A recap of the 2026 Maryland General Assembly Legislative Session
Dear Friend,
Thank you for contacting me to express your views during the 2026 Legislative Session of the Maryland General Assembly. Hearing from my constituents is an invaluable part of serving as your Delegate, and I truly appreciate engaging in the legislative process with you. It is an honor to serve as your District 33C Delegate in Annapolis. As we close the books on this Legislative Session, I am writing to provide a recap of the work that the Maryland General Assembly has accomplished.
The political landscape in Washington remains in flux, but here in Annapolis, our focus was on creating a state-level shield for our communities. We worked to decouple our state policies from federal uncertainty, ensuring that our healthcare standards and consumer protections remain strong and independent. This session required us to navigate tough budget decisions and competing demands from across our state, particularly in areas like affordability, healthcare, and energy. I am proud that we were able to pass legislation focused on making everyday costs more manageable, protecting consumers, and strengthening key services for our communities. Beyond the budget, we concentrated on the issues that affect your daily life: lowering the cost of living, supporting local job growth, and ensuring our neighborhoods remain safe and vibrant. We have passed a legislative package that puts the needs of our residents and small businesses at the forefront proving that, even in a challenging fiscal environment, we can build a resilient Maryland that is prepared to weather whatever the future holds.
Whether you joined meetings, testified, or just shared your views, your input shaped my choices throughout every step of the legislative process.
This session saw a major restructuring of the committee system. The new House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk split the previous House Health and Government Operations Committee into two new committees, now called the Health Committee and the Government, Labor, Elections Committee. It is an immense honor and privilege for me to serve as the first Chair of the new Health Committee. As Chair, I led the committee as we dedicated the session to advancing bills that strengthen Maryland’s healthcare framework to better serve the needs of Marylanders. I remain actively involved as a member of the House Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, Legislative Policy Committee, Women’s Caucus, Latino Caucus, and as an Associate Member of the Jewish Caucus, LGBTQ+ Caucus, and Transit Caucus. I also continue to serve on several commissions to guide policy decisions at our state and county agencies, including the Commission on Public Health, the Medicaid Advisory Commission, the Maryland Collaborative to Improve Children's Oral Health through School-based Programs, Wellmobile Advisory Group, the Statewide Steering Committee for Behavioral Health and Judiciary, and Divert to What Workgroup, the Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park Advisory Committee, and the Anne Arundel Co. Childhood Childcare Task Force.
Thank you for the honor of representing you. As we conclude the 2026 Legislative Session, I am pleased to share this update on the bills I passed and highlight some of the essential work we’ve accomplished together. For a complete list of all the bills introduced this session, and how I voted, please visit the Maryland General Assembly Home Page: http://mgaleg.maryland.gov. Please reach out to my office if you have any questions about navigating the website.
Constituent Connections
As your Delegate, I remain committed to putting my constituents first. If you are encountering issues with a state agency, have questions about legislation in the General Assembly, or require assistance with government-related matters, please know that my office stands ready to assist you.
Seeing the continued growth and success of our community is one of the most fulfilling aspects of my work. Throughout the year, I have the opportunity to attend ribbon cuttings and local celebrations recognizing new business openings, anniversaries, and other important milestones across Severna Park, Arnold, Cape St. Claire, and the broader Broadneck Peninsula. Over the past year, I participated in over 45 events celebrating the accomplishments of individuals and businesses in our District. It is truly an honor to join in recognizing these achievements and the contributions they make to our community. If you are hosting an upcoming ribbon cutting or special event I encourage you to contact my office, we would be more than happy to attend.
This year, alongside my colleagues Senator Dawn Gile, Delegate Andrew Pruski, and Delegate Stuart Schmidt, I helped host District 33’s fourth annual District Night. District Night offers residents a chance to come to Annapolis, connect with their representatives, and gain a firsthand look at the legislative process. We were pleased to welcome more than 200 attendees from across the District to the House Office Building, located just next to the State House, during this year’s session. We hope to see even more of you there next year – this free event is a great way to get involved and connect with us folks over in Annapolis.
District 33C Scholarships
I was proud to award 54 students from across District 33C with Delegate Scholarships this year in recognition of their hard work, achievements, and future potential. As an educator and artist in office, supporting educational opportunities for students in our community remains one of my greatest priorities, and I look forward to seeing all they accomplish in the years ahead. Are you a D33C Resident? Please reach out during the next legislative session to learn more about our scholarship program.
