# Maryland SB 0493: Nursing Facilities - Involuntary Discharge or Transfer Maryland SB 0493, Nursing Facilities - Involuntary Discharge or Transfer, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Pamela Beidle (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-14 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 25) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0493-2026RS - 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 0493 - State: Maryland - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Nursing Facilities - Involuntary Discharge or Transfer - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-02-02 - Last action: 2026-04-14, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 25 - Sponsor: Pamela Beidle (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Health Care Facilities and Regulation, Addresses, Civil Rights and Social Equity, Cognitive Disabilities, Developmental Disabilities, Disabilities, Forms, Health, Department of, Hearings, Long-Term Care -see also- Continuing Care; Nursing Homes, Mental and Behavioral Health -see also- Aut; Cogn; Dev; etc., Names, Notices, Nursing Homes -see also- AsstLiving; ContinCare; LTCare, Ombudsmen, Residency -see also- Immigrants and Citizenship, Telephones, Termination of Services, Time, Vulnerable Adults -see also- DevDisab; EldPers; PhysDisab - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (179 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - 30-day notice and updated move rules: benefit, medium. Beginning October 1, 2026, a nursing facility must give at least 30 days’ written notice before any involuntary transfer or discharge. It must also notify your next of kin or representative, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, and the Department. The state provides a simple standard form that lists the d… - Hearing rights and escrow in payment disputes: benefit, medium. Starting October 1, 2026, you have a right to a hearing before an involuntary discharge or transfer. The Secretary sets the hearing rules, and an administrative law judge decides the case. The judge’s decision is final unless you appeal in court; filing an appeal does not automatically pause the de… - Medicaid residents shielded from forced moves: benefit, medium. Starting October 1, 2026, a Medicaid-certified nursing facility cannot make you pay privately for any time you are eligible for Medicaid. The facility cannot transfer or discharge you just because you receive Medicaid. If you are or become Medicaid-eligible, the law presumes a violation unless the… - Safe placement and care planning first: benefit, medium. Starting October 1, 2026, a facility cannot involuntarily move you to a hotel, shelter, or other temporary housing. It may only move you to the place named in the notice, and only after that place confirms it will accept you and is ready. Before any discharge or transfer, the facility must make a p… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Pamela Beidle (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-07 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 137 | 0 | 1 | | 2026-03-20 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 42 | 0 | 1 | ## Actions (15) - 2026-04-14: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 25 - 2026-04-08: Returned Passed (Senate) - 2026-04-07: Third Reading Passed (137-0) (House) - 2026-04-03: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House) - 2026-04-03: Favorable Report by Health (House) - 2026-03-23: Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m. (House) - 2026-03-21: Referred Health (House) - 2026-03-20: Third Reading Passed (42-0) (Senate) - 2026-03-19: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate) - 2026-03-19: Favorable with Amendments {923426/1 Adopted (Senate) - 2026-03-19: Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance (Senate) - 2026-02-09: Hearing 2/24 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate) - 2026-02-09: Hearing canceled (Senate) - 2026-02-03: Hearing 2/17 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate) - 2026-02-02: First Reading Finance (Senate) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2026-04-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_25_sb0493t.pdf) - Third Reading, 2026-03-19: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0493t.pdf) - First Reading, 2026-02-02: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0493f.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_25_sb0493t.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0493t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0493f.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-SB0493-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).