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*sb0792*
SENATE BILL 792
J3, E4 6lr3460
By: Senator Lam
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Finance
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 2, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Hospitals – Immigration Enforcement Action – Policy Requirement 2
FOR the purpose of requiring the State Health Services Cost Review Commission to develop 3
and publish a model policy relating to immigration enforcement actions at hospitals; 4
requiring certain hospitals in the State to develop a policy relating to immigration 5
enforcement actions; and generally relating to hospitals and immigration 6
enforcement policies. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 8
Article – Health – General 9
Section 19–201(a) and (c) and 19–207(a) 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 12
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 13
Article – Health – General 14
Section 19–207(b) 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 17
BY adding to 18
Article – Health – General 19
Section 19–306 20
Annotated Code of Maryland 21
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 22
2 SENATE BILL 792
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 2
Article – Health – General 3
19–201. 4
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 5
(c) “Commission” means the State Health Services Cost Review Commission. 6
19–207. 7
(a) In addition to the powers set forth elsewhere in this subtitle, the Commission 8
may: 9
(1) Adopt rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this subtitle; 10
(2) Create committees from among its members; 11
(3) Appoint advisory committees, which may include individuals and 12
representatives of interested public or private organizations; 13
(4) Apply for and accept any funds, property, or services from any person 14
or government agency; 15
(5) Make agreements with a grantor or payor of funds, property, or 16
services, including an agreement to make any study, plan, demonstration, or project; 17
(6) Publish and give out any information that relates to the financial 18
aspects of health care and is considered desirable in the public interest; and 19
(7) Subject to the limitations of this subtitle, exercise any other power that 20
is reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes of this subtitle. 21
(b) In addition to the duties set forth elsewhere in th is subtitle, the Commission 22
shall: 23
(1) Adopt rules and regulations that relate to its meetings, minutes, and 24
transactions; 25
(2) Keep minutes of each meeting; 26
(3) Prepare annually a budget proposal that includes the estimated income 27
of the Commission and proposed expenses for its administration and operation; 28
SENATE BILL 792 3
(4) Within a reasonable time after the end of each facility’s fiscal year or 1
more often as the Commission determines, prepare from the information filed with the 2
Commission any summary, compi lation, or other supplementary report that will advance 3
the purposes of this subtitle; 4
(5) Periodically participate in or do analyses and studies that relate to: 5
(i) Health care costs; 6
(ii) The financial status of any facility; or 7
(iii) Any other appropriate matter; 8
(6) On or before May 1 of each year, submit to the Governor, to the 9
Secretary, and, subject to § 2 –1257 of the State Government Article, to the General 10
Assembly an annual report on the operations and activities of the Commissio n during the 11
preceding fiscal year, including: 12
(i) A copy of each summary, compilation, and supplementary report 13
required by this subtitle; 14
(ii) Budget information regarding the Health Services Cost Review 15
Commission Fund, including: 16
1. Any balance remaining in the Fund at the end of the 17
previous fiscal year; and 18
2. The percentage of the total annual costs of the 19
Commission that is represented by the balance remaining in the Fund at the end of the 20
previous fiscal year; 21
(iii) A summary of the Commission’s role in hospital quality of care 22
activities, including information about the status of any pay for performance initiatives; 23
(iv) An update on the status of the State’s compliance with the 24
provisions of the all–payer model contract that includes: 25
1. Performance in limiting inpatient and outpatient hospital 26
per capita cost growth for all payers; 27
2. Annual progress toward achieving the State’s financial 28
targets established by the all–payer model contract; 29
3. A summary o f the work conducted, recommendations 30
made, including recommendations made by workgroups created to provide technical input 31
and advice, and Commission action on activities related to the all–payer model contract; 32
4 SENATE BILL 792
4. Actions approved by the Commission to promote 1
alternative methods of rate determination and payment of an experimental nature, as 2
authorized under § 19–219(c)(2) of this subtitle; 3
5. Reports submitted to the federal Center for Medicare and 4
Medicaid Innovation relating to the all–payer model contract; 5
6. Any known adverse consequences in implementing the 6
all–payer model contract, as reported to the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid 7
Innovation, that may negatively impact quality of or access to care, and the actions taken 8
by the Commission to mitigate the consequences; and 9
7. Annual progress made in the development of public and 10
private partnerships between hospitals and other entities, including community –based 11
physicians, community –based organizations, and other post –acute care providers, to 12
achieve the population health goals established with the federal Center for Medicare and 13
Medicaid Innovation; and 14
(v) Any other fact, suggestion, or policy recommendation that the 15
Commission considers necessary; 16
(7) Oversee and administer the Maryland Trauma Physician Services 17
Fund in conjunction with the Maryland Health Care Commission; [and] 18
(8) If the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issues a warning 19
notice related to a “triggering event” as described in the all–payer model contract, provide 20
written notification to the Governor, the Secretary, and, subject to § 2 –1257 of the State 21
Government Article, the General Assembly within 15 days after the issuance of the notice; 22
(9) IN CONSULTATION WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE 23
MARYLAND HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION, DEVELOP A MODEL POLICY FOR HOSPITALS IN 24
THE STATE ADDRESSING HOW A HOSPITAL SHALL RES POND TO IMMIGRATION 25
ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AT THE HOSPITAL , WITH CONSIDERATION O F PATIENT 26
PRIVACY AND THE SAFETY OF PATIENTS, GUESTS, AND STAFF; AND 27
(10) ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2026, PUBLISH THE MODEL PO LICY 28
DEVELOPED UNDER ITEM (9) OF THIS SUBSECTION ON ITS WEBSITE. 29
19–306. 30
(A) (1) THE REQUIREMENTS OF T HIS SUBSECTION DO NO T APPLY TO A 31
HOSPITAL OPERATED BY A UNIT OF STATE OR LOCAL GOVERN MENT REQUIRED TO 32
IMPLEMENT A POLICY C ONSISTENT WITH THE G UIDANCE OF THE ATTORNEY 33
GENERAL UNDER § 6–111 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 34
SENATE BILL 792 5
(2) A HOSPITAL SHALL ADOPT: 1
(1) ADOPT A POLICY DESCRIBING THE PROTOCOL OF THE HOSPITAL 2
WHEN THERE IS AN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTION AT THE HOSPITAL ON OR 3
BEFORE THE EARLIER OF: 4
(I) JANUARY 1, 2027; OR 5
(II) 3 MONTHS AFTER THE COMMISSION PUBLISHES A MODEL 6
POLICY UNDER § 19–207(B)(10) OF THIS TITLE . CONSISTENT WITH THE GUIDANCE 7
OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ISSUED UNDER § 6–111 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT 8
ARTICLE; 9
(B) A HOSPITAL SHALL: 10
(1) (2) CONSPICUOUSLY POST CO PIES OF MAKE THE HOSPITAL’S 11
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEM ENT ACTION POLICY ON THE HOSPITAL ’S WEBSITE 12
AVAILABLE TO ALL HOSPITAL STAFF MEMBERS; AND 13
(2) (3) PROVIDE ANNUAL TRAINI NG TO ALL HOSPITAL S TAFF 14
MEMBERS TO ENSURE TH E STAFF ’S KNOWLEDGE AND UNDE RSTANDING OF THE 15
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTION POLICY. 16
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 17
1, 2026. 18
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.