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.
*hb0672*
HOUSE BILL 672
J1 EMERGENCY BILL 6lr2473
By: Delegates Shetty and Rosenberg , Rosenberg, Alston, Bagnall, Cullison,
Guzzone, Hill, Hutchinson, S. Johnson, Kaufman, Kipke, Lopez, Martinez,
Reilly, Ross, Taveras, White Holland, and Woorman
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2026
Assigned to: Health
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 18, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Public Health – Maryland Pediatric Cancer Fund – Entities Eligible for Grants 2
FOR the purpose of altering which entities are eligible to receive grants from the Maryland 3
Pediatric Cancer Fund; and generally relating to the Maryland Pediatric Cancer 4
Fund. 5
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
Article – Health – General 7
Section 20–120 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 10
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12
Article – Health – General 13
20–120. 14
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 15
(2) “Fund” means the Maryland Pediatric Cancer Fund established under 16
this section. 17
2 HOUSE BILL 672
(3) “Pediatric cancer research” includes research to develop and advance 1
the understanding of pediatric cance r and the techniques and modalities effective in the 2
prevention, cure, screening, and treatment of pediatric cancer. 3
(b) (1) There is a Maryland Pediatric Cancer Fund. 4
(2) The Fund consists of: 5
(i) Money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; and 6
(ii) Any donations or other money from any other source accepted for 7
the benefit of the Fund. 8
(3) The Secretary shall administer the Fund. 9
(4) The Fund shall be used only for pediatric cancer research and 10
administrative expenses as provided in subsection (c) of this section. 11
(5) The Fund shall be maintained for the purposes stated in this section 12
and unspent portions of the Fund shall remain in the Fund and may not revert to the 13
General Fund of the State. 14
(6) Money expended from the F und for pediatric cancer research is 15
supplemental and is not intended to take the place of funding that would otherwise be 16
appropriated to the Department for pediatric cancer research. 17
(7) All expenditures from the Fund shall be made only in accordance with 18
an appropriation approved by the General Assembly in the annual State budget or through 19
an approved budget amendment under §§ 7 –209 and 7 –210 of the State Finance and 20
Procurement Article. 21
(8) (i) For fiscal year 2023, the Governor shall include in the annual 22
budget bill an appropriation of $5,000,000 to the Fund. 23
(ii) If $5,000,000 is not included in the annual budget bill for fiscal 24
year 2023, then the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill for fiscal year 2024 an 25
appropriation of $5,000,000 to the Fund. 26
(c) (1) (i) Each year, the Secretary may: 27
1. Distribute funds from the Fund to a promotional account 28
to be allocated to a State–based childhood cancer organization to be used to promote further 29
donations to the Fund and to ed ucate the State scientific community about the 30
opportunities for childhood cancer research through the Fund; and 31
HOUSE BILL 672 3
2. Use funds from the Fund to administer the Fund, 1
including for staff and administrative costs associated with the Commission established 2
under § 20–121 of this title. 3
(ii) The amounts distributed and used under subparagraph (i) of this 4
paragraph may not exceed a total of 5% of the Fund. 5
(2) (i) After making the distribution allowed under paragraph (1) of 6
this subsection, the Secreta ry shall use the remainder of the Fund only to provide grants 7
to [eligible physicians, ] NONPROFIT hospitals, [laboratories,] educational institutions, 8
and other NONPROFIT organizations [and persons] to conduct pediatric cancer research. 9
(ii) Money received from the grant program under this section may 10
not be used to pay for institutional overhead expenses, organizational expenses, or charges 11
that are not directly related to pediatric cancer research or expenses arising from 12
community–based support services. 13
(d) (1) On or before August 31 each year, the Secretary shall submit a report 14
to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, on 15
the administration of the Fund. 16
(2) The report required under this subsection shall include: 17
(i) A description of promotional efforts undertaken with money from 18
the Fund; and 19
(ii) A detailed accounting of the use of the Fund. 20
(e) The Secretary shall adopt regulations to implement a pediatric cancer grant 21
program under this section. 22
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 23
October 1, 2026. 24
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency 25
measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety, has 26
been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three –fifths of all the members elected to 27
each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it is 28
enacted. 29