Legislative Session 2021
For up-to-date information on the Maryland Legislative Session, visit the Maryland General Assembly Website.
Updated: 5/12/2021 10am
Proposed Maryland Legislation
The 2021 Legislative Session has Adjourned Sine Die. The session ended on April 12th, 2021. The Governor signed 61 bills on April 13th, 2021.
Title: Congressional Action – Surprise Billing – Air Ambulance
Bill Number: SJ0001
Committee: Finance
Description: Urging the U.S. Congress to pass legislation that prohibits the balance billing of consumers by air ambulances that do not participate in a consumer’s insurance carrier network.
Senate:
1/13/2021: First Reading
Title: Distracted Driving Monitoring Systems – Authorization
Bill Number: SB0179
Committee: Judicial Proceedings
Status: Support (Tara Carlson written testimony)
Description: Authorizing certain agencies to place distracted driver monitoring systems on certain highways under certain circumstances; requiring that a recorded image made by a distracted driver monitoring system include two or more photographs, microphotographs, or electronic images, videotape, or any other medium as well as clear identification of the registration plate number; providing that the owner or driver of a motor vehicle recorded committing a certain violation is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $500; etc.
Senate:
1/13/2021: First Reading
1/27/2021: Hearing at 11am
Title: Electronic Smoking Device Regulation Act of 2021
Bill Number: SB0273
Committee: Finance
Description: Repealing the electronic smoking device retail license; altering the Clean Indoor Air Act to include a prohibition on electronic smoking devices and exhaled electronic smoking device vapor; altering the definition of “electronic smoking devices manufacturer” to limit the manner in which a manufacturer may sell electronic smoking devices to consumers; altering the definition of “vape shop vendor” to require that the vendor exclusively sell electronic smoking devices and related accessories to consumers in a certain manner; etc.
Senate:
1/13/2021: First Reading
1/28/2021: Hearing at 1pm
Title: Emergency Medical Services – Paramedics – Vaccination Administration
Bill Numbers: SB0067 & HB1313
Committees:
Senate – Education, Health, & Environmental Affairs
House – Health & Government Operations
Status: Support
Bill Passed – Alters existing law to permit both public safety and commercial EMS to administer Hep B and influenza vaccines and tuberculin skin testing to their own personnel.
Description: Authorizing a paramedic to administer a vaccination included on the Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention if the services are under the direction of a certain entity or a certain physician and authorized by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, part of a certain program or outreach effort, and provided in accordance with a certain written agreement that includes certain provisions.
Senate
1/13/2021: First Reading
1/19/2021: Hearing at 2pm
1/26/2021: Favorable with Amendment Reports by Education, Health, & Environmental Affairs
1/26/2021: Second Reading Passed with Amendments
1/29/2021: Third Reading Passed
2/2/2021: Referred to House Committee – Health & Government Operations
*Sent to Opposite Committee*
3/23/2021: Hearing at 1:30pm canceled
4/9/2021: Favorable with Amendments Report by Health and Government Operations, Favorable with Amendments Adopted, Second Reading Passed with Amendments, Third Reading Passed
*Review in Original Chamber*
4/12/2021: Senate Concurs with House Amendments, Third Reading Passed, Passed Enrolled
*Sent to Governor*
Bill was Passed
House
2/8/2021: First Reading
2/23/2021: Hearing at 1:30pm
Title: Public Safety – Ammunition – Purchase Authorizations and Sales Records
Description: FOR the purpose of requiring the Department of State Police to approve a purchase or transfer of ammunition through an ammunition vendor after a certain date; requiring the Department to develop a procedure in which a certain person may be approved for an ammunition transaction; requiring the Department to verify certain information in a certain database before a purchase or transfer or ammunition; establishing an ammunition vendor is prohibited from providing a purchaser or transferee ammunition without Department approval; allowing the Department to recover certain reasonable costs; creating a certain fund for certain fees to be deposited; requiring an ammunition vendor to keep certain records of ammunition sales; requiring the Department to adopt certain regulations; requiring an ammunition vendor to submit certain information to the Department; requiring the Department to retain certain information in a certain database; requiring certain information to remain confidential and to be used only under certain circumstances; authorizing the Department to inspect certain records under certain circumstances; requiring an ammunition vendor to verify certain information before delivering or transferring ammunition; requiring a certain person to present certain identification to purchase ammunition; establishing certain penalties to be assessed in consideration of certain circumstances; providing exceptions to the applicability of this Act; defining certain terms; providing for the implementation of this Act; and generally relating to ammunition.
