Read the full stored bill text
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0439*
HOUSE BILL 439
P1 6lr2030
CF SB 665
By: Delegates Kaufman, Embry, Lopez, Patterson, and Woorman Woorman,
Crutchfield, Fair, Kerr, Lehman, Ruth, Schindler, Schmidt, Terrasa, Wells,
and Wu
Introduced and read first time: January 22, 2026
Assigned to: Government, Labor, and Elections
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 18, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Maryland Advisory Council on Deaf 2
and Hard of Hearing – Renaming 3
FOR the purpose of renaming the Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to be the Office 4
of the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing; renaming the Maryland Advisory 5
Council on Deaf and Hard of Hearing to be the Maryland Advisory Council on Deaf, 6
Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing; altering the membership of the Maryland Advisory 7
Council on the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing; and generally relating to 8
renaming the Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Maryland Advisory 9
Council on Deaf and Hard of Hearing. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – Education 12
Section 23–109(b) 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 16
Article – Health – General 17
Section 7.5–302 and 13–603(a) 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 20
2 HOUSE BILL 439
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 1
Article – Health – General 2
Section 7.5–303(a)(1)(xiii) and 13–603(b)(2)(ix) 3
Annotated Code of Maryland 4
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 5
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 6
Article – Human Services 7
Section 7–127(a) and 7–802 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 10
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – Human Services 12
Section 7–128(13), 7–803(a)(8), and 10–1002(e) 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 16
Article – State Government 17
Section 9–2401(a) 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 20
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 21
Article – State Government 22
Section 9–2401(e) and (o), 9–2402(a), and 9–2404(a) 9–2404 to be under the amended 23
subtitle “Subtitle 24. Office of the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing”; and 24
10–1103.1(c)(2) 25
Annotated Code of Maryland 26
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 27
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 28
Article – State Personnel and Pensions 29
Section 29–304(10) 30
Annotated Code of Maryland 31
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 32
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 33
Article – Transportation 34
Section 7–1109(b) 35
Annotated Code of Maryland 36
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 37
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 38
Article – Transportation 39
Section 7–1109(c)(10) 40
HOUSE BILL 439 3
Annotated Code of Maryland 1
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 2
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 3
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 4
Article – Education 5
23–109. 6
(b) The Deaf Culture Digital Library shall: 7
(1) Conduct a needs assessment to identify gaps in library services for deaf 8
patrons and to implement strategies to fill the gaps and better coordinate library services 9
for the deaf; 10
(2) In coordination with the Governor’s Office of the Deaf , DEAFBLIND, 11
and Hard of Hearing, develop and provide sensitivity training for State and county library 12
staff to help them better understand deaf patrons and their needs; 13
(3) Develop a website that will allow for information sharing and 14
coordination between the Deaf Culture Digital Library and county library systems; 15
(4) In coordination with the State Library Agency, develop deaf –related 16
programs and materials and share them with county library systems and other libraries in 17
the State; 18
(5) Develop partnerships and strategic allia nces with other entities, 19
including: 20
(i) The Governor’s Office of the Deaf , DEAFBLIND, and Hard of 21
Hearing; 22
(ii) County library systems; 23
(iii) The State Library Agency; 24
(iv) Veterans’ groups; 25
(v) State and local arts councils; 26
(vi) Senior citizens organizations; and 27
(vii) Deaf and hard of hearing organizations, including: 28
1. The National Association of the Deaf; 29
4 HOUSE BILL 439
2. The Hearing Loss Association of America; and 1
3. The Maryland Association of the Deaf; 2
(6) Encourage partnerships and collaborations with information service 3
providers to help provide virtual access to information and research; 4
(7) Form a Deaf Culture Digital Library Advisory Board to provide advice 5
on initiatives that further advance the mission and goals of the Deaf Culture Digital 6
Library and the majority of whose members are deaf or hard of hearing and selected from 7
the following entities: 8
(i) County library systems; 9
(ii) The State Library Agency; 10
(iii) The Governor’s Office of the Dea f, DEAFBLIND, and Hard of 11
Hearing; 12
(iv) Statewide deaf and hard of hearing organizations; and 13
(v) Other organizations as agreed on by the Governor’s Office of the 14
Deaf, DEAFBLIND, and Hard of Hearing and the State Library Agency; and 15
(8) Establish a Deaf Culture Digital Library “Friends of the Library” group 16
composed of individuals who are strongly committed, well–positioned, and able to promote 17
community involvement, advocacy, and funding for the Deaf Culture Digital Library. 18
Article – Health – General 19
7.5–302. 20
There is a Behavioral Health Advisory Council in the Office of the Governor. 21
7.5–303. 22
(a) (1) The Council consists of the following members: 23
(xiii) The [Executive] Director of the Governor’s Office of the Deaf , 24
DEAFBLIND, and Hard of Hearing, or the [Executive] Director’s designee; 25
13–603. 26
(a) There is an Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Advisory Council for 27
the Program. 28
(b) (2) Of the 12 members: 29
HOUSE BILL 439 5
(ix) 1 shall be from the Governor’s Office of the Deaf , DEAFBLIND, 1
and Hard of Hearing. 2
Article – Human Services 3
7–127. 4
(a) There is an Interagency Disabilities Board convened by the Governor. 5
7–128. 6
The Board consists of the following members: 7
(13) the Director of the Governor’s Office of the Deaf , DEAFBLIND, and 8
Hard of Hearing, or the Director’s designee; 9
7–802. 10
There is a Governor’s Advisory Board for Telecommunications Relay in the 11
Department. 12
7–803. 13
(a) The Board shall be composed of 14 individuals appointed by the Governor, 14
who shall designate the chair, including: 15
(8) one representative from the Governor’s Office of the Deaf, DEAFBLIND, 16
and Hard of Hearing. 17
10–1002. 18
(e) The Department shall administer, supervise, and coordinate the Program 19
with the cooperation of the Department of Disabilities, the Department of Human Services, 20
the Governor’s Office of the Deaf , DEAFBLIND, and Hard of Hearing, and the Maryland 21
Department of Health. 22
Article – State Government 23
Subtitle 24. Office of the Deaf, DEAFBLIND, and Hard of Hearing. 24
9–2401. 25
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 26
6 HOUSE BILL 439
(e) “Council” means the Maryland Advisory Council on Deaf , DEAFBLIND, and 1
Hard of Hearing Individuals. 2
(o) “Office” means the Office of the Deaf, DEAFBLIND, and Hard of Hearing. 3
9–2402. 4
(a) In the Office of the Governor, there is an Office of the Deaf, DEAFBLIND, and 5
Hard of Hearing. 6
9–2404. 7
(a) There is a Maryland Advisory Council on the Deaf, DEAFBLIND, and Hard of 8
Hearing. 9
(b) (1) The Council consists of [18] members appointed by the Governor, with 10
the advice and consent of the Senate. 11
(2) Of the [18] Council members, at least five of the members shall be deaf 12
and hard of hearing individuals. 13
(c) Of the [18] Council members: 14
(1) one shall be the State Superintendent or a designee from the State 15
Department of Education; 16
(2) one shall be the Secretary or a designee from the Maryland Department 17
of Health; 18
(3) one shall be the Secretary or a designee from the Department of Human 19
Services; 20
(4) one shall be the Secretary or a designee from the Department of 21
Transportation; 22
(5) one shall be from the Commission on Civil Rights; 23
(6) one shall be the Secretary or a designee from the Maryland Department 24
of Labor; 25
(7) one shall be the Secretary or a designee from the Department of 26
Housing and Community Development; 27
(8) one shall be the Superintendent or a designee from the Maryland School 28
for the Deaf; 29
HOUSE BILL 439 7
(9) one shall be the Secretary or a designee from the Department of Aging; 1
[and] 2
(10) ONE SHALL BE THE SECRETARY OR A DESIGN EE FROM THE 3
DEPARTMENT OF DISABILITIES; AND 4
(11) nine shall be from the general public. 5
(d) (1) The nine members from the general public shall be chosen from 6
different geographical areas of the State. 7
(2) Of the nine members from the general public: 8
(i) five shall be deaf and hard of hearing individuals; 9
(ii) one shall be a private citizen with special knowledge or expertise 10
relating to services to deaf and hard of hearing individuals; 11
(iii) one shall be a parent of a deaf or hard of hearing child; 12
(iv) one shall be from a private agency providing services to deaf and 13
hard of hearing individuals; and 14
(v) one shall be a person with special knowledge or expertise relating 15
to services to individuals who are deafblind. 16
10–1103.1. 17
(c) The Advisory Group shall include: 18
(2) the Director of the Office of the Deaf , DEAFBLIND, and Hard of 19
Hearing, or the Director’s designee; 20
Article – State Personnel and Pensions 21
29–304. 22
An individual s hall have immediate vesting rights on taking office in the State 23
system in which the individual is a member if the individual is the: 24
(10) Director of the Office of the Deaf, DEAFBLIND, and Hard of Hearing; 25
Article – Transportation 26
7–1109. 27
8 HOUSE BILL 439
(b) There is a State Coordinating Committee for Health and Human Services 1
Transportation. 2
(c) The Committee consists of the following members: 3
(10) The Director of the [Governor’s] Office [for] OF the Deaf, DEAFBLIND, 4
and Hard of Hearing, or the Director’s designee; 5
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, as provided in this Act: 6
(a) The Office of the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing is the successor of the 7
Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. 8
(b) In every law, executive order, rule, regulation, policy, or document created by 9
an official, an employee, or a unit of this State, the names and titles of those agencies and 10
officials mean the names and titles of the successor agency or official. 11
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That nothing in this Act affects the 12
term of office of an appointed or elected member of any commission, office, department, 13
agency, or other unit. An individual who is a member of a unit on the effective date of this 14
Act shall remain for the balance of the term to which appointed or elected, unless the 15
member sooner dies, resigns, or is removed under provisions of law. 16
SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That any transaction or 17
employment status affected by or flowing from any change of nomenclature or any s tatute 18
amended by this Act and validly entered into or existing before the effective date of this Act 19
and every right, duty, or interest flowing from a statute amended by this Act remains valid 20
after the effective date of this Act and may be terminated, co mpleted, consummated, or 21
enforced as required or allowed by any statute amended by this Act as though the 22
amendment had not occurred. If a change in nomenclature involves a change in name or 23
designation of any State unit, the successor unit shall be consid ered in all respects as 24
having the powers and obligations granted the former unit. 25
SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 26
(a) The continuity of every commission, office, department, agency, or other unit 27
is retained. 28
(b) The personnel, records, files, furniture, fixtures, and other properties and all 29
appropriations, credits, assets, liabilities, and obligations of each retained unit are 30
continued as the personnel, records, files, furniture, fixtures, properties, appropriations, 31
credits, assets, liabilities, and obligations of the unit under the laws enacted by this Act. 32
SECTION 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That letterhead, business cards, 33
and other documents reflecting the renaming of the Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing 34
to be the Office of the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing may not be used until all 35
HOUSE BILL 439 9
letterhead, business cards, and other documents already in print and reflecting the name 1
of the Office before the effective date of this Act have been used. 2
SECTION 7. AND BE IT FURTHE R ENACTED, That the publisher of the 3
Annotated Code of Maryland, in consultation with and subject to the approval of the 4
Department of Legislative Services, shall correct, with no further action required by the 5
General Assembly, cross –references and termin ology rendered incorrect by this Act. The 6
publisher shall adequately describe any correction that is made in an editor’s note following 7
the section affected. 8
SECTION 8. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 9
October 1, 2026. 10
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.