Public Health - Workgroup on Postoperative Cosmetic Care

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.
*hb1263*

HOUSE BILL 1263
J1, J2 6lr2698

By: Delegates Hill, Alston, Guzzone, Lopez, Martinez, Ruth, Sample –Hughes, and
Woods Woods, Bagnall , Cullison, S. Johnson, Kaufman, Rosenberg, Ross,
Taveras, White Holland, and Woorman
Introduced and read first time: February 12, 2026
Assigned to: Health
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 26, 2026

CHAPTER ______

AN ACT concerning 1

Public Health – Workgroup on Postoperative Cosmetic Care 2

FOR the purpose of establishing the Workgroup on Postoperative Cosmetic Care to study 3
the regulation of postoperative cosmetic and body –altering services provided by 4
nonphysician practitioners; and generally relating to the Workgroup on 5
Postoperative Cosmetic Care. 6

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 7
That: 8

(a) There is a Workgroup on Postoperative Cosmetic Care to study the regulation 9
of postoperative cosmetic and body –altering services provided by nonphysician 10
practitioners with a focus on patient safety, consumer protection, and continuity of care. 11

(b) The Workgroup consists of the following members: 12

(1) the Secretary of Health, or the Secretary’s designee; 13

(2) the Secretary of Labor, or the Secretary’s designee; 14

(3) the President of the State Board of Nursing, or the President’s designee; 15

2 HOUSE BILL 1263

(4) the Chair of the State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners, or the 1
Chair’s designee; 2

(5) the Chair of the State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners, or the 3
Chair’s designee; and 4

(6) the following members, appointed by the Secretary of Health: 5

(i) one licensed physician specializing in cosmetic or plastic surgery; 6

(ii) one licensed acupuncturist; 7

(iii) one consumer or patient advocate with experience in 8
postsurgical care; 9

(iii) (iv) one representative of a postoperative care or recovery 10
services organization; and 11

(iv) (v) any additional stakeholders determined appropriate by 12
the Secretary of Health. 13

(c) The members of the Workgroup shall elec t the chair of the Workgroup from 14
among its members. 15

(d) Members of the Workgroup representing government entities shall designate 16
staff from their respective government entities to staff the Workgroup. 17

(e) A member of the Workgroup: 18

(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Workgroup; but 19

(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 20
Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 21

(f) The Workgroup shall: 22

(1) examine how postoperative cosmetic care is currently regulated or 23
overseen in the State; 24

(2) identify any gaps in patient access to qualified providers of cosmetic 25
care; 26

(3) review conflicts between existing scope–of–practice laws; 27

(4) evaluate risks posed by unrecognized or unregulated practitioners that 28
provide cosmetic care services; 29

HOUSE BILL 1263 3

(5) assess training and education requirements for postoperative cosmetic 1
care; 2

(6) review best practices and regulatory models from other states; 3

(7) consider options for certification, registration, or professional 4
recognition for providers of postsurgical cosmetic care, including alignment with existing 5
licensing boards; 6

(8) make recommendations that prioritize consumer protection and patient 7
safety; 8

(9) avoid recommending the cre ation of a new licensure program unless 9
necessary; and 10

(10) consider low–cost and nonbureaucratic options. 11

(g) In carrying out its duties under subsection (f) of this section, the Workgroup 12
shall focus on consumer protection, patient safety, and conti nuity of care over industry 13
expansion. 14

(h) (1) On or before December 1, 2026, the Workgroup shall submit an interim 15
report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 16
2–1257 of the State Government Article, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the 17
House of Delegates. 18

(2) On or before December 1, 2027, the Workgroup shall submit a final 19
report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 20
2–1257 of the State Government Article, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the 21
House of Delegates. 22

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Workgroup on 23
Postoperative Cosmetic Care is not a regulatory board and may not establish a licensure 24
program without legislative approval. 25

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 26
1, 2026. It shall remain effective for a period of 2 years and, at the end of June 30, 2028, 27
this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and 28
of no further force and effect. 29