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MarylandHB 04392026 Regular SessionHouse

Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Maryland Advisory Council on Deaf and Hard of Hearing - Renaming

Sponsored By: Aaron M. Kaufman (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

State Government - Agencies, Offices, and OfficialsAdministrative AgenciesAnnotated Code of MarylandBlind and Low VisionCommittees and CommissionsDeaf and Hard of HearingNames

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Immediate pension vesting for Director

Beginning October 1, 2026, anyone who takes office as Director of the Office of the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing vests in the State retirement system immediately upon taking office.

Deaf advisory council adds expertise

Beginning October 1, 2026, the Maryland Advisory Council on Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing adds the Secretary of Disabilities (or a designee) as a member. Of the nine public members, five must be Deaf or hard of hearing. One public member must have special expertise in services for Deafblind people. Public members come from different parts of the State.

New duties for Deaf Culture Library

Starting October 1, 2026, the Deaf Culture Digital Library must check service gaps and give sensitivity training to State and county library staff. It must build a website to share information with county libraries and share Deaf-related programs and materials statewide. The library forms partnerships with the Governor’s Office, county systems, the State Library, veterans’, arts, senior, and Deaf organizations, and supports virtual access. An advisory board, mostly Deaf or hard of hearing, guides the work. A Friends group supports outreach and fundraising.

Office renamed to include Deafblind

Beginning October 1, 2026, Maryland renames the Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to the Office of the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing. The renamed office is the legal successor, so all laws and documents that say the old name now mean the new office. Staff, records, funds, property, contracts, and employment statuses carry over without interruption. To cut waste, the State uses old letterhead and business cards before printing and using new ones.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Aaron M. Kaufman

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Charlotte Crutchfield

    Democratic • House

  • Elizabeth Embry

    Democratic • House

  • Kris Fair

    Democratic • House

  • Kenneth Kerr

    Democratic • House

  • Mary A. Lehman

    Democratic • House

  • Lesley J. Lopez

    Democratic • House

  • Edith J. Patterson

    Democratic • House

  • Sheila Ruth

    Democratic • House

  • Matthew J. Schindler

    Democratic • House

  • Stuart Michael Schmidt

    Republican • House

  • Jen Terrasa

    Democratic • House

  • Melissa Wells

    Democratic • House

  • Teresa Woorman

    Democratic • House

  • Chao Wu

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 169 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/9/2026

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 33 • No: 0 • Other: 1

House vote • 2/26/2026

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 136 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by the Governor - Chapter 655

    5/26/2026

  2. Returned Passed

    4/10/2026House

  3. Third Reading Passed (33-0)

    4/9/2026Senate

  4. Second Reading Passed

    4/8/2026Senate

  5. Favorable Adopted

    4/8/2026Senate

  6. Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment

    4/8/2026Senate

  7. Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment

    2/27/2026Senate

  8. Third Reading Passed (136-0)

    2/26/2026House

  9. Second Reading Passed with Amendments

    2/24/2026House

  10. Favorable with Amendments {193423/1 Adopted

    2/24/2026House

  11. Favorable with Amendments Report by Government, Labor, and Elections

    2/23/2026House

  12. Hearing 2/17 at 1:00 p.m.

    1/28/2026House

  13. First Reading Government, Labor, and Elections

    1/22/2026House

Bill Text

  • Enacted

    5/26/2026

    PDF

  • Third Reading

    2/24/2026

    PDF

  • First Reading

    1/22/2026

    PDF

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