Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 1563: Emergency Room Services and Post-Acute Care - Coverage and Facility Studies

This bill prohibits insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations from denying emergency room coverage solely because a patient did not experience a diagnosed emergency medical condition. It requires two key studies: one to quantify hospital and post-acute care bed capacity across Maryland, and another to identify ways to improve transitions from emergency to post-acute care settings. These provisions directly affect patients receiving emergency care and healthcare providers treating them, ensuring coverage isn't denied based on diagnosis alone. The studies aim to inform data-driven recommendations for future policy improvements in emergency and post-acute care access.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits insurers from denying ER coverage and mandates studies to improve care transitions, directly protecting patient access and enhancing service quality.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 1181: Family Law - Children in Out-of-Home Placement - Voluntary Placement Agreements

HB 1181 amends Maryland's Family Law to streamline voluntary placement agreements for children with developmental disabilities or mental illnesses in out-of-home care. The bill requires local departments to schedule an assessment meeting with families and providers within 5 business days of receiving a request, and issue a written eligibility decision within another 5 business days. It clarifies that local departments cannot seek legal custody solely to obtain treatment for these children, while allowing placements to exceed 180 days if a juvenile court finds continued placement is in the child's best interest. These changes aim to reduce current delays (often 60-90 days) that contribute to extended hospital stays and family distress.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStreamlines mental health access for children with disabilities by requiring timely assessments and preventing custody barriers for treatment.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 878: Workers' Compensation - Heart Disease and Hypertension Presumption and Permanent Partial Disability - Carroll County Correctional Deputies

HB 878 extends Maryland's workers' compensation presumption for heart disease and hypertension to Carroll County correctional deputies. It adds "Carroll County Correctional Deputy" to the list of public safety employees eligible for this presumption, meaning they can automatically qualify for benefits if these conditions result in partial disability or death while on duty. The bill requires deputies to undergo a pre-employment medical exam to establish any pre-existing heart conditions, and benefits only apply if the condition is more severe than prior to their employment. This change modifies specific sections of Maryland's workers' compensation law to apply these provisions exclusively to Carroll County correctional deputies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends automatic workers' comp benefits for heart disease/hypertension to correctional deputies, ensuring healthcare coverage access for work-related conditions without proving causation.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends automatic workers' comp benefits for heart disease/hypertension to correctional deputies, strengthening workplace injury protections for public safety workers.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 1016: Noncompete and Conflict of Interest Clauses - Licensed Architects - Employer Workforce Relocation and Out-of-State Employers

HB 1016 invalidates noncompete and conflict-of-interest clauses in employment contracts for certain employees if their employer relocates the majority of its employees or principal business location outside Maryland. It directly affects low-wage workers (earning ≤150% of state minimum wage), healthcare workers providing direct patient care (earning ≤$350,000 annually), and veterinary professionals. For high-earning healthcare workers ($350,000+), the bill allows limited 1-year noncompete restrictions within 10 miles of their prior workplace. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and applies only to contracts signed after that date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill invalidates noncompete clauses for healthcare workers providing direct patient care (≤$350k), protecting their mobility and workforce stability in healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentInvalidates noncompete clauses for low-wage, healthcare, and veterinary workers when employers relocate, directly protecting worker mobility and rights under employment standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 579: Counties - No-Cost Preventive Cancer Screenings for Volunteer and Retired Volunteer Firefighters

SB 579 requires Maryland counties with volunteer fire companies to provide no-cost preventive cancer screenings to volunteer firefighters, based on guidelines from the International Association of Fire Fighters. Volunteer fire companies must maintain and annually submit updated lists of their members to the county, which must then keep these records. Counties can meet this requirement by offering annual exams including cancer screenings or applying for specific grants to fund innovative screening technologies. The bill directly affects volunteer firefighters and counties, creating a structured process for access to preventive care without cost to the firefighters.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates no-cost cancer screenings for firefighters, expanding preventive healthcare access and public health program funding.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 1012: Public Health - Local Suicide Fatality Review Teams - Authorization

