Healthcare

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 1143: Public Health - Office of the Chief Medical Examiner - Perinatal Autopsies (Lung Float Test Ban)

HB 1143 bans the use of the "lung float test" (a hydrostatic lung test) during perinatal autopsies in Maryland. It directly affects the Chief Medical Examiner, deputy examiners, assistant examiners, and authorized pathologists when determining if a death was a stillbirth or occurred after a live birth. The bill prohibits this specific test method and allows parents, guardians, or legal representatives to file a civil lawsuit if the test is used unlawfully. Violations also become grounds for disciplinary action against medical examiners.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBans lung float test in perinatal autopsies, protecting parental rights and preventing unnecessary medical procedures per healthcare patient rights indicators.85% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 1150: Health Occupations - Pharmacists - Minor Conditions and HIV Prevention and Treatment (Rapid Testing and Preventive Care Act)

HB 1150 expands pharmacists' scope of practice in Maryland to prescribe, administer, and dispense medications for specific minor conditions and HIV prevention/treatment under statewide protocols. It directly affects pharmacists (by allowing new clinical duties) and patients (by increasing access to care for conditions like cold sores, strep throat, flu, lice, urinary infections, and HIV testing). Key provisions include permitting pharmacists to prescribe for minor, self-limiting conditions without a new diagnosis and to perform/interpret HIV lab tests while prescribing PrEP/PEP medications. The bill repeals the previous nPEP standing order program and requires the Maryland Department of Health to establish these protocols.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands pharmacists' prescribing authority for minor conditions and HIV prevention/treatment, directly increasing patient access to care per bill summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 1325: Workers' Compensation - Evaluation of Permanent Impairments - Licensed Social Worker-Clinical

HB 1325 authorizes licensed clinical social workers to evaluate permanent impairments involving behavioral or mental disorders in Maryland workers' compensation claims. It requires these social workers to meet specific qualifications, including training in mental/behavioral conditions, rehabilitation counseling registration, two years of post-licensure experience, and COMAR authorization. The bill directly affects workers seeking compensation for mental/behavioral impairments and licensed clinical social workers who wish to provide these evaluations. It amends Maryland’s workers’ compensation law (Article 9, Section 9-721) to expand evaluation eligibility beyond psychologists and physicians. The changes take effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes licensed clinical social workers to evaluate mental/behavioral impairments in workers' comp, expanding access to mental health assessments within healthcare framework.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAuthorizes clinical social workers to evaluate mental/behavioral impairments in workers' comp claims, expanding access to benefits for affected workers.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 1593: Community Pathways Waiver - Adoption of Regulations

HB 1593 requires Maryland's Deputy Secretary for Developmental Disabilities to provide public notice before changing the Self-Directed Services Manual, which governs waiver program services for individuals with developmental disabilities. The bill mandates a 90-day public comment period for proposed changes and prohibits adopting any revisions until this period ends. It directly affects individuals and families using self-directed services - where participants control their own care choices, staffing, and budget management - and ensures their input is considered before policy changes take effect. This procedural bill amends Maryland’s health code to formalize transparency and public engagement in updating the manual (effective October 1, 2026).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires public comment before changing self-directed services manual, protecting existing healthcare access for developmental disability waiver program participants.85% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 1048: Public Health - Chain Restaurants - Sodium and Added Sugars Warning Icons and Disclosure and Notice

HB 1048 requires Maryland chain restaurants with 20 or more locations to display warning icons next to menu items containing high sodium (1,150mg+ per serving) or high added sugars (25mg+ per serving) starting January 1, 2028. The Maryland Department of Health must adopt regulations by January 2027 establishing the icon designs, minimum sizes, and accompanying text. The bill also mandates a 2027 public education campaign to help restaurants comply with the new requirements. This directly affects large chain restaurants operating in Maryland, aiming to increase consumer awareness of nutritional content in menu items.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires chain restaurants to display health warning icons for high sodium/sugars, promoting consumer awareness and preventive public health measures per Maryland Department of Health regulations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 837: Education - Student Athletic Activities - Cardiovascular Prescreening

