HB 380 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

State Board of Examiners in Optometry - Examination Requirements and Time Period for Inactive Status

This bill clarifies and updates Maryland's optometry licensing rules. It requires applicants for licensure (and certain reinstatement applicants) to pass all sections of each exam part, repeals the requirement for the State Board to schedule examinations, and eliminates the reexamination fee. It also limits inactive license status to a maximum of six consecutive years. These changes directly affect new optometry license applicants and current licensees seeking inactive status, as outlined in amended sections of Maryland's Health Occupations code (§§ 11-302(e), 11-304, 11-305, 11-310).

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 19, 2026 Signed Apr 14, 2026

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What changed between versions

First - State Board of Examiners in Optometry - Examination Requirements and Time Period for Inactive Status → Third - State Board of Examiners in Optometry - Examination Requirements and Time Period for Inactive Status · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill adds administrative status updates and reorganizes examination requirements for optometry licensing. It includes new committee and adoption dates, clarifies formatting instructions for the text, and shifts the structure of exam rules to emphasize passing all required sections. The inactive status section remains largely unchanged, maintaining the 6-year limit on inactivity.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding examination requirements and inactive status remains substantively the same, though the text is reorganized and includes new administrative metadata.

TIMELINE

Added specific dates for committee report, house adoption, and second reading in February 2026.

TECHNICAL

Inserted new formatting instructions explaining that underlining indicates amendments and strike-through indicates deletions.

Changed the document header from 'A BILL ENTITLED' to 'CHAPTER ______' to reflect its status as a chapter in the code.

Removed the original page number and bill title header from the top of the document.

REQUIREMENT

Reordered and renumbered examination subsections, moving the requirement to pass all exam sections to a new subsection (e) and shifting other exam details to subsections (a) through (d).

Floor votes · House of Delegates Feb 20, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 14, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 26

executive

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

Returned Passed

lower

Apr 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 31, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Finance

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Committee

Referred Finance

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable Adopted

lower

Feb 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable Report by Health

lower

Feb 20, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (137-0-5)

house of delegates

Jan 19, 2026

Committee

First Reading Health

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors