2026 Calls to Action
| STATUS | Bill Number | Synopsis | ICM Comments | Hearing | Call to Action | CLICK HERE TO FIND YOUR REP(S)/SENATOR | Click to join our email list for more detailed talking points. | ||||||||||||||||||
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| *Bills labeled as WATCH can change status as we gather more information. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UPDATES: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SUPPORT | HB1048 & SB866 | Public Health - Chain Restaurants - Sodium and Added Sugars Warning Icons - Requiring the Maryland Department of Health to adopt certain regulations relating to the sale of food items with a high added sugars content or high sodium content by a chain restaurant by January 1, 2027, and to administer a certain continuing education campaign during calendar year 2027; and requiring certain chain restaurants to display certain icons next to certain food items with a high added sugars content or high sodium content on each menu or menu board beginning January 1, 2028. | Health on 2/24 @ 1PM & Finance on 2/25 @ 1PM | Submit Health testimony on Friday Feb 20 from 8A-6P; Submit Finance testimony on Monday Feb 23 8A-6P | Potential to pass with amendments | ||||||||||||||||||||
| SUPPORT | HB925 & SB719 | Sewage Sludge - Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances - Regulation: Establishing restrictions on the land application, on or after October 1, 2027, of sewage sludge or products containing sewage sludge with total concentrations of certain regulated per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances equal to or greater than certain levels; authorizing, on or before September 30, 2029, a person to blend sewage sludge from multiple sources for a certain purpose and subject to certain regulations and requirements; establishing certain monitoring protocols; etc. | Env/Trans on 2/25 @ 1PM & EEE on 2/24 @ 1PM | Submit EEE testimony on Friday Feb 20 between 8AM and 6PM; Submit Env/Trans testimony on Monday Feb 23 between 8AM and 6PM. | Likely to pass with heavy amendments | ||||||||||||||||||||
| OPPOSE | HB1150 & SB506 | Health Occupations - Pharmacists - Minor Conditions and HIV Prevention and Treatment - Authorizing pharmacists, under certain circumstances, to prescribe, administer, and dispense certain drugs or devices and perform and interpret certain laboratory tests; repealing provisions establishing and governing the Nonoccupational Postexposure Prophylaxis (nPEP)Standing Order Program; and authorizing the Maryland Department of Health to establish certain statewide written protocols relating to the treatment of minor conditions and the prevention and treatment of human immunodeficiency virus. | ICM opposes expanding pharmacists’ authority to independently order or prescribe medications because pharmacists are not physicians, do not have the full training required to make individualized medical decisions, and often lack access to a patient’s complete medical history. Allowing this authority raises serious concerns about patient safety, continuity of care, and informed consent. | Finance on 2/17 @ 1PM & Health on 3/4 @ 1PM | Submit Health committee testimony on Monday 3/2 8A-6P | Watching closely | |||||||||||||||||||
| SUPPORT | SB907 & HB1389 | Public Health - Female Genital Mutilation - Altering the definition of "abuse" to include female genital mutilation for the purposes of a provision of law requiring certain persons to provide notice of suspected abuse or neglect of a child or make a written report of suspected abuse or neglect of a child; altering the actions regarding female genital mutilation in which a person is prohibited from engaging; increasing the penalties for a violation of certain provisions related to female genital mutilation; etc. | HB 1389 strengthens Maryland law against female genital mutilation by defining it as child abuse, increasing criminal penalties, creating civil remedies for victims, and mandating educational and annual reporting on FGM incidents. | BOTH HEARINGS AT SAME TIME: Finance on 3/10 @ 1PM & Judiciary on 3/10 @ 1PM | Submit Finance testimony on Friday 3/6 8A-6P & Submit Judiciary testimony on Fri 3/6 8A-6P | LIKELY TO PASS! | |||||||||||||||||||
| OPPOSE | SB538 & HB637 | Public Health - Recommendations for Immunizations, Screenings, and Preventive Services - Pharmacist Administration and Required Health Insurance Coverage (The Vax Act) : Requiring the Secretary of Health to issue recommendations for certain immunizations, screenings, and preventive services based on certain evidence-based scientific and clinical guidance; altering the authority of pharmacists to administer certain vaccinations; altering the health insurance coverage requirements for certain immunizations, screenings, and preventive services; and repealing obsolete language regarding the pertussis vaccine. | • Major public health policies should be debated and voted on by elected representatives • Policies with broad impact should not bypass legislative oversight • National professional associations are not independent, non-partisan research bodies | Senate Finance February 10 @ 1PM & Health on 2/26 @ 1PM | Click here for initial call to action. Submit Health committee testimony on Feb 24 8A-6P | Likely to pass | |||||||||||||||||||
| OPPOSE | SB773 & HB1135 | Health Occupations - Pharmacists - Vaccination Orders - Authorizing a pharmacist to order certain vaccinations for individuals who are at least 3 years old without having to also administer the vaccination. | This bill would advance pharmacists from being allowed to administer vaccines prescribed by physicians to being able to order those vaccinations themselves with the physician. | Health 3/4 @ 1PM & Finance on 3/3 @ 1PM | Submit Health testimony on Monday 3/2 from 8A-6P; Submit Finance testimony on Friday 2/27 8A-6P | LIKELY TO PASS. VOTED FAVORABLE WITH AMENDMENTS | |||||||||||||||||||
| SUPPORT | SB656 & HB1533 | Public Health - Cosmetic Products - Enforcement and Penalties for Prohibited Ingredients (Crown and Care Act - Protecting Communities from Harmful Hair Chemicals): Providing that a person who violates the prohibition on the manufacture, sale, delivery, holding, or offering for sale a cosmetic product that contains certain ingredients is liable for certain civil damages; and authorizing the Maryland Department of Health to investigate a complaint alleging that a person included certain prohibited ingredients in cosmetic products. | Finance on 2/27 @ 1PM & Health on 3/10 @ 1PM | Submit Finance testimony on Wed Feb 25 from 8A-6P; Submit Health testimony on Friday Mar 6 from 8A-6P | FAVORABLE WITH AMENDMENTS - PENDING | ||||||||||||||||||||
| SUPPORT | HB1004 | Public Health - Prohibited Ingredients in Food: Prohibiting a person from manufacturing, selling, delivering, holding, or offering for sale in the State food that contains brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, red dye 3, or any other ingredient or additive that is prohibited for use in food under federal law or regulation. | Health on 3/3 @ 1PM | Submit Health testimony on Friday Feb 27 from 8A-6P | Looking favorable for passage | ||||||||||||||||||||
| SUPPORT | HB355 & SB254 | Education - Sexual Abuse and Assault Awareness and Prevention Program - Human and Sex Trafficking - Requiring that a certain program on the awareness and prevention of sexual abuse and assault include, for students in grades 6 through 8, material promoting the awareness and prevention of human and sex trafficking. | Third Reading Passed in House | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | SB218 & HB288 | State Superintendent of Schools - Prolonged State of Emergency - Authority to Declare: Authorizing the State Superintendent of Schools to declare a prolonged state of emergency for an event that prevents regular, in-person attendance at a public school for at least 14 consecutive school days. | Senate EEE Feb 4 @ 2PM; House Ways & Means Feb 11 @ 2PM | Potential to pass with amendments | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | SB169 & HB372 | Hospitals - Emergency Pregnancy-Related Medical Conditions - Procedures - Requiring a hospital to conduct screening on a patient presenting at an emergency department of the hospital to determine whether the patient has an emergency pregnancy-related medical condition; establishing requirements and prohibitions related to the treatment and transfer of a patient who has an emergency pregnancy-related medical condition; requiring a hospital to allow the termination of a pregnancy in certain circumstances; etc. | Health on 2/11 @ 2PM | Return passed | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | SB790 & HB1109 | Public Health Reform Act - Requiring the Maryland Department of Health to organize the Maryland Medical Reserve Corps; altering the membership, leadership selection process, and staffing of the Commission on Public Health; requiring the Commission to provide oversight over the implementation of recommendations made by the Commission on Public Health; establishing the Public Health Workforce Development Fund; requiring the Department of Legislative Services to develop a process to assess the health equity impacts of relevant legislation; etc. | Potential overreach regarding "health equity." Creates a system to check whether new laws help or hurt "health fairness." Pay attention to this commission org if it passes! | Finance on 3/10 @ 1PM & Health on 3/3 @ 1PM | Potential to pass with amendments | ||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | HB1076 | Higher Education Institutions - Over-the-Counter Contraception - Access and Reporting - Requiring each public senior higher education institution and community college to submit a report on contraception access to the Maryland Higher Education Commission each year; requiring the Commission to submit a report on contraception access to the General Assembly each year beginning October 1, 2026; and requiring each community college to provide students with access to all methods of over-the-counter contraception. | Appropriations on 3/3 @ 1PM | Potential to pass with amendments | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | SB720 & HB1057 | Education - Artificial Intelligence - Guidelines, Professional Development, and Collaborative (Artificial Intelligence Ready Schools Act) - Requiring the State Department of Education to provide certain guidance on artificial intelligence to local school systems, educators, parents, and students through an online platform; requiring the Department to develop certain guidelines and best