HB 922 requires the Behavioral Health Administration to update regulations to simplify the relocation process for existing behavioral health programs seeking to move to new locations. The bill adds specific provisions including an expedited approval process separate from new program applications, allowing programs to reuse unchanged prior documentation, and permitting temporary practice at a new site once life safety standards are met. It also mandates the Administration to consider a program’s past regulatory compliance to streamline reviews and establish clear timelines for relocation approvals. This change directly affects behavioral health programs needing to relocate and the Behavioral Health Administration, which must implement these rules by October 1, 2026.
HB 986 requires nursing license applicants (both new and those seeking endorsement) to provide evidence that their nursing education meets Maryland's standards, including official transcripts. It directly affects registered nurses and licensed practical nurses applying for or renewing licenses in Maryland. The bill adds a new provision (§ 8-316(a)(37)) allowing the State Board of Nursing to take disciplinary action - such as reprimands, probation, suspension, or revocation - against licensees who fail to complete required educational standards. This clarifies the Board’s authority to enforce education requirements, including investigating applicants' qualifications and taking disciplinary steps for non-compliance. The bill amends existing sections of Maryland’s Health Occupations law and takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 1004 prohibits the manufacture, sale, delivery, holding, or offering for sale in Maryland of food containing specific ingredients, including brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and Red 3 dye. It also bans any food ingredient prohibited by federal law under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations. The law applies directly to food manufacturers, retailers, and distributors operating in Maryland. Violations carry misdemeanor penalties of up to $10,000 or one year in jail for first offenses, with higher penalties for repeat violations. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2027.
HB 1042 requires structural racism training for health occupations (like nurses) to be funded through external sources, such as grants, so the state does not bear the cost. It specifically references a grant from the American Nurses Association to the Maryland Nurses Association as an example funding source. The bill clarifies that this training must be offered at no cost to the state, amending prior law to emphasize external funding. The requirement takes effect June 1, 2026.
HB 931 requires nursing homes in Maryland to designate physicians as medical directors who either hold a specific certification (CMD from PALTMED) or are actively working toward it. The bill directly affects nursing homes (which must comply with the certification requirement) and physicians serving in medical director roles (who must meet the certification standard). Key provisions include mandating the Maryland Department of Health to create a public online directory listing all nursing home medical directors with their credentials and certification status, and setting a deadline of September 30, 2028, for current medical directors to obtain certification. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 1485, known as Tiarra's Law, requires Maryland's Department of Health to create a pamphlet listing state and national crisis support resources for families affected by overdose deaths. Healthcare providers and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner must provide this pamphlet to families during specific circumstances, such as after an overdose-related death. The bill also mandates the Department to review trauma-informed care training for first responders and behavioral health staff. These changes aim to improve support for grieving families and address gaps highlighted in cases like Tiarra Brown's 2020 overdose death, where families received no resources or guidance. The law amends existing health and public safety codes to integrate these requirements into Maryland's crisis response system.
HB 373 allows Maryland's State Board of Dental Examiners to conduct unannounced inspections of non-hospital dental offices to verify compliance with CDC infection control guidelines. It updates disciplinary rules for dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants by adding failure to follow these guidelines as grounds for license denial, suspension, or revocation. The bill also requires certified expanded function dental assistants to be properly trained and supervised, and prohibits employers from using uncertified assistants or violating specific practice standards. These changes directly affect dental professionals and their practices across Maryland.
HB 628 establishes a program providing $1,000 monthly payments for three years to young adults who were in out-of-home care (like foster care) on their 18th birthday, with birthdays on or after October 1, 2026. Payments cannot be counted as income for Medicaid, the Maryland Earned Income Tax Credit, or state/federal financial aid for education. The Department of Human Services must report annually on participants' income, location, employment, and housing status starting October 2027. The program will run from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2031, with automatic termination after that date.
HB 1108 grants collective bargaining rights to workers in Maryland greenhouses (controlled-environment agricultural operations), allowing them to form unions and negotiate wages, hours, and working conditions with employers. The bill requires the state Labor Secretary to establish regulations for union elections, certification, and resolving bargaining disputes, while mandating greenhouse employers to provide rest breaks during extreme heat to prevent heat-related illness. This law directly affects greenhouse workers and their employers, creating a formal process for union representation and heat protection. It amends Maryland's labor code to include these specific protections for greenhouse workers, who previously lacked these rights under state law.
HB 310 limits the use of restrictive housing (locked cell confinement for 22+ hours daily) for incarcerated individuals in Maryland state facilities who have a developmental or intellectual disability. It requires a licensed clinical professional to assess new inmates for these disabilities during intake and to recommend against placing them in restrictive housing for more than 15 consecutive days within any 30-day period. This 15-day limit does not apply if the individual commits a "prohibited act," such as causing serious injury, making threats, or possessing weapons. The bill directly affects incarcerated people with these disabilities and mandates correctional facilities to follow this assessment and limitation process.
