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*hb1249*
HOUSE BILL 1249
J3, J1 6lr2814
By: Delegate Hill
Introduced and read first time: February 12, 2026
Assigned to: Health
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 9, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Certified Recovery Residences – Refusing Services to Individuals Receiving 2
Medication–Assisted Treatment – Prohibition 3
FOR the purpose of requiring that the requirements for the certification of recovery 4
residences established by a credentialing entity prohibit a certified recovery 5
residence from refusing services to an individual receiving medication –assisted 6
treatment or requiring an individual to cease receiving or modify how the individual 7
receives medication–assisted treatment as a condition to receive services from a 8
certified recovery residence; and generally relating to medication–assisted treatment 9
and certified recovery residences. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 11
Article – Health – General 12
Section 7.5–101(a) and (o) and 19–2501 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 16
Article – Health – General 17
Section 19–2502 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 20
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 21
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 22
2 HOUSE BILL 1249
Article – Health – General 1
7.5–101. 2
(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 3
(o) “Recovery residence” means a service that: 4
(1) Provides alcohol–free and illicit–drug–free housing to individuals with 5
substance–related disorders or addictive disorders or co –occurring mental disorders and 6
substance–related disorders or addictive disorders; and 7
(2) Does not include clinical treatment services. 8
19–2501. 9
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 10
(b) “Certificate of compliance” means a cer tificate that is issued to a recovery 11
residence by a credentialing entity. 12
(c) “Certified recovery residence” means a recovery residence that holds a 13
certificate of compliance. 14
(d) “Credentialing entity” means a nonprofit organization that develops and 15
administers professional certification programs according to nationally recognized 16
certification standards. 17
(e) “Recovery residence” has the meaning stated in § 7.5–101 of this article. 18
19–2502. 19
(a) The Department shall approve a credentialing entity to develop and 20
administer a certification process for recovery residences. 21
(b) The credentialing entity shall: 22
(1) [Establish] SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION , 23
ESTABLISH recovery residence certification requirements; 24
(2) Establish processes to administer the application, certification, and 25
recertification process; 26
(3) Establish processes to monitor and inspect a recovery residence; 27
(4) Conduct an on–site inspection of a recovery residence: 28
HOUSE BILL 1249 3
(i) Before issuing a certificate of compliance; and 1
(ii) At least once during each certification renewal period; and 2
(5) Issue a certificate of compliance on approval of the application process 3
and the inspection of the recovery residence. 4
(c) THE REQUIREMENTS ESTA BLISHED BY A CREDENTIALING ENTITY 5
UNDER SUBSECTION (B)(1) OF THIS SECTION SHAL L PROHIBIT A CERTIFI ED 6
RECOVERY RESIDENCE FROM: 7
(1) REFUSING SERVICES TO AN INDIVIDUAL BASED ON THE 8
INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING MEDICATION–ASSISTED TREATMENT F OR OPIOID USE 9
DISORDER; AND 10
(2) REQUIRING AN INDIVIDUAL TO CEASE RECEIVING OR MODIFY 11
HOW THE INDIVIDUAL R ECEIVES MEDICATION–ASSISTED TREATMENT F OR OPIOID 12
USE DISORDER BEFORE THE INDIVIDUAL MAY RECEIVE SERVICES AT THE RECOVERY 13
RESIDENCE. 14
(D) A certificate of compliance issued by the credentialing entity is valid for 1 year 15
from the date of issuance. 16
[(d)] (E) The credentialing entity may revoke the certificate of compliance of a 17
certified recovery residence if the credentialing entity finds that the recovery residence is 18
not in compliance with the requirements established by the credentialing entity. 19
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 20
October 1, 2026. 21
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.