Title: Catastrophic Health Emergencies – Health Care Providers – Definition and Immunity (Maryland Health Care Heroes Protection Act)
Bill Numbers: SB0311 & HB0025
Committees:
Senate – Judicial Proceedings
House – Judiciary
Description: Altering the definition of “health care provider” for purposes of certain provisions of law governing catastrophic health emergencies to include an employee, an agent, or a contractor of a health care facility who provides or assists in the provision of health care services; specifying the acts and omissions for which and altering the circumstances under which a health care provider has civil and criminal immunity related to a catastrophic health emergency; applying the Act retroactively; etc
Senate:
1/13/2021: First Reading
2/2/2021: Hearing at 1pm
House:
1/13/2021: First Reading
2/3/2021: Hearing at 1:30pm
Title: Public Health – Overdose and Infectious Disease Prevention Services Program
Bill Numbers: SB0279 & HB0396
Committees:
Senate – Finance
House – Health & Government Operations
Description: Authorizing the establishment of an Overdose and Infectious Disease Prevention Services Program by a community-based organization to provide a place for the consumption of preobtained drugs, provide sterile needles, administer first aid, and provide certain other services; providing that the Maryland Department of Health may approve not more than six programs, with two in urban areas, two in suburban areas, and two in rural areas, that operate at a single location in an area with a high incidence of drug use; etc.
Senate:
1/13/2021: First Reading
1/26/2021: Hearing at 1pm
House:
1/13/2021: First Reading
3/11/2021: Hearing at 1:30pm
Title: Criminal Law – Life–Threatening Injury Involving a Motor Vehicle or Vessel – Criminal Negligence (Wade’s Law)
Bill Numbers: SB0017 & HB0855
Committees:
Senate – Judicial Proceedings
House – Judiciary
Description: Prohibiting a person from causing a life-threatening injury to another as a result of the person’s driving, operating, or controlling a motor vehicle or vessel in a criminally negligent manner; exempting certain conduct that results in a life-threatening injury to another; and establishing a penalty of imprisonment not exceeding 18 months or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both for a violation of the Act
Senate:
1/13/2021: First Reading
1/19/2021: Hearing at 11am
3/22/2021: Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings, Favorable Adopted, Second Reading Passed, Motion Rules Suspend Two Readings Same Day Const/Rule 24 (Senator King) Adopted, Third Reading Passed
3/24/2021: Referred to Judiciary in House
*Sent to Opposite Chamber*
4/5/2021: Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary, Favorable with Amendments Adopted, Second Reading Passed with Amendments
4/6/2021: Third Reading Passed
*Review in Original Chamber*
4/12/2021: Senate Concurs House Amendments, Third Reading Passed, Passed Enrolled
*Sent to Governor*
House:
1/29/2021: First Reading
2/24/2021: Hearing at 1:30pm
3/20/2021: Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary, Favorable with Amendments Adopted, Second Reading Passed with Amendments
3/22/2021: Third Reading Passed, referred to Opposite Chamber Committee – Judicial Proceedings
*Sent to Opposite Chamber*
Title: Human Services – Trauma-Informed Care – Commission and Training (Healing Maryland’s Trauma Act)
Bill Numbers: SB0299 & HB0548
Committees:
Senate – Finance
House – Health & Government Operations
Description: Establishing the Commission on Trauma-Informed Care to coordinate a statewide initiative to prioritize the trauma-responsive and trauma-informed delivery of State services that impact children, youth, families, and older adults; requiring the Commission to submit its findings annually to the Governor and the General Assembly by June 30; requiring certain State agencies to designate two staff members to participate in a formal course in trauma-informed care each year and work with other agency designees in work sessions; etc.
Senate:
1/13/2021: First Reading
2/11/2021: Hearing at 1pm
3/9/2021: Favorable with Amendments Report, Favorable Amendments Adopted, Second Reading Passed with Amendments
3/11/2021: Third Reading Passed
3/11/2021: Referred to Health & Government Operations in House
*Send to opposite chamber*
3/23/2021: Hearing at 1:30pm in House
4/9/2021: Favorable Report by Health and Government Operations, Favorable Adopted, Second Reading Passed
4/12/2021: Third Reading Passed, Returned Passed by Senate
*Sent to Governor*
House:
1/20/2019: First Reading
2/9/2021: Hearing at 1:30pm
4/9/2021: Favorable with Amendments Report by Health and Government Operations, Favorable Amendments Adopted, Second Reading Passed with Amendments, Third Reading Passed
4/10/2021: Referred Rules
*Send to opposite chamber*
4/12/2021: Referred to Finance, Favorable Report by Finance, Favorable Adopted, Second Reading Passed, Third Reading Passed, Returned Passed by House
*Sent to Governor*
Title: Criminal Law – Sexual Crimes – Repeal of Spousal Defense (Love Is No Defense to Sexual Crimes)
Bill Numbers: SB0250 & HB0147
Committees:
Senate – Judicial Proceedings
House – Judiciary
Description: Repealing a certain prohibition on prosecuting a person for rape or a certain sexual offense against a victim who was the person’s legal spouse at the time of the alleged rape or sexual offense.
Senate:
1/13/2021: First Reading
1/20/2021: Hearing at 11am
3/22/2021: Favorable with Amendments Report, Favorable with Amendments Adopted, Second Reading Passed, Motion Rules Suspend Two Readings Same Day Const/Rule 24 (Senator King) Adopted, Third Reading Passed
3/24/2021: Referred to Judiciary in House
*Sent to Opposite Chamber*
4/1/2021: Hearing at 1:30pm
4/5/2021: Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary, Favorable with Amendments Adopted, Second Reading Passed with Amendments
4/6/2021: Third Reading Passed
*Review in Original Chamber*
4/8/2021: Senate Refuses Concur House Amendments, Senate Requests House Recede, Senate Conference Committee Appointed
4/10/2021: Senate Refuses Concur House Amendments, Senate Requests House Recede, Senate Conference Committee Appointed, House Refuses Recede, House Conference Committee Appointed, House Refuses Recede, House Conference Committee Appointed
House:
1/13/2021: First Reading
1/14/2021: Hearing at 1:30pm
2/5/2021: Favorable Report by Judiciary
2/11/2021: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
2/12/2021: Third Reading Passed
2/16/2021: Referred to Judicial Proceedings in Senate
*Sent to Opposite Chamber*
Title: Peace Orders – Workplace Violence
Bill Numbers: SB0105 & HB0289
Committees:
Senate – Judicial Proceedings
House – Judiciary
Description: Making certain provisions of law relating to the filing, issuance, and modification of certain peace orders and to the shielding of certain court records of certain peace order proceedings apply to certain peace orders filed by certain employers on the basis of certain acts committed against certain employees under certain circumstances; requiring an employer to notify an employee before the employer files a certain petition; providing immunity from civil liability to a certain employer under certain circumstances; etc.
Senate:
1/13/2021: First Reading
1/28/2021: Hearing at 11am
3/22/2021: Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings, Favorable with Amendments Adopted, Second Reading Passed with Amendments, Third Reading Passed
3/24/2021: Referred to Judiciary in House
*Sent to Opposite Chamber*
4/1/2021: Hearing at 1:30pm
4/5/2021: Favorable with Amendments Report By Judiciary, Favorable with Amendments Adopted, Second Reading Passed with Amendments
4/6/2021: Third Reading Passed
4/8/2021: Senate Refuses Concur House Amendments, Senate Requests House Recede, Senate Conference Committee Appointed
4/10/2021: Senate Refuses Concur House Amendments, Senate Requests House Recede, Senate Conference Committee Appointed, House Refuses Recede, House Conference Committee Appointed, House Refuses Recede, House Conference Committee Appointed
*Review in Original Chamber*
House:
1/13/2021: First Reading
1/14/2021: Hearing at 1:30pm
2/4/2021: Favorable Report by Judiciary
2/8/2021: Favorable Adopted, Second Reading Passed
2/11/2021: Third Reading Passed
2/10/2021: Referred to Judicial Proceedings in Senate
*Sent to Opposite Committee*
3/31/2021: Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings
4/1/2021: Favorable with Amendments, Motion Laid Over (Senator Hough) Adopted
4/7/2021: Second Reading Passed with Amendments
4/8/2021: Third Reading Passed
4/9/2021: House Refuses Concur Senate Amendments, House Requests Senate Recede, House Conference Committee Appointed
4/10/2021: House Refuses Concur Senate Amendments, House Requests Senate Recede, House Conference Committee Appointed, Senate Refuses Recede, Senate Conference Committee Appointed, Senate Refuses Recede, Senate Conference Committee Appointed
4/12/2021: Conference Committee Report Adopted, Third Reading Passed, Confernece Committee Report Adopted, Third Reading Passed, Passed Enrolled by House
*Sent to Governor*
