HB 367 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Health Occupations Boards - English Proficiency Requirements and Licensure by Endorsement for Nursing

HB 367 prevents Maryland health boards from requiring additional English proficiency proof for nursing license applicants who already hold a valid, unrestricted license from another state that requires English proficiency for licensure. It requires boards to maintain an online list of states with comparable English requirements and updates acceptable proof methods (like graduation from English-speaking schools, passing U.S. HHS-approved exams, or holding a multistate nursing license). The bill specifically applies to nurses seeking licensure in Maryland through endorsement, eliminating redundant testing for those qualified in other states. It amends Maryland’s Health Occupations laws to streamline the process for out-of-state nursing license applicants.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Signed May 20, 2025
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What changed between versions

First - Health Occupations Boards - English Proficiency Requirements and Licensure by Endorsement for Nursing Third - Health Occupations Boards - English Proficiency Requirements and Licensure by Endorsement for Nursing · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill update expands the list of sponsors and adds committee approval status, while significantly modifying how health occupations boards handle English proficiency requirements for out-of-state applicants. The main change requires boards to prominently display on their websites a list of states with equivalent English proficiency standards, and clarifies that applicants from those states cannot be asked to provide additional English proficiency proof. The bill also updates the legal citation references and formatting.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on health occupations boards and English proficiency requirements, but the applicability is now more explicit about website disclosure requirements and mutual recognition of English proficiency standards between states.
REQUIREMENT

Requires health occupations boards to prominently maintain on their websites a list of states with equivalent English proficiency requirements and a statement that applicants from those states cannot be asked for additional proof.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarifies that applicants holding valid licenses from states with equivalent English proficiency requirements are exempt from additional English proficiency testing.

TECHNICAL

Added new sponsors to the bill and included committee report status showing favorable recommendation with amendments.

Updated bill formatting and legal citation references to reflect current legislative status and proper Maryland Code structure.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 15, 2025 · House of Delegates Feb 24, 2025

How they voted

3213
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 46
Mar 15, 2025
D Democratic33
32 Yea 1
96% Yea
R Republican13
13 Nay
100% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
10
Committee
6
May 20, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 731
executive
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Returned Passed
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Mar 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable Adopted
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable Report by Finance
upper
Mar 15, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (32-13-1)
senate
Feb 28, 2025
Committee
Referred Finance
upper
Feb 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Feb 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
lower
Feb 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Health and Government Operations
lower
Feb 24, 2025
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (105-27-5)
house of delegates
Jan 16, 2025
Committee
First Reading Health and Government Operations
lower
18 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors