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*hb0007*
HOUSE BILL 7
J2 6lr1038
(PRE–FILED) CF SB 88
By: Delegate Guzzone
Requested: September 30, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Health
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 14, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, 2
Speech–Language Pathologists, and Music Therapists – Authority to Issue 3
Limited Licenses to Practice Music Therapy 4
FOR the purpose of authorizing the State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing 5
Aid Dispensers, Speech –Language Pathologists, and Music Therapists to issue a 6
limited license to practice music therapy; and generally relating to issuing limited 7
licenses and the State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, 8
Speech–Language Pathologists, and Music Therapists. 9
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 10
Article – Health Occupations 11
Section 2–4A–01 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14
BY adding to 15
Article – Health Occupations 16
Section 2–4A–11.1 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 19
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 20
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 21
2 HOUSE BILL 7
Article – Health Occupations 1
2–4A–01. 2
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 3
(b) “Board certified music therapist” means an individual who: 4
(1) Has completed the education and clinical training requirements 5
established by the American Music Therapy Association; and 6
(2) Holds current board certification from the Certification Board for Music 7
Therapists. 8
(c) “Individualized music therapy treatment plan” means a music therapy 9
treatment plan for a client that identifies the goals, objectives, and potential strategies for 10
the music therapy services appropriate for the client using music therapy interventio ns, 11
including: 12
(1) Music improvisation; 13
(2) Receptive music listening; 14
(3) Songwriting; 15
(4) Lyric discussion; 16
(5) Music and imagery; 17
(6) Music performance; 18
(7) Learning through music; and 19
(8) Movement to music. 20
(d) (1) “License” means a license issued by the Board to engage in the practice 21
of music therapy. 22
(2) “LICENSE” INCLUDES, UNLESS THE CONTEXT R EQUIRES 23
OTHERWISE, A LIMITED LICENSE. 24
(e) “Licensed professional music therapist” or “licensee” means an individual who 25
is licensed by the Board to engage in the practice of music therapy. 26
(f) “LIMITED LICENSE ” MEANS A LICENSE ISSU ED BY THE BOARD TO 27
PRACTICE MUSIC THERAPY AS LIMITED BY § 2–4A–11.1 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 28
HOUSE BILL 7 3
(G) (1) “Practice of music therapy” means the clinical and evidence–based use 1
of music therapy interventions to accomplish individualized goals for individuals of all ages 2
and ability levels within a therapeutic relationship. 3
(2) “Practice of music therapy” includes: 4
(i) Accepting referrals for music therapy services from: 5
1. Medical, developmental, mental health, or education 6
professionals; 7
2. Family members; 8
3. Clients; 9
4. Caregivers; or 10
5. Others involved with the provision of and authorized to 11
provide client services; 12
(ii) Collaborating with a client’s treatment team to review the 13
client’s diagnosis, treatment needs, and treatment plan before providing music therapy 14
services to a client for an identified clinical or developmental need; 15
(iii) Collaborating with a client’s treatment team during the 16
provision of music therapy services to the client, including collaborating with and 17
discussing the music therapy treatment plan with the audiologist or speech –language 18
pathologist of a client with a communication disorder so that a music therapist may work 19
with the client and address communication skills; 20
(iv) Conducting a music therapy assessment of a client to collect 21
systematic, comprehensive, and accurate information necessary to determine the 22
appropriate type of music therapy services to provide for the client; 23
(v) Developing an individualized music therapy treatment plan for 24
a client that is based on the music therapy assessment; 25
(vi) Implementing an individualized music therapy treatment plan 26
that: 27
1. Is consistent with any other developmental, rehabilitative, 28
habilitative, medical, mental health, preventive, or wellness care or educational services 29
being provided to a client; and 30
2. Does not replace the services provided by an audiologist or 31
a speech–language pathologist; 32
4 HOUSE BILL 7
(vii) Evaluating a client’s response to music therapy and the 1
individualized music therapy treatment plan, documenting change and progress, and 2
suggesting modifications, as appropriate; 3
(viii) Developing a plan for determining w hen the provision of music 4
therapy services is no longer needed in collaboration with a client, the client’s physician or 5
another provider of health care or education for the client, an appropriate member of the 6
client’s family, and any other appropriate individual on whom the client relies for support; 7
(ix) Minimizing any barriers to ensure that a client receives music 8
therapy services in the least restrictive environment; 9
(x) Collaborating with and educating a client, the family or caregiver 10
of the client, or any other appropriate individual about the needs of the client that are being 11
addressed in music therapy and the manner in which the music therapy addresses those 12
needs; and 13
(xi) Using appropriate knowledge and skills, including research, 14
reasoning, and problem –solving skills, to inform practice and determine appropriate 15
actions in the context of each specific clinical setting. 16
(3) “Practice of music therapy” does not include the screening, diagnosis, 17
or assessment of any physical, mental, or communication disorder. 18
2–4A–11.1. 19
(A) SUBJECT TO THE PROVIS IONS OF THIS SECTION , THE BOARD SHALL 20
ISSUE A LIMITED LICENSE TO PRACTICE MUSIC THERAPY TO AN APPLICANT WHO: 21
(1) EXCEPT FOR THE EXAMIN ATION, MEETS THE LICENSE 22
REQUIREMENTS UNDER § 2–4A–06 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 23
(2) DEMONSTRATES TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE BOARD THAT FOR 24
THE TERM OF THE LIMI TED LICENSE THE APPL ICANT WILL PRACTICE MUSIC 25
THERAPY ONLY UNDER T HE SUPERVISION OF AN INDIVIDUAL DESCRIBED UNDER 26
SUBSECTION (B)(2) OF THIS SECTION; 27
(3) SUBMITS AN APPLICATIO N TO THE BOARD ON THE FORM THA T 28
THE BOARD REQUIRES; AND 29
(4) PAYS THE BOARD THE APPLICATION FEE SET BY THE BOARD. 30
(B) (1) THE PURPOSE OF A LIMI TED LICENSE IS TO PE RMIT AN 31
INDIVIDUAL TO PRACTI CE MUSIC THERAPY WHI LE COMPLETING TH E LICENSING 32
HOUSE BILL 7 5
REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBTITLE. 1
(2) WHILE IT IS EFFECTIVE , A LIMITED LICENSE AU THORIZES THE 2
LICENSEE TO PRACTICE MUSIC THERAPY UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A FULLY 3
LICENSED MUSIC THERAPIST. 4
(C) A LIMITED LICENSE EXPI RES ON THE FIRST ANN IVERSARY OF ITS 5
EFFECTIVE DATE. 6
(D) THE BOARD MAY RENEW THE L IMITED LICENSE ONCE FOR AN 7
ADDITIONAL 1–YEAR TERM, IF THE HOLDER: 8
(1) OTHERWISE MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION; 9
(2) SUBMITS A RENEWAL APPLICATION TO THE BOARD ON THE FORM 10
THAT THE BOARD REQUIRES; AND 11
(3) PAYS TO THE BOARD A LIMITED LICEN SE RENEWAL FEE SET B Y 12
THE BOARD. 13
(E) IF THE HOLDER OF A LI MITED LICENSE FAILS TO RECEIVE A FULL 14
LICENSE WITHIN 2 YEARS AFTER THE INIT IAL LIMITED LICENSE WAS ISSUED, THE 15
INDIVIDUAL SHALL WAIT A MINIMUM OF 1 YEAR BEFORE APPLYING FOR ANOTHER 16
LIMITED LICENSE. 17
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 18
October 1, 2026. 19
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.