practices; requiring each county board to designate a coordinator for the use of artificial intelligence; establishing the Maryland AI Education Collaborative on Artificial Intelligence in K-12 Education to study the uses of Artificial Intelligence in each local school system; etc. | BOTH HEARINGS AT SAME TIME: EEE & Ways and Means on 3/4 @ 1PM | Potential to pass with amendments | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | SB825 & HB1239 | Public Safety - Critical Infrastructure Protection - Establishing the Critical Infrastructure Protection Branch in the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center; requiring the Department of Emergency Management, in consultation with the Center, to take certain action in response to an attack on the State's critical infrastructure; and requiring the Department of Information Technology to allow the owner or operator of critical infrastructure to become a member of the Maryland Information Sharing and Analysis Center and provide cybersecurity reporting standards to the owner or operator. | This bill expands government monitoring of hospitals and other critical infrastructure but contains no privacy protections, limits, or independent oversight. This could expose sensitive healthcare system data and undermine patient privacy and civil liberties. | EEE on 3/5 @ 1PM | Potential to pass with amendments | ||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | SB593 & HB837 | Education – Student Athletic Activities – Physical Examinations and Cardiovascular Prescreening: Requiring a certain physical examination used to determine the physical fitness of a student seeking to participate in interscholastic sports to include a certain cardiovascular prescreening; requiring certain health care providers who perform certain physical examinations for students participating in interscholastic sports to include a cardiovascular prescreening as part of the examination; etc. | EEE on 3/4 @ 1PM & Ways and Means on 2/25 @ 1PM | Submit Ways and Means testimony on Mon 2/23 8A-6P | Potential to pass | ||||||||||||||||||||
| CALLS TO ACTION FOR WEEK OF MARCH 15-21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | HB1527 | Complementary and Alternative Health Care - Practice Authorized (Complementary and Alternative Health Care Practice Act) - Authorizing an individual to practice complementary or alternative health care in the State without obtaining a license, certification, or authorization issued under certain provisions of law; establishing certain requirements and limitations regarding the practice of complementary or alternative health care; and providing that certain provisions of this Act do not waive certain claims for relief. | Health on 3/18 @ 1PM | Submit Health committee testimony on Monday 3/16 8A-6P | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | HB1322 | Higher Education - Freedom of Expression on Campus - Protection (Maryland Campus Area Free Expression Act) - Specifying that certain areas on campuses of public institutions of higher education are public forums subject to certain restrictions and requirements; authorizing members of the campus community to engage in certain expressive activity on campus; authorizing the Attorney General or a person aggrieved by a certain violation to bring an action against a public institution of higher education and certain employees; etc. | Appropriations on 3/19 @ 1PM | Submit Appropriations testimony on Tue 3/17 8A-6P | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | HB1401 | Public Health - Abortion - Informed Consent - Requiring qualified providers to inform patients of certain information and obtain signed, written informed consent before performing a procedure to terminate a pregnancy. | Health on 3/19 @ 1PM | Submit Health committee testimony on Tue 3/17 8A-6P | |||||||||||||||||||||
| CALLS TO ACTION FOR WEEK OF MARCH 8-14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | SB903 & HB1334 | Education - Engagement Policies and School Compact (Maryland Public Education Parental Partnership Act) - Requiring each county board of education to develop a parent and family engagement policy on or before the start of the 2027-2028 school year; requiring each public school in the State to develop a Parent-School Compact beginning in the 2028-2029 school year; and requiring the State Department of Education to provide certain guidance and technical assistance to county boards and public schools in developing a certain parent and family engagement policy and Parent-School Compact. | EEE on 3/4 @ 1PM & Ways and Means on 3/11 @ 1PM | Submit EEE testimony on Monday 3/2 between 8A-6P & Submit Ways and Means testimony on Monday 3/9 8A-6P | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | HB1481 | Tissue Banks and Hospitals - Autologous and Directed Blood Donations - Prohibiting tissue banks and hospitals from denying a patient a physician-ordered autologous or directed blood donation under certain circumstances; authorizing a patient or an individual authorized to make medical decisions on a patient's behalf to request an autologous or directed blood donation; and authorizing tissue banks and hospitals to decline a request for a physician-ordered autologous or directed blood donation only under certain circumstances. | Health on 3/11 @ 1PM | Submit Health committee testimony on Monday 3/9 8A-6P | |||||||||||||||||||||
| SUPPORT | HB1375 & SB969 | Health Insurance - Lyme Disease and Related Tick-Borne Illnesses - Long-Term Antibiotic Treatment - Requiring certain insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide certain coverage for the full length of long-term antibiotic treatment of Lyme disease and related tick-borne illnesses under certain circumstances; and prohibiting certain insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations from placing a quantitative limit on or denying coverage for benefits required under the Act. | BOTH Finance & Health on 3/13 @ 1PM | Submit Health committee testimony & Submit Finance testimony on Wed 3/11 8A-6P | |||||||||||||||||||||
| CALLS TO ACTION FOR WEEK OF MARCH 1-7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SUPPORT | SB686 & HB1022 | PFAS Chemicals - Product Phase Outs and Registration Requirements - Prohibiting manufacturers from selling, offering for sale, distributing, or distributing for sale in the State, certain products containing intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) chemicals on or after certain dates; establishing registration requirements for certain products that contain intentionally added PFAS chemicals; providing for the testing of certain products to determine compliance with the Act; etc. | EEE on 2/24 @ 1PM & TWO HEARINGS: Health on 3/10 @ 1PM & Environment and Transportation 3/10 @ 1PM | Submit EEE testimony on Friday Feb 20 8A-6P; Submit Health AND Envir/Trans testimony on Friday March 6 from 8A-6P | |||||||||||||||||||||
| SUPPORT | HB1209 & SB950 | Conversion Therapy - Prohibitions and Causes of Action - Clarifying that injury resulting from conversion therapy is cognizable for purposes of a health care malpractice action; establishing certain procedures in an action for health care malpractice resulting from conversion therapy; removing the limitation on noneconomic damages to a claimant in an action for health care malpractice resulting from conversion therapy; etc. | Judiciary on 3/4 @ 1PM & Judicial Proceedings on 3/10 @ 1PM | Submit Judiciary testimony on Monday 3/2 8A-6P; Submit Judicial Proceedings testimony on Friday 3/6 8A-6P | |||||||||||||||||||||
| SUPPORT | HB1477 & SB527 | Public Health - Ibogaine Clinical Research Grant Program - Establishment (Veterans Mental Health Innovations Act) - Establishing the Ibogaine Clinical Research Grant Program to provide grants to certain research institutions to conduct certain clinical drug development trials on the use of ibogaine; and including the Program as an authorized use of funding from the Opioid Restitution Fund. | This could change the landscape of opioid addiction as we know it. Ibogaine is currently banned from being imported in the US, despite many other nations showing significant success in treating opioid/heroin addiction with short-term treatment that is not opioid based and yet often permanently resolves opioid addiction and cravings. | (HB1477) Health on 3/10 @ 1PM | Submit Health committee testimony on Friday 3/6 8A-6P | ||||||||||||||||||||
| SUPPORT | HB1556 | Business Regulation - Sugary Beverage Advertisements - Warning Labels - Prohibiting a person from placing an advertisement for a sugary beverage on certain property unless the advertisement includes a certain warning. | Health on 3/10 @ 1PM | Submit Health committee testimony on Friday 3/6 8A-6P | |||||||||||||||||||||
| CALLS TO ACTION FOR WEEK OF FEB 22-28 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | SB711 & HB834 | Family Law - Child Neglect Definition - Alteration - Altering the definition of child neglect to include the failure or refusal to provide to a child the education required by law. | Judicial Proceedings on 2/26 @ 1PM & Judiciary on 2/19 @ 1PM | Submit Judicial Proceedings testimony on Tue 2/24 8A-6P | |||||||||||||||||||||
| SUPPORT | HB1023 | Lab-Grown Meat - Prohibition - Prohibiting the sale, offer for sale, distribution, and manufacture in the State of lab-grown meat for human consumption; and establishing a civil penalty of $5,000 for a violation of the Act. | Health on 3/3 @ 1PM | Submit Health testimony on Friday Feb 27 from 8A-6P | |||||||||||||||||||||
| YOU DECIDE | HB1043 | Homeschool Students in Maryland - Right to Play - Authorizing a public high school to allow certain homeschool students to participate in athletic activities sponsored by the school under certain circumstances; authorizing certain homeschool students to participate in an athletic activity sponsored by certain public high schools, subject to certain requirements; and requiring that certain liability insurance cover certain homeschool students under certain circumstances. | This bill would allow homeschool students to participate in public school athletic activities. The same vaccination laws apply, including use of exemptions. ICM suggests supporters may want to recommend an amendment so that this law would expand access of *all* public school extra-curricular activities, not just sports. | Ways and Means on 3/4 @ 1PM | Submit Ways and Means testimony on Monday 3/2 from 8A-6P | ||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH - CONCERN | HB1444 | Washington County - On-Site Sewage Disposal System Regulations - Exemptions - Authorizing the Washington County Health Department to exempt the owner of a certain residential property from compliance with all or part of a certain on-site sewage disposal system regulation if compliance with the regulation would be unduly burdensome; and establishing requirements for the consideration and issuance of exemptions under the Act. | Septic exemptions could increase contamination risks, Washington County relies heavily on private wells, Risk to crops and local agriculture, PFAS and “forever chemicals” are a long-term threat, Health impacts are real and well-documented, Responsible alternatives exit | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH - CONCERN | HB520 & SB470 | State Board of Physicians - Naturopathic Doctors - Scope of Practice, Renewals, and Professional Liability Insurance - Altering the drugs that may be prescribed, provided, or administered or for which a starter dose may be dispensed by a naturopathic doctor; altering the methods by which a naturopathic doctor may administer medication; altering the requirements for renewal of a naturopathic doctor license; altering the grounds for discipline of naturopathic doctors; requiring the State Board of Physicians to include certain information regarding professional liability insurance on a naturopathic doctor's licensee profile; etc. | BOTH HEARINGS AT SAME TIME: Finance & Health on 2/17 @ 1PM | Potential to pass | |||||||||||||||||||||
| SUPPORT | HB679 | Health Occupations - Cross-Sex Hormone Therapy for Minors: Prohibiting a licensed health care practitioner from prescribing, dispensing, or administering a cross-sex hormone or otherwise providing cross-sex hormone therapy for the treatment of a mental health diagnoses associated with gender nonconformity, including gender dysphoria, to an individual who is a minor. | House Health Feb 18 @ 130PM | Click here! Testimony must be submitted on Monday, February 16th between 8AM and 6PM | |||||||||||||||||||||
| CALLS TO ACTION FOR THE WEEK OF FEB 15-21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | HB755 | County Boards of Education - Student Personal Electronic Device Use Policy - Establishment (Phones Away for the School Day Act): Requiring each county board of education to develop and implement, not later than the 2026-2027 school year, a policy prohibiting the use of a personal electronic device by a student during school day hours; providing the policy may not prohibit a student from using a personal electronic device for any purpose related to an individualized program or 504 plan; providing that any disciplinary measures adopted as part of the policy may not include suspension or expulsion solely for violation of the policy; etc. | Withdrawn by sponsor | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | HB890 & SB650 | Family Law - Child Abuse and Neglect Investigations ("Know Before They Knock" Family Right to Notice Act): Requiring a certain on-site interview following a report of suspected child abuse to be with the child's parent or guardian rather than the child's caretaker; and requiring a local department of social services or a law enforcement agency to provide a certain notice to a parent or legal guardian of a child at a certain time during an investigation of suspected child abuse or neglect. | Judiciary on 2/19 @ 1PM & Judicial Proceedings on 2/26 at 1PM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | HB1011 | Workgroup on Supporting Transgender and Gender Diverse Students - Established: Establishing the Workgroup on Supporting Transgender and Gender Diverse Students to study ways to support transgender and gender diverse students and, on or before December 1, 2026, make recommendations regarding statewide statutory and regulatory policies. | Ways and Means on 3/4 @ 1PM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | HB908 | Civil Actions - Failure to Restrict Distribution of Sexual Material Harmful to Minors: Establishing that a commercial entity that distributes certain sexual material harmful to minors on the Internet and that fails to perform certain age verification methods is liable for certain damages under certain circumstances; and prohibiting a commercial entity or third party that performs a certain age verification of an individual from retaining any identifying information of an individual under certain circumstances. | Withdrawn | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | SB590 | Study on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Economy-Wide Cap-and-Invest Program (Maryland Climate Crisis Equity Act): Requiring the Department of the Environment, in collaboration with the Maryland Commission on Climate Change, the Department of Transportation, and the Maryland Energy Administration, and in coordination with certain entities and persons, to complete a study and develop a report evaluating the potential design and implications of implementing an economy-wide cap-and-invest program that will help the State achieve certain emissions reductions and provide a sustainable funding source for certain initiatives. | EEE on 2/26 @ 1PM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | SB827 | Consumer Protection and Product Liability - Chatbots - Regulating the manner in which a developer designs and creates and an operator makes available to users