Federal Worker Protections and Resources
I am continuing to monitor developments closely, particularly as they affect our District. If you or someone you know may need assistance, information on available state and local resources is provided below. Please do not hesitate to contact my office if you need help accessing support.
Maryland is constitutionally required to pass a balanced budget each year, and this session required the General Assembly to make difficult but important fiscal decisions while continuing to invest in the priorities that matter most to Maryland families. When the General Assembly convened in January, Maryland faced ongoing fiscal pressures, uncertainty surrounding future federal funding, and continued concerns about affordability for working families. Despite these challenges, the General Assembly passed a balanced $70.8 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2027 that protects core services, supports public education, strengthens healthcare access, and invests in public safety, housing, transportation, and economic development throughout Maryland.
Maryland Budget Highlights
· Balanced $70.8 billion Fiscal Year 2027 budget
· Projected $250 million budget surplus
· More than $2.2 billion maintained in Maryland’s Rainy Day Fund
· $124 million in statewide funding for local law enforcement
· $384 million for low-income rental assistance and housing support
· $1.7 billion in SNAP funding
· $100 million in utility relief assistance
· $100 million in tax relief for Maryland businesses
· $73 million invested in energy efficiency initiatives
Anne Arundel County Budget Highlights
· More than $732 million in direct State aid to Anne Arundel County
· More than $615 million in State funding for Anne Arundel County Public Schools
· Approximately $100.5 million in retirement and pension contributions for Anne Arundel County teachers, librarians, and community college faculty
· $369.5 million in Medicaid funding serving Anne Arundel County residents
· $133.8 million for Behavioral Health Services and $114 million for Developmental Disabilities programs in Anne Arundel County
· $15 million in transportation aid, $12 million in police and public safety aid, and $1.4 million in fire and rescue aid for Anne Arundel County
· $47.1 million in operational support for Anne Arundel Community College, along with $18.8 million for renovations to the Dragun Building
· Major school construction and renovation funding for Annapolis High School, Broadneck High School, Chesapeake High School, Old Mill High School, and numerous elementary schools throughout Anne Arundel County
Capital Budget
The Maryland General Assembly passes the capital budget each year to fund infrastructure improvements and community investments across the State. This year’s budget includes major investments throughout Anne Arundel County and District 33.
Anne Arundel County and District 33 Capital Budget Grants
· Annapolis High School Renovations (Chiller): $809,524
· Broadneck High School Renovations (Roof): $4,329,006
· Chesapeake High School Renovations (Communications/Electrical/Chiller): $3,666,667
· Old Mill High School Construction: $2,255,393
· Public Schools Facilities Priority Fund: $3,000,000
· Anne Arundel Community College Dragun Building Renovation: $18,808,000
· Historic Annapolis, Inc.: $3,000,000
· St. John’s College Arts and Academic Hall: $3,600,000
· Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum: $1,000,000
· Annapolis Emergency Medical Unit Systems: $950,000
· Annapolis Housing Authority: $1,000,000
· University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center: $1,125,000
· Anne Arundel County Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park: $4,000,000
· Program Open Space – Park Acquisition and Development: $6,090,765
· Anne Arundel County Food Bank, Inc.: $400,000
· Annapolis Maritime Museum: $250,000
· Public Library Association of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County: $425,000
· AACo Economic Development Corp Business Facade Improvement Program: $150,000
· YWCA Pamela G. Beidle Community Center: $170,000
· Odenton Heritage Society Old Masonic Hall Project: $120,000
District 33C Legislative Bond Initiatives
In addition to county-wide investments, I successfully advocated for several legislative bond initiatives benefiting organizations and institutions serving District 33C residents:
· Elks Camp Barrett: $100,000
· Gloria Dei! Lutheran Church: $90,000
· Goshen Farm Preservation Society, Inc.: $80,000
· Maryland Therapeutic Riding, Inc.: $465,000
· Severna Park Library Renovation: $200,000
TOTAL DISTRICT 33C LEGISLATIVE BOND INITIATIVES: $935,000
My Primary Legislation
In my first session as Chair of the Health Committee, I made it my mission to protect Maryland’s health investments and Marylanders' access to care. Facing a challenging budget year, I focused on high-efficiency, low-cost reforms that move our state forward without placing a burden on taxpayers. This year’s successful legislative package included key protections for public health and new support systems for our schools, demonstrating that we can protect our community's values within strict fiscal bounds. I am honored to continue this work to ensure our district and our state remain resilient and ready for the future.
