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*sb0370*
SENATE BILL 370
J2 6lr2026
CF HB 374
By: Senator Augustine
Introduced and read first time: January 27, 2026
Assigned to: Finance
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 18, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
State Acupuncture Board – Revisions 2
FOR the purpose of defining “manual therapies” as it relates to the practice of acupuncture; 3
requiring the State Acupuncture Board to make available proof of renewal, rather 4
than issuing a renewal certificate; prohibiting a person from employing an individual 5
to practice acupuncture without a license or aiding or abetting the unauthorized 6
practice of acupuncture; and generally relating to the practice of acupuncture. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Health Occupations 9
Section 1A–101, 1A–302(b), 1A–306(e), and 1A–403 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 12
BY adding to 13
Article – Health Occupations 14
Section 1A–403 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 17
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 18
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 19
Article – Health Occupations 20
2 SENATE BILL 370
1A–101. 1
(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 2
(b) “Acupuncture” means a form of health care based on East Asian medical 3
theories of energetic physiology that describe the interrelatio nship of the body organs and 4
functions. 5
(c) “Auricular detoxification” means an acupuncture technique involving the 6
needling of the external auricle of the human ear for the purpose of assisting a person who 7
is undergoing detoxification to remove addicti ve substances from the body and restoring 8
health. 9
(d) “Board” means the State Acupuncture Board. 10
(e) “License” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a license issued by the 11
Board to practice acupuncture. 12
(F) (1) “MANUAL THERAPIES ” MEANS TREATMENT MODALITIES THAT 13
APPLY PRESSURE OR MA NIPULATION USING HAN DS OR ANOTHER PART O F THE 14
BODY ALONG POINTS OR MERIDIANS THAT NORMA LIZE ELECTROMAGNETIC OR 15
ENERGETIC FUNCTION. 16
(2) “MANUAL THERAPIES ” INCLUDE ACUPRESSURE OR OTHER 17
PRESSURE TREATMENT TECHNIQUES BASED ON EAST ASIAN MEDICAL THERAPIES. 18
[(f)] (G) (1) “Practice acupuncture” means the use of East Asian medical 19
therapies for the purpose of normalizing energetic physiological functions including pain 20
control, and for the promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health. 21
(2) “Practice acupuncture” includes: 22
(i) Stimulation of the body by the insertion of needles; 23
(ii) The application of moxibustion; and 24
(iii) Manual THERAPIES, mechanical THERAPIES, thermal 25
THERAPIES, electrical THERAPIES, or other East Asian medical therapies only when 26
performed in accordance with the principles of East Asian medical theories and practices. 27
[(g)] (H) “Supervision” means: 28
(1) A formalized professional relationship between a licensed 29
acupuncturist and an individual performing auricular detoxification that provides 30
evaluation and direction of the individual to adequately ensure the safety and welfare of 31
clients during the course of treatment; and 32
SENATE BILL 370 3
(2) As defined by the Board in regulations: 1
(i) Periodic direct supervision where the licensed acupuncturist is 2
present or on–site during treatment; and 3
(ii) General supervision where the licensed acupuncturist is neither 4
present nor on–site during treatment. 5
1A–302. 6
(b) The applicant shall: 7
(1) Be of good moral character; 8
(2) Be at least 18 years old; 9
(3) Demonstrate competence in performing acupuncture by meeting the 10
following standards for education or training: 11
(i) If the applicant is issued a license on or before May 31, 2026: 12
1. Graduation from at least a master’s level program or its 13
equivalent in acupuncture that is: 14
A. Approved by the Maryland Higher Education 15
Commission; 16
B. Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for 17
Acupuncture and [Oriental] HERBAL Medicine; or 18
C. Found by the Board to be equivalent to a course approved 19
or accredited under item A or B of this item; or 20
2. Achievement of a: 21
A. Diplomate in acupuncture from the National Certification 22
Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine; or 23
B. Passing score on an examination that is determined by the 24
Board to be equivalent to the examination given by the National Certification Commission 25
for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine; or 26
(ii) If the applicant is issued a license on or after June 1, 2026: 27
1. Graduation from at least a master’s level program or its 28
equivalent in acupuncture that is: 29
4 SENATE BILL 370
A. Approved by the Maryland Higher Education 1
Commission; 2
B. Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for 3
Acupuncture and [Oriental] HERBAL Medicine; or 4
C. Found by the Board to be equivalent to a course approved 5
or accredited under item A or B of this item; and 6
2. Achievement of a passing score on an examination given 7
by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine or 8
determined by the Board to be equivalent to the examination given by the National 9
Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine; 10
(4) Demonstrate the ability to communicate in the English language; and 11
(5) Meet any other qualifications that the Board establishes in regulations. 12
1A–306. 13
(e) The Board shall renew the license of and [issue a renewal certificate] MAKE 14
AVAILABLE PROOF OF R ENEWAL to each licensee who meets the requirements of this 15
section. 16
1A–403. 17
EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS TITLE, A PERSON MAY NOT: 18
(1) EMPLOY AN INDIVIDUAL TO PRACTICE ACUPUNCTURE WITHOUT A 19
LICENSE; OR 20
(2) AID OR ABET THE UNAUT HORIZED PRACTICE OF ACUPUNCTURE 21
IN VIOLATION OF § 1A–401 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 22
[1A–403.] 1A–404. 23
(a) A person who violates [any provision] § 1A–401 OR § 1A–402 of this subtitle 24
is [guilty]: 25
(1) GUILTY of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not 26
exceeding $5,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or both[. 27
(b) A person who violates § 1A–401 or § 1A–402 of this subtitle is subject]; AND 28
SENATE BILL 370 5
(2) SUBJECT to a civil fine not to exceed $50,000 to be assessed by the 1
Board in accordance with regulations adopted by the Board. 2
(B) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES § 1A–403 OF THIS SUBTITLE IS: 3
(1) (I) FOR A FIRST OFFENSE, GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND ON 4
CONVICTION IS SUBJECT TO A FINE NOT EXCEEDING $5,000 OR IMPRISONMENT NOT 5
EXCEEDING 1 YEAR OR BOTH; AND 6
(II) FOR A SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE, GUILTY OF A FELONY AND ON 7
CONVICTION IS SUBJEC T TO A FINE NOT EXCE EDING $5,000 PER DAY OR 8
IMPRISONMENT NOT EXCEEDING 5 YEARS OR BOTH; AND 9
(2) SUBJECT TO A CIVIL FI NE NOT TO EXCEED $10,000 TO BE 10
ASSESSED BY THE BOARD IN ACCORDANCE W ITH REGULATIONS ADOP TED BY THE 11
BOARD. 12
(C) THE BOARD SHALL REMIT ANY PENALTY COLLECTED UN DER THIS 13
SECTION INTO THE GENERAL FUND OF THE STATE. 14
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 15
October 1, 2026. 16
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.