# Maryland SB 0806: Health Occupations - Criminal History Records Checks Maryland SB 0806, Health Occupations - Criminal History Records Checks, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Pamela Beidle (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 371); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0806-2026RS - As of: 2026-10-11 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Maryland SB 0806 - State: Maryland - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Health Occupations - Criminal History Records Checks - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-02-06 - Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 371 - Sponsor: Pamela Beidle (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 9 - 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 (179 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 10 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Dentists and hygienists: background checks: cost, high. Beginning June 1, 2026, dentist and dental hygienist applicants must submit fingerprint‑based checks and pay state and FBI fees. The Dental Board cannot issue a license until it receives your criminal history. Starting October 1, 2027, the Board requires checks for selected renewals and for reinsta… - Background checks for dental X-ray staff: cost, medium. Applicants for dental radiation technologist certificates must complete a criminal history check with fingerprints and fees. Beginning October 1, 2027, selected renewals and reinstatements must also submit a check. The Board may not renew or reinstate until it gets the results. - Background checks for many health licenses: cost, medium. Beginning July 1, 2027, many health license applicants must get state and national background checks. Starting June 1, 2026, you apply through the Central Repository with FBI‑approved fingerprints and fees. If you were licensed before January 1, 2028, you must show proof of a check at your first re… - Checks for CNAs and nurse certifications: cost, medium. Certified nursing assistant, dialysis technician, and medication technician applicants must submit a criminal history check and give verification to the Board. The Board may require checks for selected renewals and reinstatements and sends the forms with renewal notices. Another check is required e… - Dietitians: background checks and renewals: cost, medium. Beginning July 1, 2027, dietitian–nutritionist applicants must complete a fingerprint‑based background check and pay state and FBI fees. If you were licensed before July 1, 2027, you must show proof of a check at your first renewal after January 1, 2028. To reactivate or reinstate, you must submit… - Environmental health specialists: background checks: cost, medium. Beginning July 1, 2027, environmental health specialist applicants must have a criminal history check. If you were licensed before that date, you must show proof at your first renewal after July 1, 2027. The Board may not issue, reactivate, or reinstate without receiving the records. - Optometrists: checks for renewal and return: cost, medium. Beginning August 1, 2026, optometrists must submit a criminal history check to renew or reinstate when selected by regulation. The Board does not renew or reinstate until it receives the results. To reactivate from inactive status, you must attest that you submitted the check. Fingerprints and stat… - Pharmacists: background checks to get licensed: cost, medium. Beginning June 1, 2026, pharmacy license applicants must submit fingerprints and pay the Maryland access fee and the FBI fee. The Central Repository sends the results to the Board and to you. - Renewal-time checks for some licenses: cost, low. Starting July 1, 2027, certain health license holders who were licensed without a background check must submit one when they renew. The Board sets which renewals must provide checks. - Standard fingerprints, fees, and privacy: mixed, low. Beginning June 1, 2026, background checks use one standard process. You submit legible fingerprints in a format the state and FBI approve and pay the Maryland access fee and the FBI fee. The Central Repository sends results to the board and to you. Records are confidential and for licensing only. Y… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Pamela Beidle (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Alonzo T. Washington (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Dawn Gile (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Antonio Hayes (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Stephen S. Hershey (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Carl Jackson (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Benjamin F. Kramer (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Clarence K. Lam (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Johnny Mautz (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Justin Ready (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-08 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 134 | 0 | 2 | | 2026-03-19 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 45 | 0 | | ## Actions (13) - 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 371 - 2026-04-09: Returned Passed (Senate) - 2026-04-08: Third Reading Passed (134-0) (House) - 2026-04-08: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House) - 2026-04-08: Favorable Report by Health (House) - 2026-03-23: Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m. (Health) (House) - 2026-03-20: Referred Health Judiciary (House) - 2026-03-19: Third Reading Passed (45-0) (Senate) - 2026-03-17: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate) - 2026-03-17: Favorable with Amendments {673623/1 Adopted (Senate) - 2026-03-16: 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, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_371_sb0806t.pdf) - Third Reading, 2026-03-17: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0806t.pdf) - First Reading, 2026-02-06: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0806f.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_371_sb0806t.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0806t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0806f.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-SB0806-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).