All Roll Calls
Yes: 312 • No: 0
MarylandHB 10152026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Developmental Disabilities Services - Expedited Eligibility Determinations for Recently Relocated Individuals (Ralph's Act)
Sponsored By: Jared Solomon (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
Public HealthAdministrative AgenciesApplicants and ApplicationsDeath -see also- Homicide; Murder; Wrongful DeathDependents -see also- Minors; Vulnerable AdultsDevelopmental DisabilitiesEmergencies -see also- PandemicsHealth, Department ofHome Care Services -see also- Respite CareInterstate AffairsKinship -see also- Parents and GuardiansMedical TreatmentsPublic Benefits -see also- Housing; MedAsst; SupplNutrAsstPResidency -see also- Immigrants and CitizenshipTimeWaivers
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Fast help for relocating dependents with disabilities
Beginning July 1, 2027, Maryland fast-tracks Medicaid developmental disability services for a narrow group. You must be a dependent who moved to Maryland to live with an immediate family member after your caregiver in another state died or became incapacitated. You must have received home- and community-based or similar services in that other state for the past 10 years, and your Maryland family member must have lived here for the past 2 years. The Department can decide your eligibility and priority even before you establish Maryland residency. If eligible, you are placed in the Crisis Resolution priority and given access to waiver services through the reserve category that best matches what you had before. The law defines dependent and immediate family (spouse, parent, stepparent, grandparent, stepgrandparent, sibling, stepsibling, child, stepchild).
Quicker decisions using prior state records
Beginning July 1, 2027, the Department must make an expedited eligibility decision within 30 days. It must prioritize completed applications when received and can use your records and evaluations from your prior state. It must finish each expedited decision within 60 business days after getting a complete application. The Department cannot relax legal eligibility rules or the rules for assigning priority during this fast-track process.
Ralph’s Act starts July 1, 2027
The law takes effect July 1, 2027. All fast-track rules and timelines start on that date unless another part of the law says otherwise.
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Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Jared Solomon
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
Tiffany T. Alston
Democratic • House
Heather Bagnall
Democratic • House
Bonnie Cullison
Democratic • House
Guy Guzzone
Democratic • Senate
Terri L. Hill
Democratic • House
Thomas S. Hutchinson
Republican • House
Aaron M. Kaufman
Democratic • House
Nicholaus R. Kipke
Republican • House
Lesley J. Lopez
Democratic • House
Todd B. Morgan
Republican • House
Ashanti Martinez
House
Teresa E. Reilly
Republican • House
Samuel I. Rosenberg
Democratic • House
Kim Ross
Democratic • House
Emily Shetty
Democratic • House
Kathy Szeliga
Republican • House
Jennifer White Holland
Democratic • House
Teresa Woorman
Democratic • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/9/2026
Third Reading Passed
Yes: 43 • No: 0 • Other: 3
House vote • 4/9/2026
Third Reading Passed
Yes: 132 • No: 0 • Other: 5
House vote • 3/23/2026
Third Reading Passed
Yes: 137 • No: 0 • Other: 1
Actions Timeline
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 184
4/28/2026Passed Enrolled
4/9/2026HouseThird Reading Passed (132-0)
4/9/2026HouseHouse Concurs Senate Amendments
4/9/2026HouseThird Reading Passed (43-0)
4/9/2026SenateSecond Reading Passed with Amendments
4/8/2026SenateFavorable with Amendments {833826/1 Adopted
4/8/2026SenateFavorable with Amendments Report by Finance
4/8/2026SenateReferred Finance
3/23/2026SenateThird Reading Passed (137-0)
3/23/2026HouseSecond Reading Passed with Amendments
3/23/2026HouseFavorable with Amendments {563220/1 Adopted
3/23/2026HouseFavorable with Amendments Report by Health
3/23/2026HouseHearing 2/24 at 1:00 p.m.
2/13/2026HouseFirst Reading Health
2/6/2026House
Bill Text
Enrolled
4/9/2026
Third Reading
3/23/2026
First Reading
2/6/2026
Related Bills
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SB 0777 — Labor and Employment - Workforce Development - Hospital Employee Retraining and Placement Program and Workforce Development and Local Workforce Development Boards (Local Workforce Solutions Investment Act)
SB 0772 — Maryland Department of Health - Employment Training and Opportunity Database
SB 0742 — Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Developmental Disabilities Administration - Home- and Community-Based Services Eligibility Determinations (Maryland Protecting People With Disabilities Act)
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