific Maryland institutions. It applies to procurements under $80 million by the Maryland Stadium Authority, University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, St. Mary’s College, and Baltimore City Community College. Contractors must disclose if they use an ESOP, and the program requires these entities to consider ESOP-based bids favorably during procurement. This is a temporary pilot program modifying existing procurement rules to encourage ESOP adoption in public contracting.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 1086: Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Health Insurance - Coverage for Anesthesia - Prohibiting Time Limitations

HB 1086 requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program), managed care organizations, and certain health insurers to cover anesthesia services without time limits. It mandates that if a licensed medical professional orders anesthesia for a procedure, coverage must extend for the entire procedure duration, and insurers cannot impose any time restrictions on this coverage. The bill applies to all policies issued or renewed in Maryland on or after January 1, 2026, directly affecting Medicaid beneficiaries and insured patients needing anesthesia for medical procedures. This change aligns anesthesia coverage requirements with existing standards for other health services under Maryland law.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 933: Nursing Homes - Cost Reports

HB 933 requires Maryland nursing homes to spend at least 75% of their total nursing and residential care income on direct care staff wages and benefits, including nurses, dietary workers, therapists, and social workers. Nursing homes must annually submit detailed cost reports by September 1 (starting in 2026) to the Maryland Department of Health, including proof of wage payments and other required details. The Department can enforce compliance through actions like recouping funds, imposing corrective plans, or suspending program participation for violations. This bill directly affects nursing homes operating in Maryland and aims to ensure adequate staffing resources through transparent financial reporting.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 18: Vehicle Laws - Noise Abatement Monitoring Systems Pilot Program - Inspection and Extension

This bill extends the pilot program for noise-abatement monitoring systems in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties, which use technology to detect excessive vehicle noise (like loud exhausts) and issue warnings or citations. It modifies inspection rules to require county officials to allow public access to recorded images from these systems under specific circumstances, similar to traffic monitoring systems. Counties must report annually by December 1, 2027, on costs, citations issued, system effectiveness, and locations used. The pilot program will end automatically on June 30, 2028, without needing further legislative action.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Bill results