HB 446 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Health - Dementia Services and Brain Health Program and Provider Resource Toolkit

HB 446 establishes the Dementia Services and Brain Health Program within Maryland’s Department of Health to lead state public health efforts on brain health and dementia. The program replaces the previous "Director" role for key duties, including staffing the Virginia I. Jones Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Council and overseeing implementation of the State Plan on Alzheimer’s and related dementias. It requires the program, in partnership with the Department of Aging and other entities, to develop a clinical toolkit for healthcare providers to improve dementia care. The bill updates existing law to formalize this program structure and its responsibilities.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Signed Apr 28, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Health - Dementia Services and Brain Health Program and Clinical Toolkit → Third - Health - Dementia Services and Brain Health Program and Provider Resource Toolkit · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to reflect its progression from the first to the third reading, adding co-sponsors and committee approval status. The substantive text was updated to change the program title from 'Clinical Toolkit' to 'Provider Resource Toolkit' and to renumber sections to match the final legislative structure.

Scope change

The scope of the bill remains focused on dementia services and brain health, but the specific deliverable changed from a 'Clinical Toolkit' to a 'Provider Resource Toolkit'.

TECHNICAL

The bill title and section headers were updated to reflect the final version, changing 'Clinical Toolkit' to 'Provider Resource Toolkit' and adjusting section numbers to align with the final legislative text.

New lines were added indicating the bill was adopted, read a second time, and reported favorably by the committee, along with a list of additional co-sponsors.

Drafting artifacts, including the 'First Reading' date and initial placeholder text, were removed to reflect the bill's current status in the legislative process.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 20, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 11, 2026

How they voted

46–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 49

Mar 20, 2026

D Democratic36

33 Yea 3

91% 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

Apr 28, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 239

executive

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Returned Passed

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted

upper

Apr 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Finance

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

Referred Finance

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Health

lower

Mar 20, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (46-0-3)

senate

Mar 11, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

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

house of delegates

Jan 23, 2026

Committee

First Reading Health

lower

12 primary · 0 co-sponsors