# Maryland SB 0418: Professional Licensing Portability - Members of the Foreign Service and Spouses Maryland SB 0418, Professional Licensing Portability - Members of the Foreign Service and Spouses, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Bryan W. Simonaire (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 493) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0418-2026RS - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Maryland SB 0418 - State: Maryland - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Professional Licensing Portability - Members of the Foreign Service and Spouses - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-29 - Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 493 - Sponsor: Bryan W. Simonaire (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: State Government - Agencies, Offices, and Officials, Health Occupations, Business Occupations and Professions, Accessibility - see also- Blind; Deaf; Disabilities; etc, Accountants, Acupuncturists, Agents and Brokers, Agriculture, Department of, Animals -see also- Birds; Dogs; Domestic An; Horses; Livestk, Appraisals, Apprenticeships and Internships, Architects and Architecture, Armed Forces and Uniformed Services, Art, Music, and Cultural Affairs -see also- EthAff; Mus; etc, Assisted Living, Attorneys, Audiologists and Speech Pathologists, Bail, Barbers, Calvert County, Certifications, Chemical Tests, Child Care, Chiropractors, Committees and Commissions, Continuing Education, Contractors -see also- Construct; Electricians; etc., Cosmetologists, Counselors and Therapists, Dental Hygenists, Dentists, Dietitians and Nutritionists, Driver Education, Education, State Board of, Electronic Funds Transfer, Electricians, Electrologists, Elevators, Emergency Medical Services -see also- Ambul; RescSqd, Energy Matters -see also- Fuel; NuclearMatt; PwrPlnts; etc., Energy Technology and Infrastructure, Engineers and Engineering, Environment, Department of the, Environmental Health, Equipment -see also- Charging; Med. Equip.; MV Equip; etc., Ethics, Explosives -see also- Fireworks, Farmers and Farming -see also- Agriculture; Farmland, Federal Government, Fertilizers, Finance Companies, Financial Regulation, Division of, Fire Protection, Fish and Fishing -see also- Aquaculture; FishNets&Dev, Food -see also- Meat, Poultry, & Seafood; Milk; etc., Foresters, Fuel -see also- Coal, Funerals, Genetics, Goods and Services -see also- Retail Sales; TermnSvc; TrfGds, Guns, Health, Department of, Health Occupations -see also- (specific health occupations), Hearing Aids, Heating and Cooling, Home Detention, Inspections -see also- Motor Vehicle Inspection, Insurance Administration, Interior Designers, International Affairs, Investigations and Inquiries -see also- Crim Bckgrnd Invest, Laboratories, Labor, Department of, Labor and Industry, Division of, Landscape Architects, Land Surveyors and Surveys, Licenses -see also- AB Lic; Certifications; DrLic; Permits, Long-Term Care -see also- Continuing Care; Nursing Homes, Massage, Medical Testing and Diagnosis, Medication Technitions, Mental and Behavioral Health -see also- Aut; Cogn; Dev; etc., Midwives, Milk Products, Mining, Morticians, Motor Vehicles -see also- Aband Veh; Ambulances; Buses; etc., Motor Vehicle Dealers and Salespeople, Motor Vehicle Equipment, Motor Vehicle Inspection, Natural Resources, Department of, Nurse Practitioners, Nurses -see also- Nurse Practitioners; Nursing Assistants, Nursing Assistants, Nursing Homes -see also- AsstLiving; ContinCare; LTCare, Occupational Therapists, Optometrists, Ophthalmologists, and Opticians, Organ Donorship, Pawnshops, Pest Control, Pharmacists and Pharmacies -see also- Drugs, Physician Assistants, Physicians -see also- MedExmnrs; Pediatr; Psychiatrists etc., Physical Therapists, Pilots and Docking Masters, Plumbing, Podiatrists, Precious Metals and Stones, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Public Safety and Correctional Services, Department of, Radiation, Real Estate -see also- Agents and Brokers, Recycling, Refuse Disposal -see also- Recycling, Rehabilitation, Renewable Energy Sources -see also- Geotherm; Solar; etc., Retail Sales, Rules and Regulations, Safety -see also- Occupational Safety, Social Workers, Special Events, Sports and Recreation, Spouses, Standards and Best Practices, State Police, Department of, Students, Substance Abuse Treatment, Surveillance, Tax Preparers, Teachers, Titles -see also- Deeds, Towing, Transient Merchants, Transportation -see also- Aircraft; Airports; Boats; etc, Trees, Utilities -see also- Recycl; Refuse; Sewage; Teleph; Water, Veterinarians, Wastewater, Wells -see also- Hydraulic Fracturing; Water, Wholesale Distribution, Work, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc., Wreckers and Scrap Processors - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (172 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 18 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Foreign Service health workers can practice: benefit, high. The law lets U.S. Foreign Service members and spouses work in many health jobs without a Maryland license. You must be on a Maryland assignment and hold an active, clean out‑of‑state license. Your work must match the scope of that license. Covered roles include RNs, APRNs, LPNs, nursing assistants… - Behavioral health and social work exemptions: benefit, medium. If you qualify under the Foreign Service portability rule, you can practice counseling, psychology, social work, and behavior analysis in Maryland without getting a Maryland Board license. Supervisors may be authorized practitioners, not only Maryland‑licensed supervisors. You can also serve as a r… - Foreign Service engineers and trades can work: benefit, medium. Foreign Service members and spouses on assignment in Maryland can work under an out‑of‑state license in several fields. This includes electricians, plumbers and gas fitters, HVACR workers, stationary engineers, professional engineers, land surveyors, landscape architects, interior designers, forest… - Foreign Service license portability in Maryland: benefit, medium. Members of the U.S. Foreign Service and their spouses can work in Maryland using a valid license from another state. You must give the Maryland board your assignment notice, be in good standing everywhere you hold or held a similar license, and have used the license in the last 2 years. You must fo… - Foreign Service real estate pros can work: benefit, medium. Foreign Service members and spouses on Maryland assignment can work in real estate without a Maryland license. This covers brokers, associate brokers, salespersons, appraisers, certified appraisers, and home inspectors. Your work must match the scope of your out‑of‑state license, and you are subjec… - Medical and dental licensing exemptions: benefit, medium. If you are covered by the Foreign Service rule, you do not need a Maryland license to work as a physician assistant or podiatrist, or to do dental radiation work. The same applies for dietitians, massage therapists, audiologists, hearing‑aid dispensers, speech‑language pathologists, and music thera… - Skilled trades licensing relief for assignments: benefit, medium. If you are authorized under the Foreign Service rule, you can work in Maryland without a state license as an electrician or marine contractor. You can also provide on‑site wastewater services, operate water or wastewater works, drill wells, or do surface mining without new Maryland licenses. The st… - Foreign Service beauty pros can work: benefit, low. Foreign Service members and spouses on Maryland assignment can do cosmetology and electrology work without new Maryland licenses. You must hold an active, clean out‑of‑state license and stay within its scope. Maryland practice and discipline rules still apply. - Foreign Service can work in security fields: benefit, low. Foreign Service members and spouses on Maryland assignment can work in certain security fields without new Maryland credentials. This includes private detectives, security systems businesses, security guards placed by agencies, and private home detention monitoring agencies. Normal Maryland practic… - Foreign Service vendors and dealers may operate: benefit, low. Foreign Service members and spouses on Maryland assignment can run certain retail and resale businesses without new state licenses. This covers dealers, pawnbrokers, junk and scrap processors, traders and exhibitors, and peddlers and some magazine sellers. Exhibitors covered here are not treated as… - Many other jobs get license relief: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, if you are covered by the Foreign Service rule, you do not need Maryland licenses or certificates for many listed non‑health jobs. Examples include motor club operators, elevator mechanics, and vehicle salesmen. Wrestling participants and officials covered by the rule als… - No exam for vehicle inspectors: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, the Motor Vehicle Administration may not require an exam from people covered by the Foreign Service rule to conduct vehicle inspections. This applies only while your authorization is in effect. - Plumber and gasfitter reciprocity without exam: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, if you hold a valid master plumber or gasfitter license from another state, you can get the equivalent Maryland license without an exam. You must present your out‑of‑state license to the Commission and meet its process. - School counselor renewal training waived: benefit, low. If you are a Foreign Service member or spouse authorized under this law, you can renew a Maryland school counselor certificate without the usual state renewal training. Other certification rules still apply. - Sports agents and promoters can work: benefit, low. Foreign Service members and spouses on Maryland assignment can act as athlete agents or event promoters without new Maryland licenses. You must hold an active, clean out‑of‑state authorization and work within its scope. Maryland practice and discipline rules still apply. - Tax preparers can work without registration: benefit, low. Foreign Service members and spouses on Maryland assignment can prepare individual tax returns without Maryland’s usual Board registration. You must hold an active, clean out‑of‑state authorization and work within its scope. Maryland practice and discipline rules still apply. - Finance and insurance licensing relief: benefit, low. If you qualify under the Foreign Service rule, you can operate as a sales finance company or money transmitter in Maryland without getting the state license. You also do not need certain Maryland insurance licenses to act as an insurance producer, adviser, bail bondsman, or public adjuster. These e… - Radiation machine inspector rules clarified: mixed, low. State rules for licensing and disciplining radiation machine inspectors apply to people authorized under the Foreign Service rule. The Secretary sets issuance, suspension, and revocation rules that include those authorized inspectors. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Bryan W. Simonaire (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 128 | 0 | 12 | | 2026-03-12 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 44 | 0 | 1 | ## Actions (13) - 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 493 - 2026-04-13: Returned Passed (Senate) - 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (128-0) (House) - 2026-04-08: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House) - 2026-04-08: Favorable Report by Economic Matters (House) - 2026-03-13: Referred Economic Matters Health (House) - 2026-03-12: Third Reading Passed (44-0) (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Floor Amendment {373620/1 (Senator Simonaire) Adopted (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Favorable with Amendments {443327/1 Adopted (Senate) - 2026-03-09: Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate) - 2026-02-09: Hearing 2/19 at 1:00 p.m. (Education, Energy, and the Environment) (Senate) - 2026-01-29: First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment and Finance (Senate) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_493_sb0418t.pdf) - Third Reading, 2026-03-10: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0418t.pdf) - First Reading, 2026-01-29: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0418f.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_493_sb0418t.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0418t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0418f.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) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0418-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).