Mental Health Association of Maryland
2026 Legislative Bill Tracking
Monday, February 2, 2026 8:10 AM
| Bill (Crossfile) | Bill Title & Upcoming Hearings | Sponsor | Status | Position | Testimony |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SB 18 | State Board of Social Work Examiners - Conditional License to Practice Social Work - Revisions Requires that individuals who have met certain educational requirements be granted a conditional license to practice social work and provides alternate pathways to full licensure. Hearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m.@Finance |
M. Washington | In the Senate - Hearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m. (1/27) | Support | |
| SB 88 (HB 7) | State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, Speech-Language Pathologists, and Music Therapists - Authority to Issue Limited Licenses to Practice Music Therapy Allows an eligible individual to practice music therapy under a limited license while completing the requirements for full licensure. Hearing 2/03 at 2:00 p.m.@Finance |
Gile | In the Senate - Hearing 2/03 at 2:00 p.m. (1/21) | Support | SB0088_MHAMD_FAV.pdf (1-30) |
| SB 97 (HB 224) | Reentry and Reintegration Support Program - Establishment Establishes an interagency program to provide coordinated benefits application assistance to individuals being released from state correctional facilities. |
Chair, Judicial Proceedings Committee | In the Senate - Hearing canceled (1/19) | Support | |
| SB 113 (HB 278) | Human Services - Department of Aging and Commission on Aging (The Longevity Ready Maryland Act) Requires the Secretary of Aging to lead and report annually on implementation of the state's Longevity Ready Maryland multisector plan on aging. |
Chair, Finance Committee | In the Senate - Hearing 1/28 at 2:00 p.m. (1/19) | Support | |
| SB 123 | Oversight Committee on Quality of Care in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities - Membership Removes legislative members of the oversight committee. |
Simonaire | In the Senate - Hearing 1/27 at 2:30 p.m. (1/19) | Monitor | |
| SB 196 (HB 279) | Correctional Services - Medication Review Committee - Administration of Psychotropic Medication to an Incarcerated Individual Authorizes the administration of involuntary psychotropic medication to individuals incarcerated in state prisons. |
Chair, Judicial Proceedings Committee | In the Senate - Hearing 1/21 at 11:00 a.m. (1/13) | Oppose | SB0196_MHAMD_UNFAV.pdf (1-19) |
| SB 205 (HB 280) | Health Insurance - Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders - Codification of Federal Requirements Codifies provisions of a 2024 Federal Rule that strengthen the enforcement of behavioral health parity requirements. |
Chair, Finance Committee | In the Senate - Hearing 1/28 at 2:00 p.m. (1/19) | Support | SB0205_MHAMD_FAV.pdf (1-27) |
| SB 238 (HB 340) | School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact Enters Maryland into a compact with other states allowing licensed school psychologists to operate across state lines. Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m.@Education, Energy, and the Environment |
Augustine | In the Senate - Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m. (1/16) | Support | |
| SB 240 | Office of Health Care Quality Stakeholder Advisory Council - Establishment Establishes a council of stakeholders to review data and give feedback regarding the Office of Health Care Quality's oversight of Maryland health care facilities. Hearing 2/03 at 2:00 p.m.@Finance |
Lewis Young | In the Senate - Hearing 2/03 at 2:00 p.m. (1/21) | Support | |
| SB 282 (HB 390) | Budget Bill (Fiscal Year 2027) Makes appropriations contained in the proposed State Budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. |
The President | In the Senate - First Reading Budget and Taxation (1/21) | ||
| SB 284 (HB 392) | Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2026 Alters certain mandated appropriations to balance the proposed FY27 state budget and address the broader structural deficit. Includes a $20 million annual reduction in school mental health funding. |
The President | In the Senate - First Reading Budget and Taxation (1/21) | Support with Amendment | |
| SB 327 (HB 551) | Criminal Law - Drug Paraphernalia and Controlled Paraphernalia Prohibitions - Repeal Decriminalizes possession of drug paraphernalia. Hearing 2/05 at 1:00 p.m.@Judicial Proceedings |
McCray | In the Senate - Hearing 2/05 at 1:00 p.m. (1/23) | Support | |
| SB 336 (HB 427) | Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances - Extension Hearing 2/11 at 2:00 p.m.@Finance |
Feldman | In the Senate - Hearing 2/11 at 2:00 p.m. (1/29) | Support | |
| SB 402 (HB 396) | Residential Child Care Programs - Education of Children and Training of Child and Youth Care Practitioners | Brooks | In the Senate - First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment (1/28) | Monitor | |
| SB 428 | Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Health Insurance - Collaborative Care Model - Cost Sharing Prohibition Prohibits Maryland Medicaid and commercial health insurers from imposing a copay, coinsurance, or deductible for services provided via the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM). |
Augustine | In the Senate - First Reading Finance (1/30) | Support | |
| SB 444 (HB 498) | Certificate of Need - Intermediate Health Care Facilities | Kramer | In the Senate - First Reading Finance (2/2) | Monitor | |
| HB 7 (SB 88) | State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, Speech-Language Pathologists, and Music Therapists - Authority to Issue Limited Licenses to Practice Music Therapy Allows an eligible individual to practice music therapy under a limited license while completing the requirements for full licensure. Hearing 2/04 at 1:00 p.m.@Health |
