# Maryland HB 0637: Public Health - Recommendations for Immunizations, Screenings, and Preventive Services - Pharmacist Administration and Required Health Insurance Coverage (The Vax Act)

Maryland HB 0637, Public Health - Recommendations for Immunizations, Screenings, and Preventive Services - Pharmacist Administration and Required Health Insurance Coverage (The Vax Act), is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Gabriel Acevero (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-14 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 7); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0637-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland HB 0637
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Public Health - Recommendations for Immunizations, Screenings, and Preventive Services - Pharmacist Administration and Required Health Insurance Coverage (The Vax Act)
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-30
- Last action: 2026-04-14, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 7
- Sponsor: Gabriel Acevero (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 54
- Subjects: Health Care Facilities and Regulation, Health - Insurance, Health Occupations, Children (4-12), Electronic Government, Health -see also- COVID19; EnvHlth; MedCon; etc., Health Care Commission, Health, Department of, Health Insurance -see also- ACA; HMOs; MCOs, Immunization, Infants and Toddlers (0-3), Internet -see also- Internet Access, Pharmacists and Pharmacies -see also- Drugs, Public Information, Rules and Regulations, Standards and Best Practices, Studies -see also- Commitees & Commissions; Reports, Time
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 4 (203 yes, 231 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 5

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Easier to get vaccines at pharmacies: benefit, medium. Starting July 1, 2026, trained pharmacists can give more vaccines to people age 7 or older. The vaccines include shots the Maryland Secretary of Health recommends, ACIP‑recommended vaccines, and FDA‑approved or authorized vaccines. Pharmacists must complete at least 20 hours of hands‑on training, k…
- No-cost preventive care in most plans: benefit, medium. Beginning January 1, 2027, health insurers cover key preventive care with no copays or coinsurance. Covered care includes services with an A or B rating, routine vaccines, HRSA child care and women’s preventive services, and contraception as allowed by State law. The scope follows updates the Secre…
- No-deductible child wellness and vaccines: benefit, medium. Starting January 1, 2027, family health plans must include a child wellness package with no deductible. It covers all childhood and teen vaccines the CDC recommended as of December 31, 2024. It also adds later updates the Secretary of Health issues. This applies to expense‑incurred policies that co…
- State sets preventive care recommendations: benefit, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, the Secretary of Health sets and publishes state recommendations for vaccines, screenings, and preventive care for all ages. The recommendations follow major medical groups and consider CDC, FDA, HRSA, and USPSTF guidance. The Department posts them online and sends them to p…
- New preventive updates take effect later: cost, low. New preventive recommendations from the Secretary reach your plan later. Carriers must add them for plan years that start one year after the recommendation date. This replaces the old three‑month window. The insurance changes apply to policies issued, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 20…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Gabriel Acevero (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Nick Allen (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Marlon Amprey (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Heather Bagnall (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Dylan Behler (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Harry Bhandari (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Adrian Boafo (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Regina T. Boyce (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Derrick Coley (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Bonnie Cullison (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Dana Jones (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Eric Ebersole (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Mark Edelson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Diana M. Fennell (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Linda Foley (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Catherine M. Forbes (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Michele Guyton (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Pam Lanman Guzzone (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Andrea Fletcher Harrison (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Terri L. Hill (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Marvin E. Holmes (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Julian Ivey (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Aaron M. Kaufman (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Robbyn Lewis (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Lesley J. Lopez (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Ashanti Martinez (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Bernice Mireku-North (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: David Moon (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Gabriel M. Moreno (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Darrell Odom (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Julie Palakovich Carr (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Cheryl E. Pasteur (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Edith J. Patterson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: N. Scott Phillips (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Andrew C. Pruski (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Lily Qi (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Denise Roberts (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Mike Rogers (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Samuel I. Rosenberg (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kim Ross (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Malcolm P. Ruff (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Gary Simmons (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jared Solomon (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Ryan Spiegel (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Vaughn Stewart (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Deni Taveras (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Veronica Turner (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Joe Vogel (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Courtney Watson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jennifer White Holland (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Greg Wims (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jamila J. Woods (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Teresa Woorman (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Chao Wu (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Natalie Ziegler (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-08 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 31 | 13 | 1 |
| 2026-03-21 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 98 | 32 | 5 |
| 2026-03-20 | House | Floor Amendment {203925/1 (Delegate Miller) Rejected | fail | 37 | 92 | 7 |
| 2026-03-20 | House | Floor Amendment {863029/1 (Delegate Arikan) Rejected | fail | 37 | 94 | 5 |

## Actions (20)

- 2026-04-14: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 7
- 2026-04-09: Returned Passed (House)
- 2026-04-08: Third Reading Passed (31-13) (Senate)
- 2026-04-07: Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-07: Favorable Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-04-06: Favorable Report by Finance (Senate)
- 2026-03-23: Referred Finance (Senate)
- 2026-03-21: Third Reading Passed (98-32) (House)
- 2026-03-20: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-03-20: Floor Amendment {203925/1 (Delegate Miller) Rejected (37-92) (House)
- 2026-03-20: Floor Amendment {863029/1 (Delegate Arikan) Rejected (37-94) (House)
- 2026-03-20: Motion Special Order until Next Session (Delegate Arikan) Adopted (House)
- 2026-03-20: Favorable with Amendments {493126/1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-03-20: Favorable with Amendments Report by Health (House)
- 2026-02-26: Hearing 2/26 at 1:30 p.m. (House)
- 2026-02-26: Hearing canceled (House)
- 2026-02-05: Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-02-05: Hearing canceled (House)
- 2026-02-04: Hearing 2/12 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-01-30: First Reading Health (House)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-04-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_7_hb0637t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-20: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0637t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-30: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0637f.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law)
- SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law)
- SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)
- SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law)
- SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law)
- HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)

## Sources
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_7_hb0637t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0637t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0637f.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS)
- [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS)
- [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS)
- [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS)
- [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS)
- [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS)
- [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills)
- [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0637-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).