HB 1602 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Counties - No-Cost Preventive Cancer Screenings for Volunteer and Retired Volunteer Firefighters

This bill requires Maryland counties with volunteer fire companies to provide no-cost preventive cancer screenings to volunteer firefighters, as defined by the bill. Volunteer fire companies must maintain and annually submit a list of their volunteer firefighters to the county, which must then keep this list on file. Counties can meet this requirement by either offering a free annual health exam including cancer screenings or applying for a specific grant to fund advanced screening technologies like multi-cancer blood tests. The law applies to all counties with volunteer fire companies and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 16, 2026 Last action Apr 13, 2026

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What changed between versions

First - Counties - No-Cost Preventive Cancer Screenings for Volunteer Firefighters → Third - Counties - No-Cost Preventive Cancer Screenings for Volunteer and Retired Volunteer Firefighters · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was expanded to include retired volunteer firefighters alongside active volunteers for no-cost cancer screenings. This change broadens the program's eligibility to ensure retired firefighters who served the community also receive access to these health benefits.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded from covering only active volunteer firefighters to include both active volunteers and retired volunteer firefighters.

ELIGIBILITY

Retired volunteer firefighters are now eligible to receive no-cost preventive cancer screenings.

DEFINITION

A new definition for 'Retired Volunteer Firefighter' was added, specifying that they must have volunteered in the county, been actively involved in fire suppression, completed at least 3 years of service, and accumulated at least 50 points under a length of service award program.

REQUIREMENT

Volunteer fire companies and counties must now maintain lists that include both active volunteer firefighters and retired volunteer firefighters.

Counties are now required to offer screenings to both active volunteer firefighters and retired volunteer firefighters who volunteered with the company.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 27, 2026

How they voted

128–0

Passed · 14 other

Total votes 142

Mar 27, 2026

D Democratic103

91 Yea 12

88% Yea

R Republican39

37 Yea 2

94% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 13, 2026

Committee

Referred Rules

upper

Apr 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Apr 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Health

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Committee

Rereferred to Health

lower

Mar 27, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (128-0-14)

house of delegates

Feb 16, 2026

Committee

First Reading House Rules and Executive Nominations

lower

18 primary · 0 co-sponsors