HB 837 requires all Maryland public and nonpublic schools with athletic programs to include a cardiovascular prescreening as part of the standard physical examination for students participating in interscholastic sports, starting in the 2026-2027 school year. This prescreening - based on family history, personal symptoms, and evidence-based guidelines - must be conducted no earlier than 90 days before the school year begins. If a positive finding occurs, healthcare providers must refer students to a cardiologist for further evaluation. Schools must report annual data on screenings and referrals to county health departments, with the Maryland Department of Health publishing public reports analyzing outcomes. The bill directly affects student athletes, schools, and healthcare providers conducting sports physicals.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires cardiovascular prescreening for student athletes to prevent cardiac issues, advancing preventive healthcare services in school sports programs.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 952: Consumer Protection - Companion Chatbots - Regulation

HB 952 requires operators of "companion chatbots" (AI systems designed to meet social needs through human-like interactions) to establish safety protocols, including preventing harmful content like self-harm discussions and sexually explicit material for minors. Operators must publish these protocols online, display clear warnings that chatbots are AI (not human), and provide crisis resource referrals for users expressing suicidal thoughts. The bill also mandates that operators of chatbots used by minors display mandatory break reminders after 3 hours of continuous use. It excludes business customer service bots, video game features, and basic voice assistants from these requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates crisis referrals for suicidal users, directly supporting mental health access within healthcare services85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates safety protocols, AI transparency, and crisis resources for companion chatbots, aligning with consumer protection regulations in tech policy.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 279: Correctional Services - Medication Review Committee - Administration of Psychotropic Medication to an Incarcerated Individual

HB 279 establishes a medication review committee within Maryland's Department of Public Safety to evaluate requests for involuntary psychotropic medication when an incarcerated individual refuses it, applying only to licensed mental health infirmaries in state correctional facilities. The bill prohibits administering such medication without committee approval, except in emergencies, and requires the committee to review medical records, consider less restrictive alternatives, and ensure the individual understands risks and benefits before a decision. Incarcerated individuals gain specific rights under the bill, including 10 business days' written notice of committee meetings, the right to attend (excluding closed deliberations), present information, and receive details about their diagnosis and treatment options. The committee, composed of appointed mental health professionals and a lay advisor, must document its rationale and follow defined procedures before authorizing medication against an individual's refusal.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes committee oversight for involuntary psychotropic medication in prisons, protecting inmate rights and ensuring medical review before administration.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes committee to review involuntary psychotropic medication use, ensuring patient rights and proper medical evaluation in correctional mental health care.90% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 196: Public Health - Baby Food Testing and Labeling - Requirements

HB 196 amends Maryland's definition of "baby food" to explicitly include infant formula and infant cereal (previously excluded), directly affecting baby food manufacturers in the state. The bill requires manufacturers to test each production batch of baby food for toxic metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury) starting January 1, 2025, using accredited labs at least monthly. Beginning January 1, 2026, manufacturers must publicly post test results online for each product and include QR codes on labels linking to FDA information about metal testing and health effects. The law aims to increase transparency and safety for infants under age 2 by aligning testing requirements with FDA standards.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates testing baby food for environmental pollutants (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury), directly reducing toxic metal exposure and strengthening pollution control in consumer products.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires toxic metal testing in baby food (infant formula/cereal) to protect infant health, directly advancing public health safety standards under Maryland's Public Health framework.90% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 658: Maryland Department of Health - Forensic Review Boards and Community Forensic Aftercare Program

HB 658 establishes Maryland’s Community Forensic Aftercare Program within the Department of Health. The program monitors two groups: individuals found not criminally responsible due to mental illness who are on conditional release, and people with mental illness or intellectual disability requiring community monitoring under specific legal circumstances. Key provisions require the Program to create a community monitoring board to make decisions about conditional release and out-of-state travel for these individuals. The bill amends existing criminal procedure and health codes to implement this new oversight structure, replacing outdated sections with the new program framework.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes mental health monitoring program for conditional release, promoting rehabilitation over incarceration for mentally ill offenders, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes Maryland's Community Forensic Aftercare Program under Health Dept. to monitor individuals with mental illness, directly supporting mental health services through structured community care95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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