PRIA Logo™
MarylandHB 06242026 Regular SessionHouse

Hospitals - Clinical Staffing Committees and Plans - Establishment (Safe Staffing Act of 2026)

Sponsored By: Jennifer White Holland (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Public HealthCommittees and CommissionsComplaintsDietitians and NutritionistsElectronic GovernmentEmergencies -see also- PandemicsEvaluations and ReviewsHealth -see also- COVID19; EnvHlth; MedCon; etc.Health Care CommissionHealth Occupations -see also- (specific health occupations)Hospitals -see also- Clinics; State HospitalsInternet -see also- Internet AccessNoticesNurses -see also- Nurse Practitioners; Nursing AssistantsNursing AssistantsPatientsPhysicians -see also- MedExmnrs; Pediatr; Psychiatrists etc.Plans and ProposalsPublic InformationReportsStandards and Best PracticesWork, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Hospitals must run staffing committees and plans

Hospitals must set up a Clinical Staffing Committee by July 1, 2027. If the hospital has 150 or fewer beds, the committee has 3 managers and 2 employees. If it has 151 or more beds, it has 5 managers and 4 employees. The chief nurse writes a draft staffing plan and gives it to the committee. The committee finishes the plan and must weigh staffing levels and gaps, patient load and acuity, skill mix, expert input, accreditor and CMS rules, and a review schedule. Beginning July 1, 2028, and each year after, hospitals put the plan in place and assign staff by it. Hospitals may add frontline roles to the committee, like aides, nurses, residents, and patient advocates. If a plan exists, staff can ask for a copy starting October 1, 2026.

Staffing plans must follow federal CMS rules

The law requires hospitals to follow staffing standards set by their accreditor and by federal CMS Conditions of Participation. Clinical staffing plans must match those standards starting October 1, 2026. The law also says these rules do not force hospitals to do anything that conflicts with CMS or accreditor standards.

State hospitals exempt from new staffing rules

State‑owned or state‑operated hospitals are exempt from the new staffing committee and staffing plan rules. This exemption starts October 1, 2026. Patients and workers at state hospitals do not get these new protections; other hospitals must still follow them.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jennifer White Holland

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Jackie Addison

    Democratic • House

  • Nick Allen

    Democratic • House

  • Tiffany T. Alston

    Democratic • House

  • Heather Bagnall

    Democratic • House

  • Harry Bhandari

    Democratic • House

  • Adrian Boafo

    Democratic • House

  • Regina T. Boyce

    Democratic • House

  • Bonnie Cullison

    Democratic • House

  • Kris Fair

    Democratic • House

  • Pam Lanman Guzzone

    Democratic • House

  • Terri L. Hill

    Democratic • House

  • Aaron M. Kaufman

    Democratic • House

  • Lesley J. Lopez

    Democratic • House

  • Ashanti Martinez

    Democratic • House

  • Aletheia McCaskill

    Democratic • House

  • Cheryl E. Pasteur

    Democratic • House

  • Samuel I. Rosenberg

    Democratic • House

  • Kim Ross

    Democratic • House

  • Vaughn Stewart

    Democratic • House

  • Deni Taveras

    Democratic • House

  • Jamila J. Woods

    Democratic • House

  • Teresa Woorman

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 232 • No: 68

House vote • 4/11/2026

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 96 • No: 35 • Other: 4

Senate vote • 4/10/2026

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 42 • No: 0 • Other: 2

House vote • 3/21/2026

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 94 • No: 33 • Other: 6

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by the Governor - Chapter 236

    4/28/2026

  2. Passed Enrolled

    4/11/2026House

  3. Third Reading Passed (96-35)

    4/11/2026House

  4. House Concurs Senate Amendments

    4/11/2026House

  5. Third Reading Passed (42-0)

    4/10/2026Senate

  6. Second Reading Passed with Amendments

    4/10/2026Senate

  7. Favorable with Amendments {133124/1 Adopted

    4/10/2026Senate

  8. Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance

    4/10/2026Senate

  9. Referred Finance

    3/23/2026Senate

  10. Third Reading Passed (94-33)

    3/21/2026House

  11. Second Reading Passed with Amendments

    3/20/2026House

  12. Favorable with Amendments {933025/1 Adopted

    3/20/2026House

  13. Favorable with Amendments Report by Health

    3/20/2026House

  14. Hearing 2/18 at 1:30 p.m.

    2/5/2026House

  15. Hearing canceled

    2/5/2026House

  16. Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m.

    2/4/2026House

  17. First Reading Health

    1/30/2026House

Bill Text

  • Enacted

    4/28/2026

    PDF

  • Enrolled

    4/11/2026

    PDF

  • Third Reading

    3/20/2026

    PDF

  • First Reading

    1/30/2026

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation