Del. Pam Guzzone

Maddy summaryHB 377 expands the scope of practice for physician assistants (PAs) in Maryland by adding them to specific healthcare roles that previously required physicians or other practitioners. The bill allows PAs to certify incapacity for treatment decisions, participate in guardianship petitions for disabled persons, and order infirmary care for pregnant inmates - previously limited to physicians or nurse practitioners. It also requires the Maryland Department of Health to cover PA examinations for emergency evaluees and adds PAs to the Statewide Advisory Commission on Immunization. These changes aim to create parity by treating PAs as equivalent to other licensed healthcare providers in key clinical and administrative processes.

Maddy summaryHB 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.

Maddy summaryHB 427 extends the deadline for the Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances to complete its work. The bill modifies existing law (Chapter 793 of the 2024 Acts) to delay the Task Force's report submission date from July 31, 2025, to a new date specified in the bill. This procedural extension affects the Task Force members (including state health officials, university representatives, and community experts) and the Maryland General Assembly, which will receive the final report. The Task Force's duties remain unchanged: studying psychedelic substances like psilocybin, making recommendations for legal access programs, and addressing criminal justice impacts.

Maddy summaryHB 698 transfers regulatory authority for crematories and "reduction facilities" (natural organic reduction of human remains) from the Office of Cemetery Oversight to the State Board of Morticians, Funeral Directors, and Crematories. The bill renames the board to explicitly include crematories, alters procedures for removing board members, and changes quorum requirements to allow action with a simple majority vote. This transfer affects cremation and reduction facility operators by shifting their oversight to the new board, while also updating related code sections in Maryland’s Business Regulation and Health Occupations articles. The bill makes organizational and procedural changes without introducing new operational requirements for these facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 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.

Maddy summaryHB 975 prohibits licensed massage therapists, registered massage practitioners, and third parties acting on their behalf from advertising massage services that imply sexual activity, suggest prostitution services, or appear on sites known for such ads. It requires all advertising for massage therapy to include the full name and license or registration number of the specific practitioner. The bill also sets standards for permissible advertising, such as allowing business-level ads without listing individual therapists, and mandates that trade names not be deceptive. These changes directly affect massage therapy practitioners and their marketing practices in Maryland, effective October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1094 requires Maryland health insurers to reimburse individuals for services provided by graduate-level clinical interns in counseling, social work, and psychology under specific conditions. It applies to insureds covered by policies meeting Maryland’s jurisdictional requirements (e.g., issued in-state or covering Maryland residents). Reimbursement is mandated only when interns work under direct supervision of licensed professionals at outpatient facilities and services are billed by the supervising clinician. The bill amends existing insurance codes to ensure coverage for these supervised intern services, directly affecting insurers, interns, and patients seeking mental health care.

Maddy summaryHB 1389 updates Maryland law to explicitly include female genital mutilation (FGM) under the legal definition of "abuse" for child protection purposes. This requires healthcare workers, educators, and others to report suspected FGM cases - just like other forms of child abuse - and increases penalties for violations. The bill also allows victims to file civil lawsuits and mandates the Maryland Department of Health to create educational materials about FGM. These changes directly affect mandated reporters, medical professionals, and individuals at risk of FGM.

Maddy summaryHB 804 establishes the Aging Resilience Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund under Maryland law. The fund, administered by the Secretary of Aging, will support the Department of Aging's mission through investment earnings, fees, and other designated sources. It can be used for administrative expenses like personnel, partnership development, and programs aligning with the Department's goals. The fund must be held separately by the State Treasurer, with interest earnings credited back to it, and expenditures require compliance with the state budget. This is a procedural bill creating a new funding mechanism rather than changing substantive policies.

Maddy summaryHB 1002 prohibits nursing facilities from involuntarily discharging or transferring residents to temporary housing (like hotels) without confirmation from the receiving facility that it can accept the resident. It requires facilities to provide residents with clear written notices at least 10 days before a discharge or transfer, including the reason, new location, and contact information for hearings. The bill also bans facilities from discharging Medicaid-eligible residents solely because they qualify for Medicaid benefits, and mandates that post-discharge plans include specific care details. These changes aim to protect residents' rights and ensure smoother transitions during involuntary moves.