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HB 246 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Human Services - Adult Protective Services

HB 246 modifies Maryland's confidentiality rules for adult protective services. It specifically allows government officials investigating abuse to share certain information with other officials during investigations (replacing a previous restriction). The bill also expands the definition of "health practitioner" to include emergency medical services providers in relevant laws. Finally, it updates confidentiality protections for people reporting suspected abuse, clarifying when their identity can be disclosed to authorities. These changes directly affect adult protective services workers, law enforcement, healthcare providers, and individuals receiving these services.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Oct 2024
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Oct 9, 2024 Signed Apr 8, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Human Services - Adult Protective Services → Third - Human Services - Adult Protective Services · 5 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates Maryland's adult protective services laws to expand protections for vulnerable adults and streamline reporting requirements. The changes include clarifying who must report abuse, adding a statewide reporting hotline option, and adjusting effective dates for different sections of the law.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of mandatory reporting requirements and clarifies exemptions for certain professionals, particularly emergency medical dispatchers who are now explicitly excluded from the 'health practitioner' definition in some contexts.
REQUIREMENT

Added a statewide reporting hotline as an option for making reports of vulnerable adult abuse, allowing reporters to call instead of using other methods.

Added specific requirements for ombudsmen to comply with federal regulations regarding disclosure of resident or complainant identity.

DEFINITION

Modified the definition of 'health practitioner' to explicitly exclude emergency medical dispatchers from certain reporting obligations.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date for Section 2 from October 1, 2025 to July 1, 2026, while keeping other sections effective October 1, 2025.

SCOPE

Expanded the list of articles and sections amended to include additional Family Law sections (14-302(b) and 14-302(a)) related to reporting obligations.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 4, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
14
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Apr 8, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 37
executive
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Returned Passed
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Committee
Referred Judicial Proceedings
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary
lower
Mar 4, 2025
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (135-0-4)
house of delegates
Jan 8, 2025
Committee
First Reading Judiciary
lower
Oct 9, 2024
Introduced
Pre-filed
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.