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

passed · Maryland · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 435: Public Health - Medetomidine and Xylazine Consumer Protection Act

This bill requires retailers selling medetomidine or xylazine products (veterinary sedatives sometimes misused in illicit drugs) to verify buyers' intended veterinary, scientific, or institutional use and confirm they are 21+ years old. Retailers must maintain records of sales, including proof of age and purpose, and face civil penalties of up to $6,500 per violation. All fines collected under this law must be deposited into Maryland's Substance Abuse Fund. The law applies to all businesses selling these products, including online platforms, and takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents illicit drug misuse by regulating veterinary sedative sales, directs fines to Substance Abuse Fund for public health programs, strengthening public health protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health Substance Abuse

Track

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 277: Insurance – Third Party Administrators – Enforcement

HB 277 strengthens oversight of third-party administrators (TPAs) in Maryland’s insurance industry. It expands grounds for the Insurance Commissioner to deny, suspend, or revoke a TPA’s registration - including violations of insurance laws - and increases civil penalties for violations from $1,000 per day to a maximum of $10,000 per violation. The bill also requires the Commissioner to consider factors like the seriousness of the violation, the TPA’s history, and harm to plan participants when setting penalties. This directly affects TPAs managing insurance claims and benefits, imposing stricter accountability for compliance with Maryland’s insurance regulations, effective October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStrengthens oversight of TPAs to prevent violations harming plan participants, aligning with patient protection in healthcare coverage.95% confidence

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 4, 2026

HB 541: Public Schools - Restocking Menstrual Hygiene Products - Requirement

HB 541 requires all Maryland public schools to provide free menstrual hygiene products (tampons or sanitary napkins) in women’s restrooms at no cost to students. Each county board of education must install dispensers in at least two women’s restrooms at middle/high schools by October 2022 (and all by August 2025) and in at least one restroom at elementary schools by October 2022. Schools must regularly restock these dispensers to ensure availability, with the state reimbursing counties for installation and product costs through a $500,000 fiscal year 2023 appropriation. The law applies directly to public school students and county education boards, taking effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesState reimburses counties for menstrual product costs, increasing public service funding via state budget appropriation.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires free menstrual products in school restrooms, enhancing student access to basic needs and well-being in educational settings.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates free menstrual products in schools, improving access to essential health services for students, aligning with public health initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Student Health

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 196: Public Health - Baby Food Testing and Labeling - Requirements

HB 196 amends Maryland's definition of "baby food" to explicitly include infant formula and infant cereal (previously excluded), directly affecting baby food manufacturers in the state. The bill requires manufacturers to test each production batch of baby food for toxic metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury) starting January 1, 2025, using accredited labs at least monthly. Beginning January 1, 2026, manufacturers must publicly post test results online for each product and include QR codes on labels linking to FDA information about metal testing and health effects. The law aims to increase transparency and safety for infants under age 2 by aligning testing requirements with FDA standards.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates testing baby food for environmental pollutants (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury), directly reducing toxic metal exposure and strengthening pollution control in consumer products.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires toxic metal testing in baby food (infant formula/cereal) to protect infant health, directly advancing public health safety standards under Maryland's Public Health framework.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 238: School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact

SB 238 establishes Maryland's participation in the School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact, allowing licensed school psychologists to practice across member states without duplicative licensing. The bill creates a standardized pathway for psychologists to hold "equivalent licenses" in any participating state, directly affecting school psychologists seeking cross-state work and school districts needing qualified staff. Key provisions include requiring psychologists to follow each state's scope of practice laws, preserving state authority over licensing, and specifically facilitating mobility for military families. The compact also establishes a Commission to oversee implementation and address issues like disciplinary actions. This is a substantive policy change enabling easier interstate practice while maintaining state-level professional standards.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables cross-state practice for school psychologists, strengthening staff availability and mental health support in K-12 schools without duplicative licensing barriers.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables cross-state practice for school psychologists, improving mental health service access in schools by removing licensing barriers, aligning with support for mental health services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing Mental Health

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 236: State Athletic Commission - Blood Testing of Contestants - Timing

HB 236 extends the required blood testing window for combat sports athletes in Maryland from 30 days to 90 days. It affects boxers, kickboxers, wrestlers, and mixed martial arts competitors seeking licenses or participating in contests. The bill mandates that applicants and licensed contestants must provide documented evidence of negative tests for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C within 90 days prior to license application or competition. This change modifies existing Maryland law (Sections 4-101 and 4-304.1 of the Business Regulation Article) to align testing timing with the State Athletic Commission's requirements. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates blood testing for infectious diseases to protect athlete health, strengthening public health safety protocols in sports medicine.90% confidence

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 672: Public Health - Maryland Pediatric Cancer Fund - Entities Eligible for Grants

HB 672 amends the Maryland Pediatric Cancer Fund to specify that only nonprofit hospitals, educational institutions, and other nonprofit organizations may receive grants for pediatric cancer research, removing previous eligibility for physicians, laboratories, and individuals. The bill requires grant funds to be used exclusively for direct research costs, prohibiting use for administrative overhead or community-based services. It also mandates annual reporting to the General Assembly on fund administration, promotional efforts, and detailed fund usage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRestricts grant eligibility to nonprofits for pediatric cancer research, directing funds exclusively to research costs and requiring annual reporting, advancing healthcare funding for pediatric cancer initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Public Health

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 457: Institutions of Higher Education - Provision of Menstrual Hygiene Products - Requirement

HB 457 requires all Maryland colleges and universities to provide free tampons and pads in every restroom by August 1, 2028. This applies to every public and private institution of higher education in the state, directly affecting students, staff, and faculty who use campus restrooms. The bill mandates that institutions supply size-appropriate products without cost, ensuring accessibility for individuals who menstruate. The requirement takes effect July 1, 2026, with full implementation due by the 2028 deadline.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequiring free menstrual products in campus restrooms improves access to essential health needs, aligning with public health and accessibility indicators in healthcare policy.95% confidence

in committee · Maryland · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 190: Estates and Trusts - Interpretation of Wills - Evidence of Intent (Granny's Law)

SB 190 (Granny's Law) allows personal representatives to petition courts to interpret a decedent's will based on the decedent's intent, using evidence like their lifetime actions, particularly for legacies to health providers or charities addressing health equity. It requires legatees receiving such gifts to demonstrate how the legacy was used to address health disparities within 3 years after estate probate. If a will includes specific language authorizing broad estate management, courts must defer to the personal representative's judgment on using the legacy for health equity purposes. The bill applies retroactively to wills probated since October 1, 2021, and takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires legatees to demonstrate use of health-related legacies for addressing health disparities, directly supporting health equity implementation.85% confidence

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