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*hb0278*
HOUSE BILL 278
O2 6lr0226
(PRE–FILED) CF SB 113
By: Chair, Health Committee (By Request – Departmental – Aging)
Requested: September 24, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Health
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 14, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Human Services – Department of Aging and Commission on Aging 2
(The Longevity Ready Maryland Act) 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Secretary of Aging to lead implementation of the 4
Longevity Ready Maryland Plan; repealing, adding, and altering certain duties of 5
the Secretary to enable the implementation, repor ting, and evolution of the 6
Longevity Ready Maryland Plan; altering the membership and duties of the 7
Commission on Aging; requiring the Department of Aging to staff the Commission; 8
and generally relating to the Longevity Ready Maryland Plan, the Department of 9
Aging, and the Commission on Aging. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – Human Services 12
Section 10–101 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15
(As enacted by Chapters 33 and 34 of 2025) 16
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 17
Article – Human Services 18
Section 10–204, 10–206, and 10–208 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 21
2 HOUSE BILL 278
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 2
Article – Human Services 3
10–101. 4
(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 5
(b) “Area agency on aging” means the local agency that the Department 6
designates in accordance with the Older Americans Act of 1965 to administer the delivery 7
of a comprehensive and coordinated [plan] SYSTEM of social and other services and 8
activities for older adults in a planning and service area. 9
(c) “Community for a Lifetime” means a community certified under § 10 –804 of 10
this title. 11
(d) “Department” means the Department of Aging. 12
(E) “LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND PLAN” MEANS A MULTISECTOR PLAN 13
ON AGING THAT: 14
(1) TRANSFORMS PROGRAMS , SERVICES, POLICIES, INSTITUTIONS, 15
AND SYSTEMS TO ADDRESS THE GROWING POPULATION OF OLDER ADULTS; AND 16
(2) INCORPORATES STREAML INED, INNOVATIVE APPROACHE S TO 17
AGING SERVICES. 18
[(e)] (F) “Planning and service area” means an area of the State that the 19
Department designates in accordance with the Older Americans Act of 1965 for the 20
planning and administration of social, health, and other services for older adults. 21
[(f)] (G) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Aging. 22
10–204. 23
(a) The Secretary shall administer the programs and activities that the federal 24
government delegates to the State under the Older Americans Act of 1965 that are not 25
otherwise committed by law to another unit of State government. 26
(b) The Secretary: 27
(1) is a member of the Governor’s Executive Council; and 28
(2) shall cooperate with and receive the cooperation of S tate, federal, and 29
local governmental units to carry out the purposes of this title. 30
HOUSE BILL 278 3
(c) The Secretary shall LEAD IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LONGEVITY READY 1
MARYLAND PLAN, WITH THE FOLLOWING GOALS: 2
(1) BUILDING A LONGEVITY ECOSYSTEM; 3
(2) PROMOTING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY; 4
(3) PREPARING STATE RESIDENTS TO AFFORD LONGEVITY; AND 5
(4) OPTIMIZING HEALTH, WELLNESS, AND MOBILITY. 6
(D) TO IMPLEMENT THE LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND PLAN, THE 7
SECRETARY SHALL: 8
(1) evaluate the service needs of [seniors] OLDER ADULTS in the State; 9
(2) determine the extent to which existing public and private programs 10
[meet the needs of seniors], POLICIES, INSTITUTIONS, AND SYSTEMS SUPPORT OLDER 11
ADULTS; 12
(3) establish priorities for meeting the needs of [seniors] OLDER ADULTS; 13
AND 14
(4) coordinate, subject to existing law, assess and evaluate, and educate the 15
public and professionals about all State and local programs and services, both public and 16
private, that: 17
(I) relate and are important to the well –being of [seniors] OLDER 18
ADULTS in the State[, including programs and services in the areas of: 19
(i) income maintenance; 20
(ii) public health; 21
(iii) mental health; 22
(iv) housing and urban development; 23
(v) employment; 24
(vi) education; 25
(vii) recreation; and 26
4 HOUSE BILL 278
(viii) rehabilitation of seniors with physical or mental disabilities; and 1
(5) develop a statewide plan incorporating local plans for a comprehensive 2
and coordinated system of health, social, and community services for seniors, inclu ding 3
housing, and institutional and noninstitutional care]; AND 4
(II) ARE DESIGNED TO ASSI ST OLDER ADULTS AND FAMILY 5
CAREGIVERS IN LEADIN G INDEPENDENT AND DI GNIFIED LIVES IN THE IR OWN 6
HOMES AND COMMUNITIES. 7
[(d)] (E) The Secretary shall: 8
(1) represent the interests of [seniors] OLDER ADULTS by serving as an 9
advocate FOR POLICY , SYSTEMS, AND INSTITUTIONAL CH ANGE at all levels of 10
government AND WITHIN THE PRIVA TE SECTOR IN SUPPORT OF THE LONGEVITY 11
READY MARYLAND PLAN; 12
(2) [consult with and advise the secretaries of the principal departments of 13
State government ] EMPHASIZE CROSS –SECTOR COLLABORATION , INCLUDING 14
CONSULTING AND ADVISING UNITS OF STATE GOVERNMENT AND STATE BOARDS 15
AND COMMISSIONS about [the programs and services for seniors that ar e the primary 16
responsibility of those departments ] ANY ACTION THE UNIT , BOARD, OR COMMISSION 17
MAY TAKE TO ASSIST IN IMPLEMENTING THE LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND PLAN; 18
(3) consult with the Commission on Aging on [all matters pertaining to 19
programs for senior s] IMPLEMENTATION OF TH E LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND 20
PLAN; 21
(4) provide consultation and technical assistance to [communities and civic 22
groups] ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER ENTITIES OR PERSONS developing local services 23
for [seniors] OLDER ADULTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AREA AGENCIES ON AGING AND 24
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND ENTITIES FUNDED BY THE DEPARTMENT; 25
(5) maintain a [clearinghouse of information ] SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES 26
INFORMATION, REFERRALS, AND COUNSELING FOR O LDER ADULTS AND THEI R 27
CAREGIVERS related to the inte rests of [seniors] OLDER ADULTS AND THE 28
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND PLAN; and 29
(6) review and recommend [policies] LEGISLATION AND OTHER POLICY 30
ACTION to the Governor on publicly funded plans [and], programs, INSTITUTIONS, AND 31
SYSTEMS that affect [seniors] OLDER ADULTS AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TH E 32
LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND PLAN; AND 33
HOUSE BILL 278 5
(7) MAINTAIN A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE RESOURCE ON THE 1
DEPARTMENT’S WEBSITE FOR MONITORING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LONGEVITY 2
READY MARYLAND PLAN. 3
[(e)] (F) The Secretary may adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of law 4
that are within the jurisdiction of the Secretary. 5
10–206. 6
(a) On or before January 1 each year, the Secretary shall report to the Governor 7
and, subject to § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, to the General Assembly ON: 8
(1) THE ALLOCATION OF FU NDS MADE AVAILABLE F OR SENIOR 9
CITIZEN ACTIVITIES CENTERS DISTRIBUTED BY THE DEPARTMENT; AND 10
(2) A SUMMARY OF KEY ACT IVITIES FUNDED AT SE NIOR CITIZEN 11
ACTIVITIES CENTERS. 12
[(b) The report required under subsection (a) of this section that shall include: 13
(1) with the advice and recommendation of the Commission on Aging: 14
(i) a description of the senior citizen activities centers in each 15
county; 16
(ii) the allocation and use of funds made available for senior citizen 17
activities centers; 18
(iii) the results of any studies; and 19
(iv) any recommendations for legislation; and 20
(2) information regarding the operation and performance of accessible 21
housing services counseling pr ovided by the Aging and Disability Resource Center 22
Program.] 23
(B) (1) ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1 EACH YEAR, THE SECRETARY SHALL 24
REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND , SUBJECT TO § 2–1257 OF THE STATE 25
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 26
(2) THE REPORT REQUIRE D UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 27
SUBSECTION SHALL INCLUDE A SUMMARY OF: 28
6 HOUSE BILL 278
(I) THE PROGRESS MADE DU RING THE IMMEDIATELY 1
PRECEDING YEAR TO IM PLEMENT THE MOST REC ENTLY PUBLISHED 2
COMPREHENSIVE LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND PLAN; 3
(II) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LEGISLATION, POLICY CHANGE , 4
OR OTHER RELATED PLANNING OR ADVOCACY EFFORTS MADE BY THE COMMISSION 5
ON AGING TO THE DEPARTMENT; 6
(III) ANY STUDY , SURVEY, OR OTHER FORM OF RES EARCH 7
CONDUCTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OR THE COMMISSION ON AGING; AND 8
(IV) ANY AVAILABLE RESEARCH AND BEST PR ACTICES 9
REVIEWED BY THE COMMISSION ON AGING. 10
(C) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2029, AND EVERY 4 YEARS ON JULY 1 11
THEREAFTER, THE SECRETARY SHALL PROVIDE TO THE GOVERNOR AND, SUBJECT 12
TO § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 13
AN UPDATED COMPREHENSIVE LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND PLAN THAT: 14
(1) COMPLIES WITH § 10–204 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 15
(2) INCLUDES PROGRESS MA DE ON EXISTING GOALS , OBJECTIVES, 16
AND STRATEGIES IDENTIFIED IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING LONGEVITY READY 17
MARYLAND PLAN; 18
(3) MAINTAINS EXISTING G OALS AND INCLUDES AN Y ADDITIONAL 19
GOALS; AND 20
(4) UPDATES OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES IF APP ROPRIATE BASED 21
ON EVOLVING CIRCUMSTANCES AND POPULATION PROJECTIONS; AND 22
(5) IS INFORMED BY THE STATE PLAN ON AGING AS REQUIRED BY 23
THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT OF 1965 AND OTHER RELEVANT STATE AND LOCAL 24
PLANS AND AGENCY COLLABORATIONS. 25
10–208. 26
(a) There is a Commission on Aging in the Department. 27
(b) (1) The Commission consists of [13] THE FOLLOWING members 28
[appointed by the Governor as follows]: 29
(i) [1 shall be a] ONE member of the Senate of Maryland, [who may 30
not vote] APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE; 31
HOUSE BILL 278 7
(ii) [1 shall be a ] ONE member of the [Maryland] House of 1
Delegates, [who may not vote] APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE; [and] 2
(iii) [11 shall be selected to reflect the geographic diversity of the 3
State and because of their interest in the needs of seniors ] THE SECRETARY OF AGING, 4
OR THE SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE; AND 5
(IV) THE FOLLOWING MEMBER S, APPOINTED BY THE 6
GOVERNOR: 7
1. ONE DIRECTOR OF AN A REA AGENCY ON AGING , 8
SERVING AS THREE DIRECTORS OF A REA AGENCIES ON AGIN G, INCLUDING THE 9
PRESIDENT OF THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF AREA AGENCIES ON AGING; 10
2. THREE REPRESENTATIVE S OF ORGANIZATIONS 11
LOCATED IN THE STATE THAT ADVOCATE FOR OLDER ADULTS AND CAREGIVERS; 12
3. FIVE SIX EXPERTS ON AGING REP RESENTING THE 13
DISCIPLINES OF HEALTH CARE, TECHNOLOGY, ACADEMIA, INNOVATION, CONSUMER 14
PROTECTION, AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND PHILANTHROPY; AND 15
4. FIVE INDIVIDUALS WITH A DEMONSTRATED INTEREST 16
IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND PLAN; AND 17
5. ONE VETERAN WITH A D EMONSTRATED INTEREST IN 18
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND PLAN. 19
(2) [At least 7 members shall be at least 55 years old ] TO THE EXTENT 20
PRACTICABLE, COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP SHALL REFLECT THE AG E, RACE, 21
ETHNICITY, DISABILITY, GENDER IDENTITY , SEXUAL ORIENTATION , IMMIGRANT 22
HERITAGE, LIVED AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, AND REGIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 23
REPRESENTATION DIVERSITY OF THE STATE. 24
(C) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE STAFF FOR THE COMMISSION. 25
[(c)] (D) (1) The term of a member of the Commission is 4 years. 26
(2) The terms of NEW members appointed under subsection [(b)(1)(iii)] 27
(B)(1)(IV) of this section are sta ggered as required by the terms provided for members of 28
the Commission on October 1, [2007] 2026. 29
(3) A member of the Commission appointed under subsection [(b)(1)(iii)] 30
(B)(1)(IV) of this section may not serve more than two consecutive terms. 31
8 HOUSE BILL 278
(4) At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is 1
appointed and qualifies. 2
(5) A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the 3
rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies. 4
(6) A MEMBER WHO FAILS TO ATTEND AT L EAST 50% OF THE 5
MEETINGS DURING ANY CONSECUTIVE 12–MONTH PERIOD SHALL B E CONSIDERED 6
TO HAVE RESIGNED. 7
(E) THE COMMISSION SHALL DETERMINE THE FREQUENCY, DATES, TIMES, 8
AND PLACES OF ITS MEETINGS. 9
[(d)] (F) (1) From among the members of the Commission, the [Governor] 10
SECRETARY: 11
(I) shall designate [a] THE chair OF THE COMMISSION; AND 12
(II) MAY DESIGNATE A VICE CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION. 13
(2) A MAJORITY OF THE MEMB ERS THEN SERVING ON THE 14
COMMISSION IS A QUORUM. 15
(3) THE CHAIR MAY ESTABLI SH SUBCOMMITTEES OF THE 16
COMMISSION. 17
(4) THE COMMISSION MAY CONSULT AND COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL 18
COMMISSIONS ON AGING. 19
[(e)] (G) A member of the Commission: 20
(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Commission; but 21
(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 22
Travel Regulations as provided in the State budget. 23
[(f)] (H) The Commission shall: 24
(1) exercise the powers and perform the duties specified in this title; 25
(2) [review: 26
(i) ongoing statewide programs and activities for seniors; and 27
HOUSE BILL 278 9
(ii) new statewide programs for seniors before the programs are 1
implemented; and 2
(3) make recommendations to the Secretary about statewide programs and 3
activities for seniors ] REVIEW AND ADVISE TH E DEPARTMENT ON THE LONGEVITY 4
READY MARYLAND PLAN AND OVERALL PROG RESS OF THE DEPARTMENT AND 5
MULTISECTOR PARTNERS IN IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF T HE 6
MOST RECENTLY PUBLISHED LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND PLAN; 7
(3) ADVISE THE SECRETARY ON LEGISLATIVE , POLICY, AND OTHER 8
SYSTEMS CHANGES THAT COULD ASSIST WITH IM PLEMENTATION OF THE 9
LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND PLAN; AND 10
(4) ADVISE THE SECRETARY ON ANY UPDA TE TO THE LONGEVITY 11
READY MARYLAND PLAN REQUIRED BY § 10–206 OF THIS SUBTITLE , INCLUDING 12
ANY UPDATE TO THE GO ALS, OBJECTIVES, AND STRATEGIES TO BE INCLUDED IN 13
SUBSEQUENT LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND PLANS. 14
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 15
(a) The terms of the members of the Commission on Aging serving on October 1, 16
2026, shall continue until the expiration of the member’s term. 17
(b) The terms of the members of the Commission on Aging appointed in 18
accordance with § 10–208(b)(1)(iv) of the Human Services Article, as enacted by Section 1 19
of this Act, shall expire as follows: 20
(1) four in 2028; 21
(2) five in 2029; and 22
(3) five in 2030. 23
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 24
October 1, 2026. 25