in the State a chatbot, including establishing safety and privacy protections for users, establishing an enhanced protection for users who are minors under the age of 13 years, and requiring the display of certain warnings when using a chatbot; establishing that a chatbot is considered a product for certain product liability actions; applying certain provisions of the Act to governmental units; etc. | Finance on 3/12 @ 1PM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | HB1039 | Education and Primary and Secondary Schools and Alternative School Options (Right to Learn Act) - Requiring, on or before January 1 each year, each county board of education to provide certain information to the parent or legal guardian of a student who attends a failing school; requiring that a failing school continue to be designated as a failing school until certain conditions are met; requiring that a student who is attending a failing school be provided the opportunity to attend an alternative school; establishing the Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today Program; etc. | Ways and Means on 3/4 @ 1PM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | HB1046 | School and School-Sponsored Activities - Report of Suspected Abuse or Neglect - Parental Notification - Requiring a school to provide notice to the parent, guardian, or caretaker of a child if a mandated reporter reports certain suspected abuse or neglect that occurs at a school or school-sponsored activity, unless the parent, guardian, or caretaker is the subject of the report; and requiring the notice to be provided not later than 24 hours after the report is made. | Ways and Means on 3/4 @ 1PM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | HB1411 | Data Center Planning and Transparency Act - Requiring an owner or operator of a large-scale data center to submit a disclosure report to certain State and local agencies and elected officials under certain circumstances; specifying the contents of the disclosure report; requiring the Department of the Environment to publish the disclosure report on its website within 30 days of receiving the report; requiring, by June 30, 2027, each local jurisdiction with a population of at least 10,000 residents to adopt by local law a large-scale data center plan; etc. | Env/Trans on 3/10 @ 1PM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | HB1385 | Health Insurance - Use of Artificial Intelligence - Human Evaluation - Requiring that certain audits and compliance reviews of an artificial intelligence, algorithm, or other software tool used for utilization review include a certain evaluation by a licensed health care professional; and requiring that the review and revision of the performance, use, and outcomes of an artificial intelligence, algorithm, or other software tool used for utilization review include a certain human evaluation and use of the findings of the evaluation for a certain purpose. | Health on 3/12 @ 1PM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | HB1261 | Consumer Protection - Artificial Intelligence Toys (Artificial Intelligence Toy Safety Act) - Establishing certain child safety and data privacy requirements for certain toys featuring artificial intelligence; requiring an artificial intelligence toy to contain certain labeling; prohibiting the manufacturer of an artificial intelligence toy from using certain data for certain marketing; etc. | Economic Matters on 3/10 @ 1PM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | HB1237 | Pesticide Applications - Subscription Contract Requirements and Registry Establishment - Establishing certain requirements for a pesticide business licensee that has a subscription contract for pest control with a residential customer; requiring the Department of Agriculture to establish a Residential Pollinator Protection and Neighbor Notification Registry for the purpose of registering certain individuals who are interested in receiving notice of certain pesticide applications; requiring the Department to prepare a certain list from the Registry and distribute the list to certain licensees; etc. | ICM supports HB 1237’s efforts to restrict pesticide exposure and improve notification for residents, particularly those with sensitivities. ICM encourages policies that minimize pesticide use whenever possible to protect public health, children, and pollinators. We are monitoring this bill for trajectory and amendments. | Env/Trans on 3/4 @ 1PM | |||||||||||||||||||||
| BILLS BELOW MAY BE OF INTEREST BUT ARE OUTSIDE ICM'S SCOPE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| OF INTEREST | HB1550 | Eminent Domain and Condemnation Authority - Repeal (Property Rights Protection Act) - Repealing the authority of the State to engage in eminent domain; and repealing certain provisions of law relating to the State's eminent domain and condemnation authority. | Currently, the state can seize property by emminent domain to build roads, buildings or for other public uses. This bill would stop that | Economic Matters on 3/10 @ 1PM | |||||||||||||||||||||
