SB 707 amends Maryland's Mental Health Law to clarify the definition of "danger to the life or safety of the individual or of others" for involuntary admission and emergency evaluations. It specifies that this danger includes four key scenarios: causing bodily harm, engaging in conduct likely to result in criminal justice involvement, inability to meet basic needs (food, shelter, medical care) creating serious risk, or substantial deterioration in judgment preventing informed treatment decisions. The bill directly affects individuals with mental disorders who may be assessed for involuntary care, as well as healthcare providers making those determinations under the law. This definition replaces the current standard in Maryland Code, Section 10-601, and takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 1015 (Ralph's Act) ensures continuity of developmental disability services for individuals who recently moved to Maryland after losing their primary caregiver in another state. It directly affects people who received home- and community-based waiver services in another state for the past 10 years and relocated to live with immediate family following the death or incapacitation of their former caretaker. The bill requires the Maryland Department of Health to create an expedited 30-day process to determine eligibility, allows pre-residency eligibility assessments, and ensures those approved receive services through priority categories matching their prior state's support. This policy change prevents service disruptions during relocation transitions.
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.
HB 772 establishes a workgroup within Maryland's Health Care Commission to develop fairer reimbursement methods for certified community behavioral health clinics and outpatient mental health centers. The workgroup will study current costs, staffing models, and federal requirements to create transparent, cost-based payment systems, comparing approaches used in other states. It must submit an interim report by December 2026 and a final report by October 2027 with specific recommendations, implementation options, and fiscal estimates. The bill does not require immediate rate changes or new funding, but rather sets a process for future policy decisions based on the workgroup's findings.
HB 1533 (the Crown and Care Act) bans 12 specific harmful ingredients - including certain phthalates, formaldehyde, mercury, and PFAS chemicals - from cosmetic products sold in Maryland. It directly affects cosmetic manufacturers, retailers, and salons by prohibiting the sale or distribution of products containing these ingredients, with limited exceptions for unavoidable trace amounts from manufacturing processes. The bill authorizes the Maryland Department of Health to investigate complaints, inspect businesses, and enforce penalties, while allowing consumers harmed by violations to seek civil damages and attorney fees. This law aims to protect public health by reducing exposure to chemicals linked to health risks like skin irritation and potential long-term harm.
SB 645 restructures Maryland's State Board of Sign Language Interpreters by expanding its membership from seven to 11 members with specific representation requirements, including a deafblind individual, deaf community members, licensed interpreters from various settings (legal, medical, educational), and ex-officio members from disability and labor agencies. The bill requires the Board to establish licensing requirements for sign language interpreters by December 31, 2026 (previously July 1, 2024), and mandates interpreters to meet these standards by that date. It also adds new grounds for the Governor to remove board members, including two consecutive unexcused absences or failing to attend 50% of meetings annually. These changes aim to improve board diversity, clarify licensing timelines, and ensure board members meet ongoing eligibility criteria.
SB 656 bans 12 specific harmful chemicals in cosmetics sold in Maryland, including formaldehyde, mercury, and certain PFAS chemicals. It creates civil liability for manufacturers or sellers who violate this ban, allowing consumers to sue for damages. The Maryland Department of Health gains authority to investigate complaints, inspect businesses, and collect product samples. The law exempts trace amounts of banned ingredients that occur unavoidably during manufacturing. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 1483 repeals Maryland's requirement for out-of-state clinical counselors to obtain a temporary telehealth license. It allows licensed counselors from other states to provide telehealth counseling to clients who relocated to Maryland (or returned after relocating), for up to six months, if they already had an established client-counselor relationship before the move. This exempts these counselors from Maryland's standard licensure rules during the six-month continuity period, but only for existing clients who relocated - not for new clients. The bill does not change regular licensing requirements for ongoing practice in Maryland.
SB 773 allows pharmacists in Maryland to order certain vaccinations (like flu, COVID-19, or emergency vaccines) for patients aged 3 and older without needing to administer the vaccine themselves. To qualify, pharmacists must complete 20 hours of approved training, hold current CPR certification, and complete 2 hours of continuing education on immunizations. The bill requires pharmacists to follow written vaccine-specific protocols, report all vaccinations to Maryland’s ImmuNet registry, and refer pediatric patients to primary care providers when appropriate. This policy directly affects pharmacists, patients seeking these vaccines, and healthcare coordination for immunizations. The changes take effect October 1, 2026.
SB 915 requires individuals performing limited X-ray procedures (such as chest, spine, and limb imaging) in Maryland to register with the State Board of Physicians. It restricts these operations to non-invasive X-rays only (excluding CT scans, mammography, or fluoroscopy) and mandates 115 hours of specialized training plus 6 months of clinical experience. The bill also establishes disciplinary procedures for violations and allows physician assistants to perform X-ray duties under physician supervision, while updating rules for cardiovascular specialists and medical graduates. This directly affects medical staff, radiologic technicians, and physician assistants conducting basic X-ray services in clinical settings.
