MarylandHB 04662025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Health Equality for Service Members Act

Sponsored By: Nicholaus R. Kipke (Republican)

Signed by Governor

State Government - Agencies, Offices, and OfficialsPublic HealthHealth OccupationsHousing and Community DevelopmentArmed Forces -see also- Military Department; VeteransDisciplineHealth -see also- COVID19; EnvHlth; MedCon; etc.Health, Department ofHealth Occupations -see also- (specific health occupations)Housing -see also- Apartments; Condos; Mobile & Manuf HomesLicenses -see also- AB Lic; Certifications; DrLic; PermitsReportsRules and RegulationsVeterans

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

14 provisions identified: 12 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Military dependents keep service waiting-list spots

Beginning October 1, 2025, eligible military dependents keep covered service eligibility and waiting-list spots during out-of-state uniformed-services assignments. This includes home- and community-based waivers and other covered services. The service member must keep Maryland as their main home, home of record, or permanent home and intend to return. Services restart after the dependent returns to Maryland and requests them. Children stay on the Autism Waiver registry unless families request removal; eligibility gained while away remains available upon returning.

Veterans get temporary behavioral health care

Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland provides statewide behavioral health care coordination and resource information for eligible veteran residents. The state also provides or funds short-term care when veterans cannot immediately access U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs care. Care depends on available funds and Behavioral Health Administration eligibility and medical-necessity standards. Short-term care ends when adequate Veterans Affairs care becomes accessible. The state must seek reimbursement from responsible payers.

Veteran families get equal housing priority

Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland’s housing department and public housing agencies must give veteran families equal priority for rental assistance. This covers housing vouchers and housing assistance payments. Equal priority also applies to families with children under 18, foster children ages 18–24, or people experiencing homelessness. Families with disabled or elderly members also receive equal priority. Priority does not guarantee assistance.

Shared veteran definition governs state benefits

Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland uses a shared state-law definition of veteran for state veteran benefits, rights, and privileges. That definition replaces the prior specific inclusion described in the provision. The change can affect who qualifies; it is not a blanket promise of broader eligibility.

Active duty supports child caregiver affidavits

Beginning October 1, 2025, a parent or guardian’s active uniformed-services assignment counts as a serious hardship for informal kinship-care affidavits. The child must live with the person signing because of that hardship. The signer must be over 18 and able to testify to the affidavit’s contents.

Free vital records for military members

Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland’s health department cannot charge current or former uniformed-services members for vital-record copies. Surviving spouses and children also get free copies when used for a claim involving the member’s dependent or beneficiary.

Service members’ chosen representatives handle remains

Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland recognizes the designated person’s authority to direct disposition when someone dies while serving in the uniformed services. The designation must appear on the military Record of Emergency Data, DD Form 93, or its replacement. That person can serve as the authorizing agent for handling the remains.

Deployment can excuse late license renewal

Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland health boards may allow late renewal without a penalty or reinstatement fee. The license or certificate holder’s uniformed-services deployment outside the United States or its territories must directly cause the delay. Boards may also allow continuing education, competency requirements, or a criminal history check to be completed within a reasonable time after renewal.

Faster health licensing for military families

Beginning October 1, 2025, health boards must identify eligible military applicants, assign advisors, speed applications, and publish guidance. Applicants who meet credential requirements must receive their license, certificate, or registration within 15 business days of a complete application. Eligible veterans must have left active duty within 1 year before applying. Eligible spouses include spouses of active members or eligible veterans, plus covered survivors; active-member survivors qualify within 1 year of death. Board staff must help applicants find programs or experience needed to fill education, training, or experience gaps.

Military experience helps unlock health licenses

Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland health boards must count active service members’ relevant experience toward required years of practice. Boards must also credit uniformed-services training and education they find substantially equivalent, unless another licensing requirement prevents it. The optometry board may waive its active-practice requirement for applicants who served as uniformed-services optometrists for 3 years. That waiver is not automatic and does not itself grant a license.

Care facilities must record veteran status

Beginning October 1, 2025, hospitals, related institutions, and mental health outpatient clinics must record patients’ uniformed-services veteran status at admission. The information goes in the medical record. This requirement does not itself provide extra care or a payment.

Community care grants support military families

Beginning October 1, 2025, the Sheila E. Hixson program offers competitive matching grants to local nonprofits. Grants support new or expanded behavioral health programs for active service members, veterans, and their families. Nonprofits must have a mission serving behavioral health needs or military communities. Programs must meet national standards, combine mental health and substance-use treatment, and promptly connect discharged participants to community care. The provided provision sets no grant amount.

Veteran care facilities get approval exemption

Beginning October 1, 2025, qualifying comprehensive-care facilities are exempt from Maryland’s certificate-of-need approval requirement. Facilities must limit admissions to people meeting residency rules set by the Department of Veterans and Military Families. Covered groups include veterans discharged under honorable conditions, qualifying former reserve members, and nonveteran spouses of eligible veterans. The exemption does not guarantee anyone admission.

Health professionals face broader discipline checks

Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland health boards may deny credentials or discipline professionals based on military or Veterans Affairs discipline. The underlying conduct must also justify discipline under Maryland licensing law. Visiting physicians licensed and living elsewhere may practice without a Maryland license only for the covered clinical training or hospital teaching. They must have no medical discipline history in another state, territory, nation, or uniformed-services branch. They also must have no significant harmful malpractice history.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Nicholaus R. Kipke
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Tiffany T. Alston
Democratic • House
Heather Bagnall
Democratic • House
Harry Bhandari
Democratic • House
Brian Chisholm
Republican • House
Bonnie Cullison
Democratic • House
Pam Lanman Guzzone
Democratic • House
Terri L. Hill
Democratic • House
Thomas S. Hutchinson
Republican • House
Anne R. Kaiser
Democratic • House
Kenneth Kerr
Democratic • House
Lesley J. Lopez
Democratic • House
Matthew Morgan
Republican • House
Ashanti Martinez
Democratic • House
Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk
Democratic • House
Teresa E. Reilly
Republican • House
Samuel I. Rosenberg
Democratic • House
Kim Ross
Democratic • House
Steve Johnson
Democratic • House
Kathy Szeliga
Republican • House
Deni Taveras
Democratic • House
Jennifer White Holland
Democratic • House
Jamila J. Woods
Democratic • House
Teresa Woorman
Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 183 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/3/2025

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 46 • No: 0

House vote • 3/11/2025