SB 374 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Counties - Cancer Screening for Professional Firefighters - Required Coverage (James "Jimmy" Malone Act)

SB 374, the James "Jimmy" Malone Act, requires health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and HMOs in Maryland to cover preventive cancer screenings for professional firefighters - defined as those employed by state, county, or municipal entities - without copays, coinsurance, or deductibles. The bill mandates coverage aligns with guidelines from the International Association of Fire Fighters and applies to all health plans, including self-insured county/municipal programs and the state employee health program. It prohibits cost-sharing for these screenings, with limited exceptions for high-deductible health plans. The law takes effect January 1, 2026.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Signed May 20, 2025

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What changed between versions

First - Health Insurance – Cancer Screening for Professional Firefighters – Required Coverage (James “Jimmy” Malone Act) → Third - Counties - Cancer Screening for Professional Firefighters - Required Coverage (James "Jimmy" Malone Act) · 5 edits

MODERATE

SB 374 was amended to expand its scope from requiring private insurers to cover cancer screenings for firefighters to also requiring counties to provide coverage. The bill now explicitly authorizes counties to satisfy this requirement either through a no-cost annual examination or by applying for a state grant for innovative screening technologies, while prohibiting copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles for these services.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded from applying only to private health insurers and nonprofit health service plans to also include counties and municipalities that offer self-insured employee health benefit plans.

SCOPE

Added requirements for counties and municipalities to provide cancer screening coverage for professional firefighters employed by them.

Changed the bill title from 'Health Insurance' to 'Health Insurance Counties' to reflect the expanded applicability to local governments.

REQUIREMENT

Added two methods for counties to satisfy coverage requirements: providing a no-cost annual examination with screenings or applying for state grants for innovative screening technologies.

Added explicit prohibition on counties imposing copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles for firefighter cancer screening coverage.

TECHNICAL

Updated committee report status to 'Favorable with amendments' and Senate action to 'Adopted' with second reading date.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 23, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 14, 2025

How they voted

46–0

Passed

Total votes 46

Feb 23, 2025

D Democratic33

33 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican13

13 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 20, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 656

executive

Mar 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

Returned Passed

upper

Mar 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable Report by Health and Government Operations

lower

Mar 14, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (130-0-9)

house of delegates

Mar 13, 2025

Committee

Referred Health and Government Operations

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Mar 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance

upper

Feb 23, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (46-0)

senate

Jan 17, 2025

Committee

First Reading Finance

upper

5 primary · 0 co-sponsors