HB 42 / SB 419 - State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners Revisions: Streamlines and modernizes the operations of the State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners. This bill updates regulatory standards to ensure the Board can effectively oversee practitioners, maintaining high safety and professional standards for Maryland consumers.
HB 422 / SB 394 - Expedited Partner Therapy for Bacterial Vaginosis: Enhances public health by allowing licensed certified midwives to utilize expedited partner therapy for bacterial vaginosis. This proactive approach reduces reinfection rates and expands the tools available to healthcare providers to treat infections efficiently within our community.
HB 746 / SB 428 - Collaborative Care Model Cost Sharing Prohibition: Increases access to integrated mental health services by prohibiting insurance cost-sharing for the Collaborative Care Model. This ensures that Marylanders can receive coordinated primary and behavioral healthcare without the barrier of additional out-of-pocket expenses.
HB 1181 - Family Law – Voluntary Placement Agreements: Strengthens protections for children in out-of-home placements by clarifying and improving the process for voluntary placement agreements. This bill provides much-needed stability and clear legal frameworks for families and children navigating the foster care and placement systems.
HB 1192 / SB 645 - State Board of Sign Language Interpreters – Membership and Licensing: Updates the membership and licensing requirements for the State Board of Sign Language Interpreters. By modernizing these standards, the bill ensures that Maryland continues to have a robust and qualified pool of interpreters to support the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
SB 447 / (HB 1326) - Child Abuse and Neglect Disclosure: Improves the transparency and safety of child welfare by refining the protocols for the disclosure of reports and records related to child abuse and neglect. This legislation ensures that critical information is shared with appropriate authorities to better protect at-risk children.
HB 1109 / SB 790 - Public Health Reform Act - Moves Maryland’s goal to modernize the public health system and prepare for the future of public health. It seeks to implement many of the recommendations described in the Report of the Maryland Public Health Commission, which was established by legislation to bring together expertise from across Maryland’s Public Health System to assess gaps in our public health infrastructure. This legislation will create the framework to realize the vision of an integrated, world class public health system.
HB 1365 (formerly HB 1121) - Health Occupations and Insurance - Menopause - Provider Training and Coverage Requirements: Improves the quality of women’s health care by requiring insurance coverage for menopause treatment. The bill will also allow certified or licensed health care providers who are required to complete continuing education to receive double credits for continuing education on menopause and menopause-related symptoms. (HB 1121 was amended into HB 1365.)
Health Committee Highlights
I was honored to be appointed by Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk just prior to session to lead the Health Committee. This session, the Committee advanced legislation addressing some of the most urgent challenges facing Maryland families and individuals. These challenges include protecting access to mental health and substance use treatment, addressing behavioral health workforce shortages, improving women’s cardiovascular health, and ensuring that children in foster care are placed in safe, trauma-informed settings. See below for more highlights of what the Health Committee passed during the 2026 session.
HB 280 / SB 205 - Health Insurance - Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders - Codification of Federal Requirements: Will save families and individuals from the burden of expensive out–of–pocket costs for the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders. As the federal government has announced they would no longer enforce the federal rule on mental health parity and addiction equity or pursue enforcement on failure to comply, codifying these rules in state law allows the Maryland Insurance Administration to enforce these provisions regardless of whether the federal government revises or rescinds the policy.
HB 340 / SB 238 - School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact: Addresses the alarming lack of school psychologists throughout Maryland. By joining a multistate compact with states that have comparable licensing standards and reciprocal licensing agreements, Maryland will streamline the process to hire appropriately qualified professional psychologists from other states. The bill also facilitates the relocation of military spouses who are licensed to provide school psychological services. This bill allows Maryland to recognize school psychologist licenses from other participating states, making it easier to recruit qualified professionals. It expands opportunity by helping schools fill critical mental health positions and ensuring students receive the behavioral health services support they need.
