HB 771 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Health Occupations - Human Trafficking Awareness Training

HB 771 requires Maryland health occupations boards to allow license renewal credits for free, 1-hour human trafficking awareness training. The training must cover definitions of trafficking, trauma-informed care, health indicators, screening protocols, reporting requirements, and survivor resources. It directly affects health practitioners (like nurses and therapists) needing license renewals, with boards mandated to adopt regulations by October 2026. The Maryland Department of Health must approve the training program by July 2026 in collaboration with universities and anti-trafficking organizations. The bill takes effect June 1, 2026.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Feb 4, 2026 Signed Apr 28, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Health Occupations - Human Trafficking Awareness Training → Third - Health Occupations - Human Trafficking Awareness Training · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to add new sponsors and include a favorable committee report, indicating it has passed the House. The text of the bill itself was largely reorganized and renumbered, but the core requirements for human trafficking training remained consistent. A key substantive change is the extension of the deadline for health occupations boards to adopt necessary regulations from October 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027, giving boards more time to implement the rules.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on requiring health occupations boards to allow continuing education credits for human trafficking awareness training, with no changes to the specific content of the training required.

TIMELINE

The deadline for health occupations boards to adopt regulations was extended from October 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027.

TECHNICAL

New sponsors were added to the bill, and a favorable committee report was recorded.

The bill text was renumbered and restructured, but the substantive legal requirements did not change.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 27, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 5, 2026

How they voted

47–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 49

Mar 27, 2026

D Democratic36

34 Yea 2

94% 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 205

executive

Apr 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Returned Passed

lower

Apr 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted

upper

Apr 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Finance

upper

Mar 27, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (47-0-2)

senate

Mar 19, 2026

Committee

Referred Finance

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Health

lower

Mar 5, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

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

house of delegates

Feb 4, 2026

Committee

First Reading Health

lower

20 primary · 0 co-sponsors