Guzzone | In the House - Hearing 2/04 at 1:00 p.m. (1/22) | Support | HB0007_MHAMD_FAV.pdf (1-30) |
| HB 71 | Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program Services - Reimbursement (Youth Psychiatric Rehabilitation Parity Act of 2026) Requires Maryland Medicaid to reimburse a psychiatric rehabilitation program for a minimum and maximum number of psychiatric rehabilitation community psychiatric support services delivered to individuals with serious mental illness who are living with a parent, guardian or relative. Hearing 2/10 at 2:00 p.m.@Health |
Sample-Hughes | In the House - Hearing 2/10 at 2:00 p.m. (1/22) | Monitor | |
| HB 202 | Public Health - Social Isolation and Loneliness Pilot Grant Program - Establishment Establishes a pilot grant program to support efforts to alleviate the adverse mental and physical health effects caused by social isolation and loneliness. Hearing 2/10 at 2:00 p.m.@Health |
Vogel | In the House - Hearing 2/10 at 2:00 p.m. (1/22) | Support | |
| HB 224 (SB 97) | Reentry and Reintegration Support Program - Establishment Establishes an interagency program to provide coordinated benefits application assistance to individuals being released from state correctional facilities. |
Chair, Appropriations Committee | In the House - First Reading Appropriations (1/14) | Support | |
| HB 278 (SB 113) | Human Services - Department of Aging and Commission on Aging (The Longevity Ready Maryland Act) Requires the Secretary of Aging to lead and report annually on implementation of the state's Longevity Ready Maryland multisector plan on aging. Hearing 2/05 at 1:45 p.m.@Health |
Chair, Health Committee | In the House - Hearing 2/05 at 1:45 p.m. (1/20) | Support | |
| HB 279 (SB 196) | Correctional Services - Medication Review Committee - Administration of Psychotropic Medication to an Incarcerated Individual Authorizes the administration of involuntary psychotropic medication to individuals incarcerated in state prisons. Hearing 2/04 at 1:00 p.m.@Health |
Chair, Health Committee | In the House - Hearing 2/04 at 1:00 p.m. (1/22) | Oppose | HB0279_MHAMD_UNFAV.pdf (1-30) |
| HB 280 (SB 205) | Health Insurance - Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders - Codification of Federal Requirements Codifies provisions of a 2024 Federal Rule that strengthen the enforcement of behavioral health parity requirements. |
Chair, Health Committee | In the House - Hearing 1/29 at 2:00 p.m. (1/20) | Support | HB0280_MHAMD_FAV.pdf (1-27) |
| HB 340 (SB 238) | School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact Hearing 2/11 at 1:00 p.m.@Ways and Means |
Mireku-North | In the House - Hearing 2/11 at 1:00 p.m. (1/28) | Support | |
| HB 341 | Maryland Commission for Boys' and Men's Health - Establishment Establishes a Commission to review data, shape policy, and raise public awareness of health issues specific to boys and men, including issues related to mental health and substance use. Hearing 2/10 at 2:00 p.m.@Health |
Wims | In the House - Hearing 2/10 at 2:00 p.m. (1/22) | Support | |
| HB 390 (SB 282) | Budget Bill (Fiscal Year 2027) Makes appropriations contained in the proposed State Budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. |
The Speaker | In the House - First Reading Appropriations (1/21) | ||
| HB 392 (SB 284) | Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2026 Alters certain mandated appropriations to balance the proposed FY27 state budget and address the broader structural deficit. Includes a $20 million annual reduction in school mental health funding. |
The Speaker | In the House - First Reading Appropriations (1/21) | Support with Amendment | |
| HB 396 (SB 402) | Residential Child Care Programs - Education of Children and Training of Child and Youth Care Practitioners Requires residential childcare programs to provide certain educational opportunities to youth in their custody and expands training requirements for residential child and youth care practitioners. Hearing 2/11 at 1:00 p.m.@Ways and Means |
Pasteur | In the House - Hearing 2/11 at 1:00 p.m. (1/28) | Monitor | |
| HB 427 (SB 336) | Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances - Extension Extends by a year the work of the Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances. Hearing 2/10 at 2:00 p.m.@Health |
Guzzone | In the House - Hearing 2/10 at 2:00 p.m. (1/22) | Support | |
| HB 448 | Health Facilities - Certified Recovery Residences - Unannounced Inspections Requires the Department of Health to conduct at least two unannounced inspections of each certified recovery residence each year to ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements. Hearing 2/11 at 1:30 p.m.@Health |
Rosenberg | In the House - Hearing 2/11 at 1:30 p.m. (1/28) | Support | |
| HB 498 (SB 444) | Certificate of Need - Intermediate Health Care Facilities Provides that a certificate of need is not required for a change of bed capacity in facilities that offer substance use care. Hearing 2/11 at 1:30 p.m.@Health |
Cullison | In the House - Hearing 2/11 at 1:30 p.m. (1/28) | Monitor | |
| HB 551 (SB 327) | Criminal Law - Drug Paraphernalia and Controlled Paraphernalia Prohibitions - Repeal Hearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m.@Judiciary |
Simpson | In the House - Hearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m. (1/29) | Support | |
| HB 632 | Certificate of Need - Psychiatric Health Care Facilities and Psychiatric and Mental Health Services - Exemption Provides that a certificate of need is not required to establish or operate a psychiatric health care facility or to offer mental health services at a health care facility. |
Grammer | In the House - First Reading Health (1/30) | Monitor |