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 · 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 · 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 1192: State Board of Sign Language Interpreters - Membership and Licensing

HB 1192 expands Maryland's State Board of Sign Language Interpreters from 7 to 11 members, requiring specific representation including deaf individuals, deafblind people, licensed interpreters from various settings (medical, legal, educational), and agency owners. The bill delays the deadline for the Board to establish licensing requirements from July 1, 2024, to December 31, 2026, and sets new rules for member removal if they miss meetings, fail to meet qualifications, or commit misconduct. Sign language interpreters in Maryland who provide services in the state will be directly affected by the updated licensing requirements and the Board's new structure. The bill also mandates that appointed members reflect Maryland's racial and geographic diversity where practicable.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill requires medical interpreter representation on licensing board, improving healthcare access for deaf patients in medical settings per healthcare topic definition.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 645: State Board of Sign Language Interpreters - Membership and Licensing

SB 645 restructures Maryland's State Board of Sign Language Interpreters by expanding its membership from seven to 11 members with specific representation requirements, including a deafblind individual, deaf community members, licensed interpreters from various settings (legal, medical, educational), and ex-officio members from disability and labor agencies. The bill requires the Board to establish licensing requirements for sign language interpreters by December 31, 2026 (previously July 1, 2024), and mandates interpreters to meet these standards by that date. It also adds new grounds for the Governor to remove board members, including two consecutive unexcused absences or failing to attend 50% of meetings annually. These changes aim to improve board diversity, clarify licensing timelines, and ensure board members meet ongoing eligibility criteria.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires licensing for medical interpreters (explicitly cited in bill), improving access to healthcare services for deaf patients in medical settings.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 1483: Clinical Professional Counseling - Out-of-State Providers - Use of Telehealth for Continuity of Care

HB 1483 repeals Maryland's requirement for out-of-state clinical counselors to obtain a temporary telehealth license. It allows licensed counselors from other states to provide telehealth counseling to clients who relocated to Maryland (or returned after relocating), for up to six months, if they already had an established client-counselor relationship before the move. This exempts these counselors from Maryland's standard licensure rules during the six-month continuity period, but only for existing clients who relocated - not for new clients. The bill does not change regular licensing requirements for ongoing practice in Maryland.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves licensure barrier for out-of-state counselors providing telehealth mental health services, improving access for relocated clients during continuity period.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 915: State Board of Physicians - Delegation of Duties - Alterations

SB 915 requires individuals performing limited X-ray procedures (such as chest, spine, and limb imaging) in Maryland to register with the State Board of Physicians. It restricts these operations to non-invasive X-rays only (excluding CT scans, mammography, or fluoroscopy) and mandates 115 hours of specialized training plus 6 months of clinical experience. The bill also establishes disciplinary procedures for violations and allows physician assistants to perform X-ray duties under physician supervision, while updating rules for cardiovascular specialists and medical graduates. This directly affects medical staff, radiologic technicians, and physician assistants conducting basic X-ray services in clinical settings.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires training and registration for X-ray technicians to ensure safety and professional standards, enhancing patient care quality within healthcare services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 778: Clinical Research Pharmacies and Clinical Trials - Permits and Ownership

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).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves licensing barrier for clinical trials by exempting corporate trials from 'practice of medicine' classification, enabling research pharmacies to operate and advance medical innovation and patient access to trials.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare