Maryland Bills

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 784: Baltimore City - Alcoholic Beverages Licenses - Alterations

HB 784 requires businesses seeking new alcoholic beverage licenses or license transfers in Baltimore City's 46th Alcoholic Beverages District to first obtain a written agreement (memorandum of understanding) with a local community association within the district. It also extends expiration dates for specific licenses at designated locations (like O'Donnell Street, Eastern Avenue, and Boston Street) to allow time for ownership transfers or location changes. The bill directly affects bars, restaurants, and other licensed establishments in the 46th district seeking to open, move, or transfer licenses. Key provisions include the community association agreement requirement and temporary extensions for certain licenses through 2028.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 776: Maryland Medical Practice Act and Maryland Physician Assistants Act - Revisions

HB 776 updates Maryland's laws regulating physicians, physician assistants, and allied health professionals by revising outdated or inconsistent language in the Medical Practice Act and Physician Assistants Act. The bill clarifies licensure requirements, disciplinary procedures, and reporting rules for these healthcare professionals, while also modifying grounds for discipline and administrative penalties. It affects licensed medical practitioners, the State Board of Physicians, and allied health advisory committees by streamlining regulatory processes. The bill focuses on administrative modernization rather than creating new policy, removing redundant provisions and aligning existing rules across the statutes.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 334: Workgroup on Newborn Nurse Home Visiting Services - Establishment

HB 334 establishes a statewide program requiring the Maryland Department of Health to provide universal newborn nurse home visiting services to all families with newborns (up to 12 weeks old) residing in Maryland. The program must be evidence-based, offered by licensed nurses, and delivered in homes or virtually, focusing on infant health, maternal well-being, family support, and child development. Crucially, the bill mandates that health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations cover and reimburse these services under existing policies. The program is voluntary for families, with no penalties for declining participation, and requires data collection on outcomes across key domains like reducing child maltreatment and improving school readiness.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 373: State Personnel - BWI Airport Fire and Rescue Department - Collective Bargaining and Arbitration Processes

SB 373 requires the State and the union representing uniformed fire employees at BWI Airport Fire and Rescue Department to reach a new collective bargaining agreement by September 30 of the year before the current agreement expires. If negotiations reach an impasse (defined as mutual agreement or failure to agree by October 1), both parties must submit their final offers within 48 hours and select an arbitrator from a list of 15 provided by the American Arbitration Association through an alternating strike process. The arbitrator will make a binding decision on wages, hours, and working conditions, with recommendations due by November 20. This replaces the previous fact-finder process for this specific department, ensuring a structured resolution timeline.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 956: Health Insurance - Medicare Supplement Policies - Insurance Producer Commission

SB 956 requires insurance carriers to pay brokers the same commission rate for selling Medicare supplement policies during a guaranteed issue period (when seniors can switch plans without medical underwriting) as for sales during an open enrollment period (standard enrollment time). It directly affects Medicare supplement insurance brokers and the insurance companies that pay them commissions. The key provision mandates identical commission rates regardless of when the sale occurs, eliminating potential disparities in broker compensation. The law takes effect on October 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 715: Harford County - Alcoholic Beverages - Alteration of License Quota

HB 715 increases the population threshold used to calculate the maximum number of alcoholic beverage licenses Harford County can issue. Specifically, it raises the quota from one license per 4,000 residents to one license per 4,750 residents (based on Maryland Department of Health data). This change directly affects the Harford County Board of License Commissioners, who will use the new quota when approving new Class A, A-1, or A-2 off-sale licenses. The bill does not apply to license transfers, conversions, or renewals, and takes effect July 1, 2025.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 512: Frederick County - Barbershop and Beauty Salon Beer and Wine License - Alterations

HB 512 increases the permitted amount of wine served by barbershops and beauty salons in Frederick County from 5 ounces to 6.5 ounces per customer for on-premises consumption. The bill directly affects licensed barbershops and beauty salons that serve alcohol during customer services or approved fundraising events. Key provisions include maintaining the $100 annual fee, restricting service to normal business hours before 9 p.m., and prohibiting license transfers. The change applies only to Frederick County under Maryland's Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis code, effective July 1, 2025.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 675: Public Safety - Rape Kit Testing - Tracking Program and Grant Fund

HB 675 modifies Maryland's Rape Kit Testing Grant Fund to specifically fund testing of untested sexual assault evidence kits collected before October 1, 2020, and support related services. The bill directs the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention to distribute funds annually to law enforcement agencies for testing, while prohibiting the fund from supporting the Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Tracking System (Section 31-33). It also allocates funding to the State Sexual Assault Coalition for a victim notification hotline providing advocacy, information on untested kits, and guidance navigating the tracking system (Section 9-19). The Executive Director must ensure all pre-2020 kits are tested or determined non-testable by fiscal year end, with funds maintained at prior-year levels unless reduced (Section 5-6). This directly affects law enforcement agencies, victims of sexual assault, and the State Sexual Assault Coalition.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 835: Charles County - Alcoholic Beverages - Baseball Stadium License - Alterations

HB 835 modifies alcohol license rules for baseball stadiums in Charles County. It allows stadiums to serve beer, wine, and liquor in plastic, paper, or non-glass containers (except in enclosed dining areas where glass is permitted) and restricts where alcohol can be consumed - patrons may carry drinks only within stadium seating areas, but liquor must stay in designated dining zones. The bill applies only to licensed stadium operators (like team owners or county-contracted concessionaires) and sets an annual $2,200 license fee. It takes effect July 1, 2025.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 1066: Commission on Behavioral Health Care Treatment and Access - Workgroups

HB 1066 restructures Maryland's Commission on Behavioral Health Care Treatment and Access by expanding its membership from 19 to 48 members. It adds 29 new appointed members representing specific stakeholders, including consumers of behavioral health services, substance use treatment providers, housing specialists, and experts in areas like drug policy reform. The bill also requires the Commission to establish a dedicated workgroup focused on improving health, social, and economic outcomes related to substance use. This change directly affects the Commission's composition and operational structure, aiming to enhance diverse representation in behavioral health policy development.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 820: Health Insurance - Utilization Review - Use of Artificial Intelligence

HB 820 requires health insurance companies, pharmacy benefits managers, and private review agents to follow specific rules when using artificial intelligence (AI) for medical coverage decisions (utilization review). It mandates that AI tools base decisions on individual patient medical records - not just group data - and cannot replace healthcare providers in review processes. The bill also prohibits AI from causing prohibited discrimination and requires insurers to report whether AI was used in denied claims. This directly affects insurers and review entities that use AI to approve or deny treatments, hospital stays, or medications.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 20, 2025

HB 1510: Medical Records - Notice of Destruction - Method

HB 1510 changes how healthcare providers must notify patients before destroying medical records. It requires providers to send destruction notices via **either** first-class mail or email (instead of both methods), affecting all Maryland healthcare facilities and their patients whose records are nearing the 7-year retention period. The key provision simplifies the notification process by allowing providers to choose one method, while still requiring the notice to include the destruction date and instructions for retrieving records if needed. This bill directly impacts patients receiving care in Maryland and healthcare providers managing medical records under existing law. The change takes effect October 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Bill results