HB 1143 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Public Health - Office of the Chief Medical Examiner - Perinatal Autopsies (Lung Float Test Ban)

HB 1143 bans the use of the "lung float test" (a hydrostatic lung test) during perinatal autopsies in Maryland. It directly affects the Chief Medical Examiner, deputy examiners, assistant examiners, and authorized pathologists when determining if a death was a stillbirth or occurred after a live birth. The bill prohibits this specific test method and allows parents, guardians, or legal representatives to file a civil lawsuit if the test is used unlawfully. Violations also become grounds for disciplinary action against medical examiners.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 11, 2026 Last action Mar 23, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Public Health - Office of the Chief Medical Examiner - Perinatal Autopsies (Lung Float Test Ban) → Third - Public Health - Office of the Chief Medical Examiner - Perinatal Autopsies (Lung Float Test Ban) · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill was amended to add new sponsors and update its procedural status to show it was adopted by the House. The substantive text of the bill itself remains largely the same, with the main change being the addition of a requirement for the Maryland Department of Health to submit a report evaluating the lung float test's usefulness and whether it should continue to be used as an autopsy tool.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on prohibiting the use of hydrostatic lung tests during perinatal autopsies and allowing civil actions against medical examiners who violate this ban. The scope did not expand or contract in terms of who the law applies to.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for the Maryland Department of Health to submit a report on the usefulness and efficacy of the lung float test and provide recommendations on whether it should continue to be used as an autopsy tool.

PROCEDURAL

Updated the bill's procedural history to reflect it was adopted by the House and assigned a committee report status of favorable with amendments.

TECHNICAL

Added new sponsors to the list of bill sponsors, including Bagnall, Cullison, Guzzone, Hill, Hutchinson, S. Johnson, Kaufman, Kipke, M. Morgan, Reilly, Rosenberg, Ross, Szeliga, Taveras, and Woorman.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 8, 2026

How they voted

99–32

Passed · 11 other

Total votes 142

Mar 8, 2026

D Democratic103

94 Yea 9

91% Yea

R Republican39

5 Yea 32 Nay 2

82% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

Referred Finance

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Health

lower

Mar 8, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (99-32-11)

house of delegates

Feb 11, 2026

Committee

First Reading Health

lower

31 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role

Legislator

Party

State

District