| OF INTEREST | HB1534 | Data Centers - Standards for Operation and Siting - Requiring an owner or operator of a data center to comply with certain standards under certain circumstances; requiring the Department of the Environment to establish by regulation certain sound and vibration controls and requirements for backup power generation for data centers; prohibiting a local approving authority from authorizing the construction of a data center on certain agricultural land; and requiring a certain applicant to submit a certain report to a local approving authority under certain cirucmstances. | Env/Trans on 3/10 @ 1PM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OF INTEREST | HB1331 | Maryland Department of Health and Department of Human Services - Public Benefits - Eligibility and Prohibitions - Requiring the Maryland Department of Health and the Department of Human Services to enter into certain data-sharing agreements with certain agencies to conduct certain reviews related to eligibility for and use of certain public benefits; establishing requirements related to redeterminations of eligibility, a waiver for a certain lockout period, retroactive eligibility, and work requirements under the Maryland Medical Assistance Program; etc. | Data sharing and monitoring programs can expose Marylanders to data privacy issues and government intrusion upon personal financial data. This bill would require attention to citizens' privacy concerns. ICM's concerns with such should not infer support or opposition otherwise. | Appropriations on 3/19 @ 1PM | |||||||||||||||||||||
| OF INTEREST | SB567 & HB462 | Elections - In-Person Voting - Proof of Identity: Requiring an election judge to establish a voter's identity by requiring the voter to present a valid government-issued photo identification or a valid non-government-issued photo identification, and a current bill, statement, or check that states the voter's name and address as proof of identity; requiring a voter to vote a provisional ballot if the voter is unable to provide certain proof of identity; and prohibiting a person from knowingly and willfully voting or attempting to vote under a false form of identification. | Govt Labor and Elections on 2/11 @ 2PM & EEE on 2/15 @ 1PM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OF INTEREST | HB1231 | Washington County - Dually Enrolled Students - Altering the definition of "dually enrolled student" to include both a nonpublic secondary school student and a homeschool student in Washington County so that these students are eligible to apply for the Part-Time Grant Program and the Early College Access Grant; and altering the definition of "full-time equivalent enrollment" to include both a nonpublic secondary school student and a homeschool student in Washington County. | Ways and Means on 3/11 @ 1PM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OF INTEREST | SB845 | Maryland Voter Registratoin List Accuracy and Integrity Act - Requiring an election director of a local board of elections to immediately remove a registered voter from the statewide voter registration list when the local board receives a certain report that the registered voter is deceased; requiring the election director to take certain action if the election director receives information that a voter removed from the statewide voter registration list is not in fact deceased; etc. | EEE on 2/25 @ 1PM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OF INTEREST | HB1528 | Education - Homeschool Students - Extracurricular Activities - Authorizing a public school to allow a student participating in a certain home instruction program to participate in extracurricular activities sponsored by the school under certain circumstances; and requiring a public school to give placement priority to a student enrolled in a certain school over a student who is not enrolled in the school if certain limitations exist. | Ways and Means on 3/12 @ 1PM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OF INTEREST | HB964 | Secure the Vote Act of 2026 - Repealing the requirements that the Baltimore City centralized booking facility provide a ballot drop box to eligible voters; repealing the requirement that each local board of elections designate locations in the county at which ballot drop boxes will be placed; repealing provisions of law governing permanent absentee ballot status; repealing the authority to conduct special elections by mail; etc. | Gov, Labor and Elections on 2/25 @ 1PM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| OF INTEREST | HB219 | Maryland Voting Rights Act of 2026 - Voter Intimidation and Suppression- Altering public notice requirements of the State Board of Elections, local boards of elections, and certain municipal corporations with respect to changes in administrative policy affecting voting rights; prohibiting acts of intimidation, deception, or obstruction that interfere with the right to vote; prohibiting local governments from taking any action related to the election process that results in a disparity between members of a protected class and other members of the electorate; etc. | Gov, Labor and Elections on 2/11 @ 2PM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | HB356 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | HB1617 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | HB373 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | SB969 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| WATCH | HB341 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||