SB 778 creates a new "clinical research pharmacy permit" required for pharmacies conducting clinical trials in Maryland. It allows healthcare providers to own such pharmacies under specific conditions, including requiring a licensed pharmacist to be on-site at all times and prohibiting owners from receiving payment for patient referrals. The bill also exempts clinical trials conducted by corporations from being classified as "practice of medicine," removing a licensing barrier for these activities. This directly affects pharmacies seeking to operate clinical trials, healthcare providers considering ownership, and the State Board of Pharmacy (as the permit issuer).
SB 159 requires Maryland's Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers to maintain specific equipment and supplies on ambulances, including neonatal care items, and mandates quarterly reviews of performance data like response times and service quality. It also requires counties to establish formal, accessible complaint systems for ambulance quality or conduct issues, with online and in-person filing, tracking, and quarterly reporting to the state EMS Institute. These provisions directly affect all counties and municipalities operating or contracting EMS services, as well as the Maryland Institute for EMS Systems, which coordinates the statewide standards. The bill aims to standardize ambulance equipment, improve accountability through data reviews, and enhance patient access to complaint resolution. It takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 347 adds hypertension to the list of occupational diseases presumed work-related for specific emergency responders in Maryland. It creates a legal presumption that firefighters, firefighting instructors, rescue squad members, advanced life support unit members, and State Fire Marshal staff with hypertension are entitled to workers' compensation benefits if they meet four conditions: diagnosed by a provider, prescribed hypertension medication for 90+ consecutive days, completed 2+ years of cumulative service in the state, and are currently employed in that role. This bill modifies Maryland’s workers’ compensation law (specifically Sections 9-502 and 9-503) to expand eligibility for these occupations without requiring separate proof that hypertension resulted from their job duties. It directly affects these emergency personnel seeking compensation for hypertension-related disability or death.
SB 96 updates terminology in Maryland's Sheila E. Hixson Behavioral Health Services Matching Grant Program by removing the word "active" before "service member" throughout the law. This change clarifies that the program serves all service members (including those not currently on active duty), veterans, and their families, without altering eligibility criteria or funding. The bill specifically revises definitions in Section 7.5-210(a)(2)(i), (b)(2), and (e)(1)(ii) to replace "active service member" with "service member." It does not create new benefits or change who qualifies for grants, only how the program describes its target population. The change aims to align the law with the program's actual scope and improve clarity.
HB 446 establishes the Dementia Services and Brain Health Program within Maryland’s Department of Health to lead state public health efforts on brain health and dementia. The program replaces the previous "Director" role for key duties, including staffing the Virginia I. Jones Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Council and overseeing implementation of the State Plan on Alzheimer’s and related dementias. It requires the program, in partnership with the Department of Aging and other entities, to develop a clinical toolkit for healthcare providers to improve dementia care. The bill updates existing law to formalize this program structure and its responsibilities.
SB 394 adds bacterial vaginosis to Maryland's list of conditions eligible for expedited partner therapy (EPT). This allows certain healthcare providers - like physicians, advanced practice nurses, and pharmaciststo prescribe antibiotics to a sexual partner of a diagnosed patient without requiring a personal examination of the partner. The law aims to prevent reinfection in the diagnosed patient and stop disease spread, expanding existing EPT rules that previously covered only chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis. It applies to public and private health care settings in Maryland starting October 1, 2026.
HB 595 modifies Maryland's income tax credit for physicians mentoring medical students in underserved areas. It removes a requirement that students must be enrolled in a Maryland medical school or training program and reduces the required hours per preceptor rotation from 100 to 90 for community-based clinical training. Licensed physicians serving as preceptors in designated healthcare shortage areas may claim a $1,000 tax credit per qualifying student rotation, capped at $10,000 annually per physician and $100,000 statewide. The bill aims to expand access to physician mentorship by broadening eligibility for the credit, directly benefiting doctors and medical training programs in regions facing healthcare workforce shortages.
HB 42 revises Maryland's licensing requirements for massage therapists, transitioning from a "registered" status to mandatory licensure. It requires new applicants (starting October 1, 2024) to complete 750 contact hours of approved education (up from 600 hours for current registrants), meet updated accreditation standards, and pass a board-approved exam. Existing registered massage therapists may continue practicing until October 31, 2026, after which they must obtain a license. The bill also removes outdated administrative penalty hearing requirements and updates rules for out-of-state practitioners seeking reciprocity.
SB 412 establishes Maryland’s Community Forensic Aftercare Program within the Maryland Department of Health. The program monitors two groups: individuals committed to the health department due to being "not criminally responsible" (often called "not guilty by reason of insanity" cases), and people with mental illness or intellectual disability requiring community monitoring under specific legal circumstances. Key mechanisms include creating a community monitoring board to decide on conditional release and out-of-state travel, and requiring licensed social workers ("Program Monitors") to track compliance with court orders and make health recommendations. The bill amends Maryland’s Criminal Procedure and Health codes to implement this program, focusing on safety and structured oversight for these individuals.
SB 411 requires non-state hospitals in Maryland to establish clinical staffing committees with equal representation from management and frontline staff, including nurses, technicians, and other caregivers. These committees must develop evidence-based staffing plans considering patient acuity, staffing gaps, and daily patient needs, which hospitals must implement starting January 1, 2028. Hospitals must annually review these plans, publicly post staffing data on units, and submit annual reports to the Maryland Health Care Commission beginning in 2030. The bill directly affects hospital operations, staffing decisions, and transparency for frontline workers and patients.
