Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 1109: Public Health Reform Act

HB 1109 creates the Maryland Medical Reserve Corps, a statewide volunteer network for emergencies like disease outbreaks or disasters, managed by the Maryland Department of Health. It requires the Department to notify county health officers about procurement opportunities for electronic health records systems, allowing counties to join without state approval if fully funded locally. The bill establishes a Public Health Workforce Development Fund (using interest earnings and transfers from another fund) and mandates the Department of Legislative Services to assess health equity impacts of new legislation. These changes directly affect county health departments, the Department of Health, and public health workforce planning.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates Maryland Medical Reserve Corps for emergencies, establishes Public Health Workforce Development Fund, and mandates EHR procurement opportunities - directly strengthening public health infrastructure and workforce capacity.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 1367: Commission on Re-Imagining Health Care in Maryland

HB 1367 establishes a Commission on Re-Imagining Health Care in Maryland to study and recommend changes for a new statewide healthcare system. The commission, composed of 20 appointed members including state officials, healthcare providers, insurers, county representatives, and community members, will examine how healthcare is delivered in other regions and address issues like provider shortages, cost balancing, and system integration. It will specifically study how to create a patient-centered system covering all health needs, eliminate access barriers, and ensure financial sustainability for all Maryland residents. The commission’s final recommendations, due by 2028, would guide potential future policy changes but do not enact any immediate healthcare reforms.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes commission to study and recommend improvements to statewide healthcare system, addressing provider shortages and cost balancing for patient-centered care.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 772: Maryland Department of Health - Employment Training and Opportunity Database

SB 772 requires the Maryland Department of Health to create and maintain a public database of employment training and job placement programs. The database will help residents find opportunities that can lead to eligibility for Medicaid (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), including program details, application steps, and direct contact options. The Department must update the database every 30 days and assist individuals in enrolling in listed programs. Other state agencies, including the Department of Labor and Department of Human Services, must recommend programs for inclusion. This bill directly affects Maryland residents seeking to improve employment prospects while maintaining access to critical health and nutrition benefits.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates database connecting job training to Medicaid/SNAP eligibility, improving access to healthcare coverage programs by streamlining enrollment pathways.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates database linking job training programs to Medicaid/SNAP eligibility, enhancing access to employment resources and benefits under Labor & Employment standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes 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 No ✗ Opposes 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 No ✗ Opposes 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 No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 772: Behavioral Health Rate Methodology Modernization - Workgroup Establishment and Study

HB 772 establishes a workgroup within Maryland's Health Care Commission to develop fairer reimbursement methods for certified community behavioral health clinics and outpatient mental health centers. The workgroup will study current costs, staffing models, and federal requirements to create transparent, cost-based payment systems, comparing approaches used in other states. It must submit an interim report by December 2026 and a final report by October 2027 with specific recommendations, implementation options, and fiscal estimates. The bill does not require immediate rate changes or new funding, but rather sets a process for future policy decisions based on the workgroup's findings.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes workgroup to develop fairer reimbursement for mental health centers, aiming to improve payment systems and support behavioral health services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 1533: Public Health - Cosmetic Products - Enforcement and Penalties for Prohibited Ingredients (Crown and Care Act - Protecting Communities from Harmful Hair Chemicals)

HB 1533 (the Crown and Care Act) bans 12 specific harmful ingredients - including certain phthalates, formaldehyde, mercury, and PFAS chemicals - from cosmetic products sold in Maryland. It directly affects cosmetic manufacturers, retailers, and salons by prohibiting the sale or distribution of products containing these ingredients, with limited exceptions for unavoidable trace amounts from manufacturing processes. The bill authorizes the Maryland Department of Health to investigate complaints, inspect businesses, and enforce penalties, while allowing consumers harmed by violations to seek civil damages and attorney fees. This law aims to protect public health by reducing exposure to chemicals linked to health risks like skin irritation and potential long-term harm.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBans PFAS and other environmental pollutants (known to contaminate water/soil) from cosmetics, reducing chemical pollution in ecosystems per bill's prohibition of harmful ingredients.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBans harmful cosmetic chemicals (phthalates, formaldehyde, etc.) to prevent health risks, directly protecting public health through regulatory enforcement by MD Dept of Health.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 656: Public Health - Cosmetic Products - Enforcement and Penalties for Prohibited Ingredients (Crown and Care Act - Protecting Communities from Harmful Hair Chemicals)

SB 656 bans 12 specific harmful chemicals in cosmetics sold in Maryland, including formaldehyde, mercury, and certain PFAS chemicals. It creates civil liability for manufacturers or sellers who violate this ban, allowing consumers to sue for damages. The Maryland Department of Health gains authority to investigate complaints, inspect businesses, and collect product samples. The law exempts trace amounts of banned ingredients that occur unavoidably during manufacturing. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBans PFAS and toxic chemicals (pollution sources) in cosmetics, reducing environmental contamination and strengthening regulatory controls.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBans harmful cosmetic chemicals (formaldehyde, mercury, PFAS) to prevent health risks, directly advancing public health protection under healthcare policies.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 1135: Health Occupations - Pharmacists - Vaccination Orders

HB 1135 allows pharmacists in Maryland to order certain vaccinations for patients aged 3 and older without needing to administer the vaccine themselves. Pharmacists must complete 20+ hours of approved training covering vaccine safety, injection techniques, and emergency response, hold current CPR certification, and report all vaccinations to the ImmuNet program. The bill specifically covers influenza, COVID-19, and emergency-use vaccines, and requires pharmacists to refer minors to pediatric care when ordering vaccines. This expands pharmacists' role in vaccine access while maintaining safety protocols and reporting requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands pharmacist authority to order vaccines for patients 3+, increasing access to public health services and aligning with vaccination coverage goals without physician oversight.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare