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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
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*hb0374*
HOUSE BILL 374
J2 6lr2334
CF SB 370
By: Delegate White Holland Delegates White Holland, Alston, Bagnall, Cullison,
Guzzone, Hill, Hutchinson, S. Johnson, Kaufman, Kipke, Lopez, Martinez,
M. Morgan, Reilly, Rosenberg, Ross, Szeliga, Taveras, and Woorman
Introduced and read first time: January 19, 2026
Assigned to: Health
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 6, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
State Acupuncture Board – Revisions 2
FOR the purpose of defining “manual therapies” as it relates to the practice of acupuncture; 3
requiring the State Acupuncture Board to make available proof of renewal, rather 4
than issuing a renewal certificate; prohibiting a person from employing an individual 5
to practice acupuncture without a license or aiding or abetting the unauthorized 6
practice of acupuncture; and generally relating to the practice of acupuncture. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Health Occupations 9
Section 1A–101, 1A–302(b), 1A–306(e), and 1A–403 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 12
BY adding to 13
Article – Health Occupations 14
Section 1A–403 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 17
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 18
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 19
2 HOUSE BILL 374
Article – Health Occupations 1
1A–101. 2
(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 3
(b) “Acupuncture” means a form of health care based on East Asian medical 4
theories of energetic physiology that describe the interrelati onship of the body organs and 5
functions. 6
(c) “Auricular detoxification” means an acupuncture technique involving the 7
needling of the external auricle of the human ear for the purpose of assisting a person who 8
is undergoing detoxification to remove addict ive substances from the body and restoring 9
health. 10
(d) “Board” means the State Acupuncture Board. 11
(e) “License” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a license issued by the 12
Board to practice acupuncture. 13
(F) (1) “MANUAL THERAPIES ” MEANS TREATMENT MODALITIES THAT 14
APPLY PRESSURE OR MA NIPULATION USING HAN DS OR ANOTHER PART O F THE 15
BODY ALONG POINTS OR MERIDIANS THAT NORMA LIZE ELECTROMAGNETIC OR 16
ENERGETIC FUNCTION. 17
(2) “MANUAL THERAPIES ” INCLUDE ACUPRESSURE OR OTHER 18
PRESSURE TREATMENT TECHNIQUES BASED ON EAST ASIAN MEDICAL THERAPIES. 19
[(f)] (G) (1) “Practice acupuncture” means the use of East Asian medical 20
therapies for the purpose of normalizing energetic physiological functions including pain 21
control, and for the promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health. 22
(2) “Practice acupuncture” includes: 23
(i) Stimulation of the body by the insertion of needles; 24
(ii) The application of moxibustion; and 25
(iii) Manual THERAPIES, mechanical THERAPIES, thermal 26
THERAPIES, electrical THERAPIES, or other East Asian medical therapies only when 27
performed in accordance with the principles of East Asian medical theories and practices. 28
[(g)] (H) “Supervision” means: 29
(1) A formalized professional relationship between a licensed 30
acupuncturist and an individual performing auricular detoxification that provides 31
HOUSE BILL 374 3
evaluation and direction of the individual to adequately ensure the safety and welfare of 1
clients during the course of treatment; and 2
(2) As defined by the Board in regulations: 3
(i) Periodic direct supervision where the licensed acupuncturist is 4
present or on–site during treatment; and 5
(ii) General supervision where the licensed acupuncturist is neither 6
present nor on–site during treatment. 7
1A–302. 8
(b) The applicant shall: 9
(1) Be of good moral character; 10
(2) Be at least 18 years old; 11
(3) Demonstrate competence in performing acupuncture by meeting the 12
following standards for education or training: 13
(i) If the applicant is issued a license on or before May 31, 2026: 14
1. Graduation from at least a master’s level program or its 15
equivalent in acupuncture that is: 16
A. Approved by the Maryland Higher Education 17
Commission; 18
B. Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for 19
Acupuncture and [Oriental] HERBAL Medicine; or 20
C. Found by the Board to be equivalent to a course approved 21
or accredited under item A or B of this item; or 22
2. Achievement of a: 23
A. Diplomate in acupuncture from the National Certification 24
Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine; or 25
B. Passing score on an examination that is determined by the 26
Board to be equivalent to the examination given by the National Certification Commission 27
for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine; or 28
(ii) If the applicant is issued a license on or after June 1, 2026: 29
4 HOUSE BILL 374
1. Graduation from at least a master’s level program or its 1
equivalent in acupuncture that is: 2
A. Approved by the Maryland Higher Education 3
Commission; 4
B. Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for 5
Acupuncture and [Oriental] HERBAL Medicine; or 6
C. Found by the Board to be equivalent to a course approved 7
or accredited under item A or B of this item; and 8
2. Achievement of a passing score on an examination given 9
by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine or 10
determined by the Board to be equivalent to the examination given by the National 11
Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine; 12
(4) Demonstrate the ability to communicate in the English language; and 13
(5) Meet any other qualifications that the Board establishes in regulations. 14
1A–306. 15
(e) The Board shall renew the license of and [issue a renewal certificate] MAKE 16
AVAILABLE PROOF OF R ENEWAL to each licensee who meets the requirements of this 17
section. 18
1A–403. 19
EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS TITLE, A PERSON MAY NOT: 20
(1) EMPLOY AN INDIVIDUAL TO PRACTICE ACUPUNCTURE WITHOUT A 21
LICENSE; OR 22
(2) AID OR ABET THE UNAUT HORIZED PRACTICE OF ACUPUNCTURE 23
IN VIOLATION OF § 1A–401 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 24
[1A–403.] 1A–404. 25
(a) A person who violates [any provision] § 1A–401 OR § 1A–402 of this subtitle 26
is [guilty]: 27
(1) GUILTY of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not 28
exceeding $5,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or both[. 29
HOUSE BILL 374 5
(b) A person who violates § 1A–401 or § 1A–402 of this subtitle is subject]; AND 1
(2) SUBJECT to a civil fine not to exceed $50,000 to be assessed by the 2
Board in accordance with regulations adopted by the Board. 3
(B) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES § 1A–403 OF THIS SUBTITLE IS: 4
(1) (I) FOR A FIRST OFFENSE, GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND ON 5
CONVICTION IS SUBJECT TO A FINE NOT EXCEEDING $5,000 OR IMPRISONMENT NOT 6
EXCEEDING 1 YEAR OR BOTH; AND 7
(II) FOR A SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE, GUILTY OF A FELONY AND ON 8
CONVICTION IS SUBJEC T TO A FINE NOT EXCE EDING $5,000 PER DAY OR 9
IMPRISONMENT NOT EXCEEDING 5 YEARS OR BOTH; AND 10
(2) SUBJECT TO A CIVIL FI NE NOT TO EXCEED $10,000 TO BE 11
ASSESSED BY THE BOARD IN ACCORDANCE W ITH REGULATIONS ADOP TED BY THE 12
BOARD. 13
(C) THE BOARD SHALL REMIT ANY PENALTY COLLECTED UN DER THIS 14
SECTION INTO THE GENERAL FUND OF THE STATE. 15
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 16
October 1, 2026. 17
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.