HB 1012 authorizes counties and municipalities in Maryland to establish local suicide fatality review teams, which directly affect local governments and public health agencies. These teams must include representatives from health departments, law enforcement, schools, hospitals, and mental health professionals to review suicide cases and identify systemic factors. The bill requires teams to coordinate with the state suicide review committee and mandates confidentiality for case discussions, exempting meetings about individual cases from public disclosure laws and protecting sensitive information. It also prohibits public disclosure of identifying details about deceased individuals or those affected by suicide, ensuring privacy while allowing teams to develop prevention recommendations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes local suicide review teams including mental health professionals to identify systemic factors, directly supporting mental health service coordination and prevention efforts.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 719: Sewage Sludge - Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances - Regulation

SB 719 restricts the land application of sewage sludge containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) above specific concentration levels, effective after a set date. It requires monitoring for PFAS in sewage sludge and products containing it, authorizes stricter pretreatment rules for industrial users discharging PFAS, and allows local jurisdictions to set fees for such discharges. The bill directly affects sewage sludge generators (like wastewater treatment facilities), industrial users, and local regulators by mandating new PFAS testing, usage limits, and fee structures. It amends Maryland’s environmental code to establish these requirements without changing existing land application rules for sludge below the new PFAS thresholds.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRestricts PFAS in sewage sludge, mandates monitoring, and enforces stricter industrial discharge rules to reduce environmental pollution and strengthen protections.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill restricts PFAS in sewage sludge to prevent environmental contamination linked to health risks (e.g., cancer, immune issues), directly supporting public health protection under healthcare policies.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 707: Mental Health Law - Danger to the Life or Safety of the Individual or of Others - Definition (Right to Treatment)

SB 707 amends Maryland's Mental Health Law to clarify the definition of "danger to the life or safety of the individual or of others" for involuntary admission and emergency evaluations. It specifies that this danger includes four key scenarios: causing bodily harm, engaging in conduct likely to result in criminal justice involvement, inability to meet basic needs (food, shelter, medical care) creating serious risk, or substantial deterioration in judgment preventing informed treatment decisions. The bill directly affects individuals with mental disorders who may be assessed for involuntary care, as well as healthcare providers making those determinations under the law. This definition replaces the current standard in Maryland Code, Section 10-601, and takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClarifies mental health criteria to prevent unnecessary criminal justice involvement, aligning with reform goals of diversion from incarceration over arrest95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies involuntary admission criteria to ensure timely mental health treatment, protecting patient rights and improving access to care under Maryland's Mental Health Law.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 1015: Developmental Disabilities Services - Expedited Eligibility Determinations for Recently Relocated Individuals (Ralph's Act)

HB 1015 (Ralph's Act) ensures continuity of developmental disability services for individuals who recently moved to Maryland after losing their primary caregiver in another state. It directly affects people who received home- and community-based waiver services in another state for the past 10 years and relocated to live with immediate family following the death or incapacitation of their former caretaker. The bill requires the Maryland Department of Health to create an expedited 30-day process to determine eligibility, allows pre-residency eligibility assessments, and ensures those approved receive services through priority categories matching their prior state's support. This policy change prevents service disruptions during relocation transitions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnsures continuity of developmental disability services (home/community-based waivers) for relocated individuals, maintaining access to healthcare services without gaps.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 771: Health Occupations - Human Trafficking Awareness Training

HB 771 requires Maryland health occupations boards to allow license renewal credits for free, 1-hour human trafficking awareness training. The training must cover definitions of trafficking, trauma-informed care, health indicators, screening protocols, reporting requirements, and survivor resources. It directly affects health practitioners (like nurses and therapists) needing license renewals, with boards mandated to adopt regulations by October 2026. The Maryland Department of Health must approve the training program by July 2026 in collaboration with universities and anti-trafficking organizations. The bill takes effect June 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates human trafficking training for healthcare license renewal, enhancing trauma-informed care and patient safety in health services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare