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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
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*sb0096*
SENATE BILL 96
J1 6lr0728
(PRE–FILED)
By: Senator Simonaire
Requested: August 22, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Finance
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 7, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Sheila E. Hixson Behavioral Health Services Matching Grant Program for 2
Service Members and Veterans – Terminology – Active Service Members 3
FOR the purpose of altering certain terminology used in the Sheila E. Hixson Behavioral 4
Health Services Matching Grant Program for Service Members and Veterans that 5
refers to active service members to refer to service members; and generally relating 6
to the Sheila E. Hixson Behavioral Health Services Matching Grant Program for 7
Service Members and Veterans. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
Article – Health – General 10
Section 7.5–210(a), (b), and (e)(1) 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 13
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15
Article – Health – General 16
7.5–210. 17
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 18
2 SENATE BILL 96
(2) “Eligible individual” means: 1
(i) [An active] A service member; 2
(ii) A veteran; 3
(iii) The spouse of [an active] A service member or veteran; 4
(iv) A child of [an active] A service member or veteran; or 5
(v) A stepchild of [an active] A service member or veteran. 6
(3) “Program” means the Sheila E. Hixson Behavioral Health Services 7
Matching Grant Program for Service Members and Veterans. 8
(b) (1) There is a Sheila E. Hixson Behavioral Health Services Matching Grant 9
Program for Service Members and Veterans. 10
(2) The purpose of the Program is to provide funds to local nonprofit 11
organizations to establish and expand community behavioral health programs to serve 12
[active] service members, veterans, and their families. 13
(e) (1) To be eligible for a grant from the Program, a nonprofit organization 14
must have a mission to: 15
(i) Provide behavioral health services; or 16
(ii) Provide services to [active] service members, veterans, or their 17
families. 18
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 19
October 1, 2026. 20
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.