Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 773: Health Occupations - Pharmacists - Vaccination Orders

SB 773 allows pharmacists in Maryland to order certain vaccinations (like flu, COVID-19, or emergency vaccines) for patients aged 3 and older without needing to administer the vaccine themselves. To qualify, pharmacists must complete 20 hours of approved training, hold current CPR certification, and complete 2 hours of continuing education on immunizations. The bill requires pharmacists to follow written vaccine-specific protocols, report all vaccinations to Maryland’s ImmuNet registry, and refer pediatric patients to primary care providers when appropriate. This policy directly affects pharmacists, patients seeking these vaccines, and healthcare coordination for immunizations. The changes take effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands pharmacist authority to order vaccinations, improving patient access to immunizations without physician referral while maintaining safety protocols.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 159: Emergency Medical Services - Vehicles and Ambulances - Required Supplies

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates ambulance equipment standards, performance reviews, and complaint systems to improve EMS service quality and patient safety, directly strengthening emergency healthcare delivery.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 412: Maryland Department of Health - Forensic Review Boards and Community Forensic Aftercare Program

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes community monitoring program for mental health cases to improve rehabilitation and reduce recidivism, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes mental health aftercare program under health department, supporting community monitoring for mental illness cases per bill's focus on forensic mental health services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 411: Hospitals - Clinical Staffing Committees and Plans - Establishment (Safe Staffing Act of 2026)

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires hospitals to establish staffing committees and develop evidence-based plans addressing patient acuity and staffing gaps, directly improving patient safety and care quality per healthcare policy indicators.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires equal frontline staff representation in staffing committees, directly strengthening worker input on workplace safety and staffing conditions per bill's evidence-based plan mandate.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 624: Hospitals - Clinical Staffing Committees and Plans - Establishment (Safe Staffing Act of 2026)

HB 624 (Safe Staffing Act of 2026) requires most Maryland hospitals to establish clinical staffing committees with equal management and employee representation, including specific frontline staff like nursing assistants and dietary aides. These committees must develop annual staffing plans considering patient acuity, staffing gaps, and evidence-based standards, then post the plans publicly and update them yearly. Hospitals must implement these plans starting in 2028, allow staff to file complaints about violations, and report annually to the Maryland Health Care Commission beginning in 2030. The law directly affects licensed hospitals and frontline healthcare workers by mandating structured, transparent staffing processes to address patient care needs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates hospital staffing committees and evidence-based plans to improve patient safety and care quality, advancing healthcare standards95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates equal employee-management representation in staffing committees, requires evidence-based staffing plans addressing patient acuity, and protects worker complaint mechanisms - directly advancing workplace safety and employment standards for...95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 336: Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances - Extension and Membership

SB 336 extends the deadline for the existing Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances, established by 2024 law, to continue its work studying natural psychedelic substances like psilocybin and mescaline (excluding peyote). The task force, composed of state officials, experts, and community representatives, will study current laws, scientific data on benefits and risks, and barriers to access, then make recommendations for a state access program and legal changes. This extension allows the task force to finalize its report on creating equitable access to these substances and transitioning away from criminal penalties for nonviolent uses. The bill does not change current laws but prolongs the study period to inform future policy decisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill studies psychedelic substances for mental health treatment access, aiming to remove barriers and recommend state programs, aligning with mental health service expansion.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 449: Workers' Compensation - Heart Disease and Hypertension Presumption and Permanent Partial Disability - Carroll County Correctional Deputies

SB 449 extends workers' compensation benefits to Carroll County correctional deputies who develop heart disease or hypertension. It creates a legal presumption that these conditions are work-related (and thus compensable) if they result in partial disability or death, provided the condition is more severe than any pre-existing condition and the deputy had a medical exam before employment. The bill amends Maryland law to explicitly include "Carroll County Correctional Deputy" in the definition of "public safety employee" for these benefits. This change applies specifically to Carroll County deputies and requires meeting the severity and medical exam conditions to qualify.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends workers' compensation coverage for work-related heart disease/hypertension, expanding health benefits for correctional deputies without requiring proof of causation.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands workers' compensation benefits by presuming heart disease/hypertension in deputies is work-related, strengthening coverage for specific workplace health conditions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 205: Health Insurance - Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders - Codification of Federal Requirements

SB 205 codifies federal mental health parity requirements into Maryland law, requiring health insurance carriers to comply with the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity Act. It mandates carriers to collect and report data on access to mental health and substance use disorder benefits, explain differences in care access, and undergo comparative analyses of nonquantitative treatment limitations. The Maryland Insurance Commissioner gains authority to review carrier reports and address noncompliance. This bill directly affects all health insurance carriers operating in Maryland, ensuring their coverage aligns with federal parity standards for mental health and substance use disorder benefits. It clarifies enforcement mechanisms without creating new benefit requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates equal insurance coverage for mental health/substance use disorders per federal law, requiring data reporting and Commissioner oversight to prevent discrimination in benefits.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 280: Health Insurance - Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders - Codification of Federal Requirements

HB 280 codifies Maryland’s health insurance requirements for mental health and substance use disorder coverage to align with federal parity laws. It requires health insurers to collect and report data on access to these services, explain differences in coverage rules, and comply with federal standards for equal treatment. The Maryland Insurance Commissioner will review insurer reports and address noncompliance. This bill directly affects health insurance companies and their policyholders seeking mental health or substance use disorder care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCodifies federal parity laws for mental health/substance use coverage, requiring insurers to comply with equal treatment standards and report data, strengthening patient access to services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 278: Human Services - Department of Aging and Commission on Aging (The Longevity Ready Maryland Act)

HB 278, the "Longevity Ready Maryland Act," requires Maryland's Secretary of Aging to lead implementation of the Longevity Ready Maryland Plan. This plan aims to coordinate state services for older adults by evaluating their needs, assessing existing programs, and fostering cross-sector collaboration across health, housing, employment, and social services. The bill mandates annual reports to the governor and legislature on progress, updates the Commission on Aging's role, and requires a comprehensive statewide plan to be revised every four years. It directly affects older Marylanders, the Department of Aging, local area agencies on aging, and state agencies responsible for aging-related services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill coordinates health services for older adults through the Longevity Ready Maryland Plan, improving access and cross-sector collaboration in healthcare delivery.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare