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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1531*
HOUSE BILL 1531
J1, J5, C4 6lr2191
By: Delegate Fair
Introduced and read first time: February 13, 2026
Assigned to: Health and Ways and Means
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Helping Everyone Afford Life–Saving Treatments and Health Care 2
(HEALTH) Fund – Establishment 3
FOR the purpose of establishing the Maryland Helping Everyone Afford Life –Saving 4
Treatments and Health Care (HEALTH) Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund to assist 5
certain individuals with health care costs associated with legally protected health 6
care services and benefits provided under State law that are subject to federal 7
restrictions; requiring the Comptroller to distribu te certain proceeds under the 8
Maryland Uniform Disposition of Abandoned Property Act to the HEALTH Fund; 9
requiring that certain funds from the Abortion Care Clinical Training Program Fund 10
be credited to the HEALTH Fund ; establishing that a certain premium tax is 11
imposed in addition to certain sales and use and property taxes; requiring the 12
Comptroller to distribute certain sales and use tax revenue and State property tax 13
revenue to the HEALTH Fund ; and generally relating to the establishment of the 14
Maryland Helping Everyone Afford Life –Saving Treatments and Health Care 15
(HEALTH) Fund. 16
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 17
Article – Commercial Law 18
Section 17–101(a) and (c) 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2025 Replacement Volume) 21
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 22
Article – Commercial Law 23
Section 17–317 24
Annotated Code of Maryland 25
(2025 Replacement Volume) 26
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 27
Article – Health – General 28
2 HOUSE BILL 1531
Section 13–4706(a) 1
Annotated Code of Maryland 2
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 3
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 4
Article – Health – General 5
Section 13–4706(j) 6
Annotated Code of Maryland 7
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 8
BY adding to 9
Article – Insurance 10
Section 6–102(g) and 31–107.3 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2017 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 13
BY adding to 14
Article – Tax – General 15
Section 2–1302.6 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 18
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 19
Article – Tax – General 20
Section 2–1303 21
Annotated Code of Maryland 22
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 23
BY adding to 24
Article – Tax – Property 25
Section 5–104 26
Annotated Code of Maryland 27
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 28
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 29
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 30
Article – Commercial Law 31
17–101. 32
(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 33
(c) “Administrator” means the State Comptroller. 34
17–317. 35
HOUSE BILL 1531 3
(a) (1) (i) All funds received under this title, including the proceeds of the 1
sale of abandoned property under § 17 –316 of this subtitle, shall be credited by the 2
Administrator to a special fund. 3
(ii) The Administrator shall retain in the special fund at the end of 4
each fiscal year, from the proceeds received: 5
1. An amount not exceeding $5,000,000 for information 6
technology costs of the Administrator, including cybersecurity, customer relation systems, 7
and a system for managing unclaimed property; and 8
2. An amount of funds the Administrator reasonably 9
estimates is sufficient, from which sum the Administrator shall pay any claim allowed 10
under this title. 11
(2) After deducting all costs in curred in administering this title from the 12
remaining net funds the Administrator shall distribute $8,000,000 to the Maryland Legal 13
Services Corporation Fund established under § 11–402 of the Human Services Article. 14
(3) (i) Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the Administrator 15
shall distribute all unclaimed money from judgments of restitution under Title 11, Subtitle 16
6 of the Criminal Procedure Article to the State Victims of Crime Fund established under 17
§ 11–916 of the Criminal Procedure Article to assist victims of crimes and delinquent acts 18
to protect the victims’ rights as provided by law. 19
(ii) If a victim entitled to restitution that has been treated as 20
abandoned property under § 11–614 of the Criminal Procedure Article is located aft er the 21
money has been distributed under this paragraph, the Administrator shall reduce the next 22
distribution to the State Victims of Crime Fund by the amount recovered by the victim. 23
(4) For fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter, after making the 24
distributions required under paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, the Administrator 25
shall distribute $500,000 from the remaining net funds to the Tax Clinics for Low–Income 26
Marylanders Fund established under § 1–207 of the Tax – General Article. 27
(5) For each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028, after making the 28
distributions required under paragraphs (2) through (4) of this subsection, the 29
Administrator shall distribute $14,000,000 from the remaining net funds to the Access to 30
Counsel in Evictions Special Fund under § 8–909 of the Real Property Article. 31
(6) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027 AND EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER, 32
AFTER MAKING THE DISTRIBUTIONS REQUIRED UNDER PARAGRAPHS (2) THROUGH 33
(5) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE ADMINISTRATOR SHALL D ISTRIBUTE $20,000,000 34
FROM THE REMAINING N ET FUNDS TO THE MARYLAND HELPING EVERYONE 35
AFFORD LIFE–SAVING TREATMENTS AND HEALTH CARE (HEALTH) FUND 36
ESTABLISHED UNDER § 31–107.3 OF THE INSURANCE ARTICLE. 37
4 HOUSE BILL 1531
[(6)] (7) After making the distributions required under paragraphs (2) 1
through [(5)] (6) of this subsection, the Administrator shall distribute the remaining net 2
funds not retained under paragraph (1) of this subsection to the General Fund of the State. 3
(b) (1) Before making the distribution, the Administrator shall record the 4
name and last known address, if any, of the owners of funds so distributed and the type of 5
property which the funds distributed represent. 6
(2) The record shall be available for public inspection during reasonable 7
business hours by any person who claims a legal interest in any property held by the 8
Administrator, provided that the person gives prior notice to the Administrator. 9
Article – Health – General 10
13–4706. 11
(a) There is an Abortion Care Clinical Training Program Fund. 12
(j) (1) [No] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS 13
SUBSECTION, NO part of the Fund may revert or be credited to: 14
[(1)] (I) The General Fund of the State; or 15
[(2)] (II) Any other special fund of the State. 16
(2) BEGINNING IN FISCAL YEAR 2027, AT THE END OF EACH F ISCAL 17
YEAR, ANY REMAINING FUNDS IN THE FUND SHALL BE CREDITED TO THE 18
MARYLAND HELPING EVERYONE AFFORD LIFE–SAVING TREATMENTS AND 19
HEALTH CARE (HEALTH) FUND ESTABLISHED UNDE R § 31–107.3 OF THE 20
INSURANCE ARTICLE. 21
Article – Insurance 22
6–102. 23
(G) THE TAX IMPOSED UNDER THIS SECTION IS IMPOSED IN ADDITION TO: 24
(1) THE SALES AND USE TAX IMPOSED UNDER TITLE 11 OF THE TAX 25
– GENERAL ARTICLE; AND 26
(2) THE PROPERTY TAX ES IMPOSED UNDER TITLE 6 OF THE 27
TAX – PROPERTY ARTICLE. 28
31–107.3. 29
HOUSE BILL 1531 5
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 1
INDICATED. 2
(2) “EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR” MEANS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF 3
THE EXCHANGE. 4
(3) “FUND” MEANS THE MARYLAND HELPING EVERYONE AFFORD 5
LIFE–SAVING TREATMENTS AND HEALTH CARE (HEALTH) FUND ESTABLISHED 6
UNDER THIS SECTION. 7
(4) “LEGALLY PROTECTED HEA LTH CARE ” HAS THE MEANING 8
STATED IN § 2–312 OF THE STATE PERSONNEL AND PENSIONS ARTICLE. 9
(B) (1) THERE IS A MARYLAND HELPING EVERYONE AFFORD 10
LIFE–SAVING TREATMENTS AND HEALTH CARE (HEALTH) FUND. 11
(2) THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO PROVIDE AS SISTANCE TO 12
MARYLAND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ENROLLEES , INDIVIDUALS WITH 13
HEALTH INSURANCE, AND INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE FOR HEALTH 14
CARE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH LEGALLY PROTECTED HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND 15
BENEFITS UNDER STATE LAW THAT ARE SU BJECT TO FEDERAL RES TRICTIONS, 16
INCLUDING FUNDING RESTRICTIONS. 17
(3) THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHALL ADMINISTER THE FUND. 18
(4) (I) THE FUND IS A SPECIAL , NONLAPSING FUND THAT IS NOT 19
SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE. 20
(II) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL HOLD THE FUND 21
SEPARATELY, AND THE COMPTROLLER SHALL ACCOUNT FOR THE FUND. 22
(5) THE FUND CONSISTS OF: 23
(I) PROCEEDS DISTRIBUTED TO THE FUND UNDER § 17–317 OF 24
THE COMMERCIAL LAW ARTICLE; 25
(II) FUNDS CREDITED TO TH E FUND UNDER § 13–4706 OF THE 26
HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE; 27
(III) SALES AND USE TAX RE VENUE DISTRIBUTED TO THE FUND 28
UNDER § 2–1302.6 OF THE TAX – GENERAL ARTICLE; 29
6 HOUSE BILL 1531
(IV) STATE PROPERTY TAX RE VENUE DISTRIBUTED TO THE 1
FUND UNDER § 5–104 OF THE TAX – PROPERTY ARTICLE; 2
(V) PRIVATE DONATIONS RE CEIVED UNDER A PROCESS 3
ESTABLISHED BY THE EXCHANGE; 4
(VI) MONEY APPROPRIATED I N THE STATE BUDGET TO THE 5
FUND; AND 6
(VII) ANY OTHER MONEY FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE ACC EPTED 7
FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FUND. 8
(6) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (7)(II) OF THIS SUBSECTION, THE FUND 9
MAY BE USED ONLY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO ELIGIB LE INDIVIDUAL S WHO 10
PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF A NEED FOR HEALTH CA RE ASSISTANCE FOR LEGALLY 11
PROTECTED HEALTH CARE SERVICES AUTHORIZED UNDER STATE LAW THAT HAVE 12
BEEN IMPACTED BY FEDERAL RESTRICTIONS. 13
(7) (I) TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE UNDER PAR AGRAPH (6) OF THIS 14
SUBSECTION, THE EXCHANGE SHALL PROVIDE GRANTS TO HEALTH CARE 15
PROVIDERS THAT DELIVER LEGALLY PROT ECTED HEALTH CARE SE RVICES TO 16
ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS IN THE STATE. 17
(II) IF, IN THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S DISCRETION, THERE IS 18
A SIGNIFICANT SURPLUS OF AVAILABLE ASSISTANCE, THE EXCHANGE MAY EXPAND 19
THE LEGALLY PROTECTED HEALTH CARE SERVICES ASSISTED UNDER THE FUND TO 20
INCLUDE OTHER HEALTH CARE SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY FEDERAL 21
RESTRICTIONS. 22
(III) THE EXCHANGE MAY ENTER INTO ANY CONTRACT 23
NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THIS PARAGRAPH. 24
(8) (I) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL INVEST THE MONEY OF THE 25
FUND IN THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER STATE MONEY MAY BE INVESTED. 26
(II) ANY INTEREST EARNINGS OF THE FUND SHALL BE 27
CREDITED TO THE GENERAL FUND OF THE STATE. 28
(9) EXPENDITURES FROM THE FUND MAY BE MADE ONLY IN 29
ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATE BUDGET. 30
(10) MONEY EXPENDED FROM T HE FUND FOR HEALTH CARE 31
ASSISTANCE IS SUPPLE MENTAL TO AND NOT IN TENDED TO TAKE THE P LACE OF 32
HOUSE BILL 1531 7
FUNDING THAT WOULD O THERWISE BE APPROPRI ATED TO THE EXCHANGE FOR 1
HEALTH CARE COSTS. 2
(C) (1) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31 EACH YEAR, BEGINNING IN 2027, 3
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 4
IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, ON THE 5
ADMINISTRATION OF THE FUND. 6
(2) THE REPORT REQUIRED UNDE R PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 7
SUBSECTION SHALL INCLUDE: 8
(I) THE GROSS AMOUNT OF FUND S RECEIVED UNDER 9
SUBSECTION (B)(5) OF THIS SECTION, DISAGGREGATED BY SOURCE; AND 10
(II) A DETAILED ACCOUNTING OF THE USE OF THE FUND. 11
(D) THE EXCHANGE SHALL ADOPT REGULATI ONS TO CARRY OUT THIS 12
SECTION. 13
Article – Tax – General 14
2–1302.6. 15
IN ADDITION TO THE DISTRIBUTIONS REQUIRED UNDER §§ 2–1301 THROUGH 16
2–1302.5 OF THIS SUBTITLE , THE COMPTROLLER SHALL DIS TRIBUTE TH E SALES 17
AND USE TAX REVENUE THAT IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO A PERSON SUBJECT TO TAXATION 18
UNDER TITLE 6 OF THE INSURANCE ARTICLE TO THE MARYLAND HELPING 19
EVERYONE AFFORD LIFE–SAVING TREATMENTS AND HEALTH CARE (HEALTH) 20
FUND ESTABLISHED UNDER § 31–107.3 OF THE INSURANCE ARTICLE. 21
2–1303. 22
After making th e distributions required under §§ 2 –1301 through [2–1302.5] 23
2–1302.6 of this subtitle, the Comptroller shall pay: 24
(1) revenues from the hotel surcharge into the Dorchester County 25
Economic Development Fund established under § 10 –130 of the Economic Development 26
Article; 27
(2) to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund established under § 5–206 28
of the Education Article, the following percentage of the remaining sales and use tax 29
revenues: 30
(i) for fiscal year 2023, 9.2%; 31
8 HOUSE BILL 1531
(ii) for fiscal year 2024, 11.0%; 1
(iii) for fiscal year 2025, 11.3%; 2
(iv) for fiscal year 2026, 11.7%; and 3
(v) for fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal year thereafter, 12.1%; and 4
(3) the remaining sales and use tax revenue into the General Fund of the 5
State. 6
Article – Tax – Property 7
5–104. 8
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DISTRIBUTE THE STATE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE 9
THAT IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO A PERSON SUBJECT TO TAXATION UNDER TITLE 6 OF THE 10
INSURANCE ARTICLE TO THE MARYLAND HELPING EVERYONE AFFORD 11
LIFE–SAVING TREATMENTS AND HEALTH CARE (HEALTH) FUND ESTABLISHED 12
UNDER § 31–107.3 OF THE INSURANCE ARTICLE. 13
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 14
1, 2026. 15