# Maryland HB 1420: Health Occupations - Criminal History Records Checks

Maryland HB 1420, Health Occupations - Criminal History Records Checks, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by no sponsor on record; status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 370); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1420-2026RS
- 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 1420
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Health Occupations - Criminal History Records Checks
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-13
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 370
- Sponsors: no sponsor on record
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Health Occupations, Acupuncturists, Applicants and Applications, Certifications, Child Care, Committees and Commissions, Criminal Background Investigations, Dentists, Dietitians and Nutritionists, Environmental Health, Fees -see also- Attys' Fees; Devt Fees & Taxes, Fingerprinting, Forms, Health Occupations -see also- (specific health occupations), Information Technology, Interstate Affairs, Licenses -see also- AB Lic; Certifications; DrLic; Permits, Medication Technitions, Morticians, Nurses -see also- Nurse Practitioners; Nursing Assistants, Optometrists, Ophthalmologists, and Opticians, Permits -see also- Building Permits, Pharmacists and Pharmacies -see also- Drugs, Physical Therapists, Podiatrists, Privacy, Psychologists, Public Safety and Correctional Services, Department of, Records -see also- Land Records; Vital Records, Wholesale Distribution, Workers' Compensation
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 2 (177 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 9

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Checks for dental licenses and certificates: cost, medium. Dental license applicants must complete a fingerprint background check and pay required fees. The Board considers factors like your age at the offense, time since it happened, work history, and references. The Board cannot issue a dental license until it has your record. Beginning October 1, 2027,…
- Background checks for dietitian licenses: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2027, dietitian–nutritionist applicants must submit fingerprints and pay state and FBI fees for a background check. If your license began before July 1, 2027, you must show a check at your first renewal after January 1, 2028. To reactivate an inactive license, you must complete a…
- Background checks for many health licenses: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2027, new applicants for many health licenses must complete state and national background checks with fingerprints and fees. If your license was issued before January 1, 2028, you must show proof of a check at your first renewal after that date. Former licensees must complete a ch…
- Background checks for pharmacists: cost, low. Pharmacist applicants must submit fingerprints and pay fees for a state and national background check. The Board considers the age and circumstances of any offense, time since it happened, work history, references, and other evidence. Starting July 1, 2027, pharmacists first licensed without a chec…
- Checks for environmental health specialists: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2027, applicants must submit fingerprints and pay state and FBI fees for a background check. If you were licensed before July 1, 2027, you must show a check at your first renewal after that date. Reactivation and reinstatement also require a check. The Board cannot issue a license…
- Checks for nursing assistants and techs: cost, low. Applicants for nursing assistant, medication technician, and dialysis technician certificates must complete a background check with fingerprints and fees. The Board may select some people for checks at renewal. Some renewal applicants get another check every 12 years. Former certificate holders mus…
- Optometrists: renewal and reinstatement checks: cost, low. Beginning August 1, 2026, the Board requires background checks for some optometry renewals and for reinstatements. The Board cannot renew or reinstate without the record. To reactivate an inactive license, you must attest that you submitted to a check.
- How fingerprint checks work and cost: mixed, low. If you apply for a covered health license, you must send legible fingerprints to Maryland’s Central Repository. You must pay the Maryland access fee and the FBI processing fee. The Repository sends results to you and your licensing board. Your record is confidential and only for licensing. You can…
- Law takes effect June 1, 2026: mixed, low. The law takes effect on June 1, 2026. Some sections start later as noted above.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- (none)

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-06 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 46 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-20 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 131 | 0 | 5 |

## Actions (17)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 370
- 2026-04-07: Returned Passed (House)
- 2026-04-06: Third Reading Passed (46-0) (Senate)
- 2026-03-31: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Favorable Report by Finance (Senate)
- 2026-03-23: Referred Finance (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Third Reading Passed (131-0) (House)
- 2026-03-20: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-03-20: Favorable Report by Health (House)
- 2026-03-11: Hearing 3/11 at 3:10 p.m. (Health) (House)
- 2026-03-11: Hearing canceled (Health) (House)
- 2026-03-11: Hearing 3/11 at 2:40 p.m. (Health) (House)
- 2026-03-11: Hearing canceled (Health) (House)
- 2026-03-11: Hearing 3/11 at 2:15 p.m. (Health) (House)
- 2026-03-11: Hearing canceled (Health) (House)
- 2026-02-13: Hearing 3/11 at 1:00 p.m. (Health) (House)
- 2026-02-13: First Reading Health and Judiciary (House)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_370_hb1420t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-20: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1420t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-13: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1420f.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_370_hb1420t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1420t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1420f.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-HB1420-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).