HB 446 / SB 555 - Health - Dementia Services and Brain Health Program and Provider Resource Toolkit: Increases the support and promotion of standardized dementia care throughout Maryland. The bill will provide healthcare providers across the state with the tools and collated resources to educate their patients and link them with resources for planning and treatment. Building a strong foundation and creating an infrastructure of communication and sharing of practices throughout the state will increase early detection rates and quality of care for Alzheimer's and other dementia diseases.
HB 945 - Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities - Notification of Investigations and Establishment of the Health Care Quality Improvement Initiative: Strengthens oversight by requiring the Maryland Department of Health to notify and work with local health departments on nursing home complaints. It also establishes a Health Care Quality Improvement Initiative to advance transparency, accountability, and care in assisted living facilities.
HB 1364 - Public Health - Mammograms - Arterial Calcification Notice: Will use medical information found in mammograms to save Maryland women’s lives. This bill will require notification to women in their mammogram results letter if a solid, non-invasive marker for cardiovascular disease risk is present. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. When women are provided with information about increased cardiovascular risk, they can be proactive about the findings and take steps to live a longer healthier life.
HB 1445 / SB 742 - Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Developmental Disabilities Administration Home and Community Based Services Eligibility Determination (Maryland Protecting People with Disabilities Act): Ensures continuity of care for people with disabilities by codifying existing federal mandates related to waivers administered by the Developmental Disabilities Administration clarifying the Maryland Department of Health is prohibited from procedurally disenrolling individuals from Medicaid or home- and community‑based services based on missing documentation, except under certain circumstances.
HB 1559 - Children in Unlicensed Settings and Pediatric Hospital Overstay Patients – Placement: Moves Maryland toward a more stable, licensed, and trauma-informed system of care for children and families. It ensures that vulnerable children are not housed in inappropriate, unlicensed environments in Maryland. It reduces prolonged hospital stays for youth who are medically cleared but lack safe placement options and strengthens coordination across agencies to address placement shortages and behavioral health needs.
HB 1563 - Emergency Room Services and Post-Acute Care - Coverage and Facility Studies: Protects patients in emergencies and helps Maryland plan smarter for emergency hospital and post-acute care needs. The studies will focus on hospital and post-acute bed capacity and fulfill the state’s need for clear data on insurance denials and hospital capacity to fix system bottlenecks. It will also examine how to improve hospital discharges and look at ways to move patients safely and efficiently from hospitals to appropriate follow-up care.
Other Session Highlights
ENERGY
HB 1532 - Utility RELIEF Act - (Reducing Energy Load Inflation for Everyday Families): The Act builds on the progress of the 2025 Next Generation Energy Act to further protect ratepayers, ensure reliability while responding to rising energy demand (especially from data center growth), continue to advance clean energy, and preserve programs that reduce energy costs over time.
HB 1 / SB 2 - Investor-Owned Electric, Gas, and Gas and Electric Companies – CostRecovery: Ensures that Maryland’s ratepayers do not pay for the bonus compensation of top wage-earners at investor–owned gas and electric companies. While ratepayers have seen their costs rise, shareholders of investor–owned utilities have seen their profits soar; HB1 bans taxpayers from footing the bill for utility CEO bonuses.
ECONOMY AND BUSINESS
HB 798 / SB 920 - Economic Development - Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Business Accounts - Management Fees (Small Business Increased Access to Capital Act): Prioritizes Maryland small businesses by making it easier for small businesses to access the capital they need to start and grow their businesses. The bill ensures the full utilization of state funds for small loans at or below market rates and increases technical assistance needed by Maryland’s emerging entrepreneurs.
HB 561 / SB 467 - Maryland Child Care Credential Program: Extension of Funding helps Maryland’s childcare workers obtain professional credentials and advance their career training. Investing in their professional development will help childcare providers stay in the field, strengthen the quality of care, and ensure that families have access to skilled early educators.
HB 849 - Child Care Scholarship Program - Freeze in Enrollment - Exceptions andWaitlist: Establishes clearer policies for how families access the Child Care Scholarship Program while the current waitlist is in place. The bill prioritizes families with the greatest financial need and ensures that those facing the most significant barriers to accessing care can continue to access support.
HB 1321 - Child Care Scholarship Program - Application Process and Copays: Reforms how families contribute to the cost of childcare while protecting affordability. It authorizes the Maryland State Department of Education to implement a partial scholarship system that gradually adjusts family contributions based on income while ensuring that childcare costs remain affordable.
TRANSPORTATION
HB 1504 - Highways - Sidewalks and Bicycle Pathways - Construction and Reconstruction (The Honorable Anne Healey Pedestrian Safety Act of 2026): Meets the goal of Vision Zero, the plan to make roadways safer for drivers and passengers of motor vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians and to have zero vehicle-related deaths or serious injuries on roadways by 2030 by prioritizing funding for the construction and reconstruction of sidewalks and bicycle pathways to sidewalks and bicycle pathways that are, or are adjacent to, highways that are subject to a Vision Zero program.
COMMUNITY POLICING
HB 634 / SB 745 - Police Training - Autism and Dementia (LEAD Act of 2026): Strengthens Maryland’s emergency response to wandering and elopement incidents involving individuals with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities by standardizing disability-informed training across law enforcement, EMS, and 9-1-1 dispatch and improving coordination during time-critical emergencies. This legislation improves coordination across first responders and ensures safer, more effective responses during time-sensitive emergencies.
IMMIGRATION
HB 444 / SB 245 - Public Safety - Immigration Enforcement Agreements - Prohibition: Bars local law enforcement agencies from entering into 287(g) agreements—or any similar contracts—that deputize local officers to perform the work of federal immigration agents. Counties with existing agreements will be required to terminate them immediately.
HB 1017 / SB 984 - Correctional Services - Private Immigration Detention Facilities - Zoning Requirement: A zoning transparency bill which demands honest language in land-use decisions. It creates a clear statewide rule instead of county-by-county guesswork to ensure that a private detention facility can’t be approved unless the zoning code explicitly allows it. Requires explicit zoning authorization for a private immigration detention facility – broad, inclusive phrases won’t work.
HB 1341 / SB 810 - Enforcement - Expanding Sensitive Locations, Notification, and Guidance (Maryland Values Act of 2026): Updates current Maryland law by including courthouses to the list of sensitive locations to ensure that the areas past security are off limits for federal immigration enforcement. Additionally, it expands sensitive locations to include school bus stops, school buses, and food distribution sites. It also prevents education personnel from sharing information and data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES
HB 102 / SB 263 - Education - Dependent Children of Active Service Members - Advance Enrollment Procedures: Allows eligible military-connected students to enroll in Maryland public schools remotely, without fees or in-person requirements. This bill will help prevent enrollment delays for students with disabilities.
HB 232 / SB 142 - Maryland Military Department - National Guard - Tuition Assistance: Expands tuition assistance for active members of the Maryland National Guard to include the use of trade and career schools.
HB 623 / SB 709 - Education - Purple Star Schools Program and Purple Star Colleges Program: Promotes opportunity for military families by helping students complete their degrees, navigate frequent moves, and access stable career pathways - resulting in educational attainment and workforce participation in Maryland.
Future Legislation
Every year I am presented with great ideas for legislation, often from my constituents. As you know, some bills take multiple sessions to pass - and this year was no exception. Three key priorities this year did not make it across the finish line, either because they required additional stakeholder engagement, or because they were simply victims of the clock.
This year I built upon past efforts in establishing stronger whistleblower protections for state employees and greater accountability to the state by working to establish a state-wide Office of the Inspector General. I will be working during the interim to determine how best to address the outstanding issues and look forward to reintroducing the bill next session. Additionally we introduced the concept of language acquisition for deaf and hard of hearing youth and though it did not ultimately pass, we made great progress on understanding.
A victim of Sine Die was our Child Advocacy Centers bill which would ensure continuity of care standards and practices across all forty-seven CACs. Although this was a bill which passed two committees in the House unanimously and passed the House nearly unanimously, it ultimately stalled on the Senate floor so it will return next session as a pre-file to ensure plenty of time to get it across the finish line.
Thank you to all of my constituents for the honor of serving as your representative in District 33C. Your feedback and comments are important to me, and how legislation impacts you is the first thing I consider when deciding my vote. Should our office be able to provide any assistance, or if you would like to voice your opinion on matters being considered by the General Assembly, please do not hesitate to contact me at Heather.Bagnall@house.maryland.gov or (410) 841-3406.
I am proud of all that we accomplished this session in the General Assembly. Together, we achieved many bipartisan solutions that will ensure Marylanders have access to care, a strong education, affordable housing, and equal protections under the law.
