Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 19, 2026

HB 1401: Public Health - Abortion - Informed Consent

HB 1401 requires healthcare providers performing abortions to inform patients about specific risks - including depression, infection, hemorrhage, breast cancer, future pregnancy dangers, infertility, and regret - and obtain their signed, written consent before the procedure. This applies directly to qualified providers (like doctors or clinics) offering abortion services and affects patients seeking those services in Maryland. The bill mandates providers to document the signed consent in the patient’s medical record. It takes effect October 1, 2026, and updates Maryland’s health code to require this informed consent process for abortion procedures.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareMandates specific risks disclosure and written consent for abortions, creating barriers that restrict access to abortion services, a healthcare procedure.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health Women's Health

Track

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 14, 2026

SB 973: Income Tax - Credit for Long-Term Care Premiums

SB 973 adjusts Maryland's income tax credit for long-term care insurance premiums. It reduces the maximum annual credit from $500 to $250 per person for Maryland residents aged 45 or older who pay premiums for qualifying long-term care insurance covering themselves or eligible family members. The bill restricts claims if the insured individual was covered before January 1, 2027, or if the credit was previously claimed for that person. These changes take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2026.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesReduces tax credit amount, restricting tax breaks for long-term care insurance premiums90% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareReduces tax credit for long-term care insurance from $500 to $250, weakening financial support for coverage and limiting access to long-term care services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Long-Term Care

Track

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 779: Better Small Business Employee Benefit Act of 2026

SB 779 exempts professional employer organizations (PEOs) from certain health benefit plan requirements when offering coverage to small employers in Maryland. It directly affects small businesses that use PEOs for employee benefits and the PEOs themselves. The bill requires PEOs to provide written disclosure of plan details to small employers before offering coverage, while removing the need for PEOs to comply with standard health plan mandates like offering plans through the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange. This change simplifies access to health benefits for small employers using PEOs.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareExempts PEOs from health plan mandates, reducing required coverage standards for small business employees. This restricts comprehensive benefits per bill language.85% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRemoves standard health plan mandates protecting worker benefits, weakening employer requirements for PEOs in small business health coverage.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Tags Small Business

Track

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 882: Consumer Health Information - Termination Date and Mandatory Funding for the State's Consumer Health Information Hub - Repeal

HB 882 repeals the requirement that the Governor must include a mandatory $350,000 annual appropriation for the State's Consumer Health Information Hub in the budget. It also removes the automatic expiration date (June 30, 2026) for the Hub's funding provisions. The bill changes the Hub's mandate to carry out its duties "to the extent funding is available," meaning its operations now depend on annual budget decisions rather than guaranteed funding. This directly affects the Hub - designated as the University of Maryland Herschel S. Horowitz Center for Health Literacy - by eliminating its guaranteed funding stream and making its services subject to yearly budget approvals.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRepeals mandatory $350k annual funding, making Hub operations dependent on annual budget approval instead of guaranteed support. Defunds essential program by removing automatic appropriation.90% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRepeals mandatory $350k annual funding, making Hub operations dependent on annual budget approvals rather than guaranteed support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 19, 2026

HB 1281: Health - Abortion - Ultrasound and Wait Time

HB 1281 requires that a transabdominal ultrasound be performed before most abortions in Maryland, with specific standards for the procedure and information provided to the patient. The ultrasound must include fetal measurements and images when viewable, and the woman must be offered the option to view the image, receive a printed copy, or hear the fetal heartbeat - though she is not required to accept these. Abortion providers cannot perform the procedure within 24 hours of the ultrasound for most patients, but the wait time is reduced to 2 hours for women living 100+ miles from the facility. Facilities must retain a printed copy of the ultrasound for at least 7 years, and violations may result in a $2,500 penalty.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareMandates pre-abortion ultrasound and 24-hour wait, restricting access to abortion services which fall under healthcare access and patient rights.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 1331: Maryland Department of Health and Department of Human Services - Public Benefits - Eligibility and Prohibitions

HB 1331 requires Maryland’s Department of Health and Department of Human Services to verify eligibility for public benefits (like Medicaid) through automated data-sharing with federal and state agencies, replacing self-attestation. It mandates monthly reviews of death records, incarceration, and address changes, and quarterly checks of tax filings, employment, and income data to ensure ongoing eligibility. The bill prohibits providing benefits to non-citizens, requires annual inspections of retail facilities for certain programs, and establishes new work requirement compliance reviews. These changes directly affect individuals applying for or receiving public assistance by shifting verification from self-reported information to cross-checked data.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesVerifies eligibility using tax data to prevent fraud, promoting fiscal responsibility in public benefit spending.85% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill mandates stricter eligibility verification and prohibits benefits for non-citizens, restricting access to Medicaid (healthcare coverage).90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill explicitly prohibits public benefits (e.g., Medicaid) for non-citizens, restricting immigrant access to services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 696: State Prescription Drug Benefits - Retirees

HB 696 modifies prescription drug coverage for Maryland state retirees based on their hire date. It continues drug benefits for retirees who began state service before July 1, 2011, while ending these benefits for retirees (and their Medicare-eligible spouses/children) who started on or after that date. The bill replaces three existing retiree drug programs with a new reimbursement program covering out-of-pocket costs for eligible retirees who qualify for partial subsidies. It also removes reporting requirements related to Medicare-eligible retirees’ access to services.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill ends prescription drug benefits for retirees hired on/after July 1, 2011, restricting coverage for a group while replacing programs with limited reimbursement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare Prescription Drugs

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 679: Health Occupations - Cross-Sex Hormone Therapy for Minors

HB 679 prohibits licensed healthcare providers in Maryland from prescribing, dispensing, or administering cross-sex hormone treatments (including estrogen, testosterone, or blockers) for the purpose of treating gender-related mental health conditions like gender dysphoria in minors. The bill directly affects minors under 18 seeking such treatment and healthcare practitioners who would provide it. Violating this law is classified as a felony, punishable by up to life imprisonment. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and defines "cross-sex hormone therapy" as treatment to develop secondary sex characteristics for gender transition.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareProhibits hormone therapy for minors with gender dysphoria, restricting access to medical treatment for gender-related care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 19, 2026

HB 49: Public Health - Abortion (Heartbeat Bill)

HB 49 restricts abortion access by requiring physicians (not other providers) to perform abortions and banning procedures before a detectable fetal heartbeat is confirmed. It defines "fetal heartbeat" as cardiac activity visible via ultrasound and mandates physicians use specific medical methods to detect it, including documenting gestational age and test results. Exceptions apply for medical emergencies, requiring written documentation certifying the necessity. The bill repeals prior abortion regulations and shifts enforcement to private civil lawsuits, not government action. It directly affects physicians performing abortions, pregnant patients seeking care, and healthcare facilities.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts abortion access by banning procedures before fetal heartbeat detection, limiting patient access to a health service.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health Women's Health

Track

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 498: Certificate of Need - Intermediate Health Care Facilities

HB 498 removes an existing exemption that allowed intermediate care facilities providing substance use disorder treatment to change bed capacity without a certificate of need. It specifically targets facilities offering "medically managed residential substance use disorder treatment services," requiring them to file 45 days' written notice with the health commission before operating or expanding. The commission must then review and approve these changes based on whether they align with the state health plan, improve service efficiency, and serve the public interest. This bill directly affects facilities providing residential substance use treatment by adding a review process for bed capacity changes or new operations, replacing the previous exemption.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill adds regulatory requirement for capacity changes in substance use treatment facilities, creating barriers to expansion that may limit patient access to services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health Substance Abuse