# Maryland SB 0778: Clinical Research Pharmacies and Clinical Trials - Permits and Ownership

Maryland SB 0778, Clinical Research Pharmacies and Clinical Trials - Permits and Ownership, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Brian J. Feldman (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-28 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 206) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0778-2026RS
- 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 0778
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Clinical Research Pharmacies and Clinical Trials - Permits and Ownership
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-02-06
- Last action: 2026-04-28, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 206
- Sponsor: Brian J. Feldman (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Health Occupations, Applicants and Applications, Classifications and Designations, Committees and Commissions, Complaints, Drugs -see also- Cannabis; ControlDangSubst; Pharm; etc., Ethics, Health Occupations -see also- (specific health occupations), Inspections -see also- Motor Vehicle Inspection, Investigations and Inquiries -see also- Crim Bckgrnd Invest, Licenses -see also- AB Lic; Certifications; DrLic; Permits, Medical Research, Permits -see also- Building Permits, Pharmacists and Pharmacies -see also- Drugs, Rules and Regulations, Safety -see also- Occupational Safety, Standards and Best Practices, Storage
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (171 yes, 6 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- New permit rules for research pharmacies: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, each Maryland clinical research pharmacy location needs a Board of Pharmacy permit before opening or operating. Drug handling and services must be limited to research under review-board protocols meeting FDA guidelines; only trial participants can receive drugs, not retai…
- More ownership options, but pharmacy safeguards: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, people can own Maryland clinical research pharmacies without a health-profession license, certification, or authorization just for ownership. Lack of that credential alone cannot justify discipline against the pharmacy. Health care provider owners must meet the pharmacy p…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Brian J. Feldman (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 129 | 6 | 5 |
| 2026-03-20 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 42 | 0 | 1 |

## Actions (13)

- 2026-04-28: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 206
- 2026-04-13: Returned Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (129-6) (House)
- 2026-04-11: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-04-11: Favorable Report by Health (House)
- 2026-03-25: Hearing 4/02 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 {993324/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-19: Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Hearing 3/03 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: First Reading Finance (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-04-28: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_206_sb0778t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-19: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0778t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-06: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0778f.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_206_sb0778t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0778t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0778f.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-SB0778-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).