SB 676 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Health Care Facilities - Hospitals and Freestanding Birthing Centers - Perinatal Care Standards

SB 676 requires Maryland hospitals providing obstetrical services and freestanding birthing centers to meet minimum perinatal care standards as a condition of licensure. The bill mandates the Maryland Department of Health to adopt regulations establishing these standards, which must meet or exceed existing Maryland Perinatal System Standards. It directly affects all qualifying hospitals and birthing centers by linking compliance to their operating licenses. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, with no additional funding or enforcement mechanisms specified in the bill text.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 30, 2025 Signed May 20, 2025

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What changed between versions

First - Health Care Facilities - Hospitals and Freestanding Birthing Centers - Perinatal Care Standards → Third - Health Care Facilities - Hospitals and Freestanding Birthing Centers - Perinatal Care Standards · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill was amended to add the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems as a partner in developing perinatal care standards, update the bill's status to show it was adopted by the Senate, and reorganize the legislative sections for clarity. The substantive policy requirements for hospitals and birthing centers remain largely the same, though the regulatory process now involves coordination with EMS systems.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on perinatal care standards for hospitals and freestanding birthing centers, but the regulatory authority now explicitly includes coordination with the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for the Maryland Department of Health to coordinate with the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems when adopting perinatal care standards.

TIMELINE

Added a new section requiring the Department of Health to adopt the required regulations by October 1, 2026.

TECHNICAL

Reorganized the bill's structure and added committee report and Senate action status information.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 14, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 24, 2025

How they voted

37–8

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 46

Mar 14, 2025

D Democratic33

32 Yea 1

96% Yea

R Republican13

5 Yea 8 Nay

61% Nay

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 708

executive

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Returned Passed

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable Report by Health and Government Operations

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Committee

Rereferred to Health and Government Operations

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Committee

Referred Rules and Executive Nominations

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Mar 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance

upper

Mar 24, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (100-38-1)

house of delegates

Mar 14, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (37-8-1)

senate

Jan 30, 2025

Committee

First Reading Finance

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors