Read the full stored bill text
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.
*sb0876*
SENATE BILL 876
J3, J1 6lr0650
By: Senator Attar
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Finance
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 6, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Recovery Residences – Certification – Requirement 2
FOR the purpose of requiring, beginning on a certain date, rather than authorizing, a 3
recovery residence to be certified by a credentialing entity before operating in the 4
State; and generally relating to the certification of recovery residences. 5
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 6
Article – Health – General 7
Section 7.5–101(a) and (o), 19–2501(a), (c), and (e), and 19–2502 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 10
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – Health – General 12
Section 7.5–401(a) and (b)(2), 19–2503, and 19–2504 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15
BY adding to 16
Article – Health – General 17
Section 19–2501.1 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 20
2 SENATE BILL 876
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
7.5–101. 4
(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 5
(o) “Recovery residence” means a service that: 6
(1) Provides alcohol–free and illicit–drug–free housing to individuals with 7
substance–related disorders or addictive disorders or co –occurring mental disorders and 8
substance–related disorders or addictive disorders; and 9
(2) Does not include clinical treatment services. 10
7.5–401. 11
(a) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a behavioral health 12
program shall be licensed by the Secretary before program services may be provided in this 13
State. 14
(2) PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION D OES NOT APPLY TO A 15
RECOVERY RESIDENCE. 16
(b) The Secretary may exempt the following persons from the licensure 17
requirements of this section: 18
(2) Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, [recovery residences, ] 19
peer support services, family support services, or other similar organizations, if the 20
organization holds meetings or provides support services but does not provide any type of 21
treatment; 22
19–2501. 23
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 24
(c) “Certified recovery residence” means a recovery residence that holds a 25
certificate of compliance. 26
(e) “Recovery residence” has the meaning stated in § 7.5–101 of this article. 27
19–2501.1. 28
SENATE BILL 876 3
BEGINNING JANUARY JUNE 1, 2027, A RECOVERY RESIDENCE SHALL BE 1
CERTIFIED BY A CREDENTIALING ENTITY APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER 2
§ 19–2502 OF THIS SUBTITLE BEFORE OPERATING IN THE STATE. 3
19–2502. 4
(a) The Department shall approve a credentialing entity to develop and 5
administer a certification process for recovery residences. 6
(b) The credentialing entity shall: 7
(1) Establish recovery residence certification requirements; 8
(2) Establish processes to administer the application, certification, and 9
recertification process; 10
(3) Establish processes to monitor and inspect a recovery residence; 11
(4) Conduct an on–site inspection of a recovery residence: 12
(i) Before issuing a certificate of compliance; and 13
(ii) At least once during each certification renewal period; and 14
(5) Issue a certificate of compliance on approval of the application process 15
and the inspection of the recovery residence. 16
(c) A certificate of compliance issued by the credentialing entity is valid for 1 year 17
from the date of issuance. 18
(d) The credentialing entity may revoke the certificate of compliance of a certified 19
recovery residence if the credentialing entity finds that the recovery residence is not in 20
compliance with the requirements established by the credentialing entity. 21
19–2503. 22
(a) (1) On or before October 1, 2017, the credentialing entity shall submit a list 23
to the Department of the recovery residences that have obtained a certificate of compliance. 24
(2) THE CREDENTIALING ENTITY SHALL SUBMIT AN UPDATED LIST TO 25
THE DEPARTMENT AS NECESSARY. 26
(b) [(1) On or before November 1, 2017, the ] THE Department shall publish 27
AND MAINTAIN on its website: 28
4 SENATE BILL 876
[(i)] (1) A list of each credentialing entity and the contact 1
information for the credentialing entity; and 2
[(ii)] (2) A list of each CERTIFIED recovery residence operating in 3
each county in the State. 4
[(2) The list published under paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection shall 5
indicate whether the owner of a recovery residence has received a valid certificate of 6
compliance.] 7
(c) (1) [On or befor e November 1, 2017, a ] EACH credentialing entity shall 8
publish AND MAINTAIN on its website a list of each recovery residence that holds a valid 9
certificate of compliance. 10
(2) The list published under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall include 11
only the owner of the recovery residence and the contact information of the owner. 12
19–2504. 13
(a) A person may not advertise, represent, or imply to the public that a recovery 14
residence is a certified recovery residence unless the recovery residence has obtained a 15
certificate of compliance under this subtitle. 16
(b) (1) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section is subject to a civil 17
penalty imposed by the Department not exceeding $1,000 for each offense. 18
(2) In setting the amount of a civil penalty under paragraph (1) of this 19
subsection, the Department shall consider the nature, number, and seriousness of the 20
violations, the ability of the [certified] recovery residence to pay the penalty, and any other 21
factors the Department determines are relevant. 22
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 23
October 1, 2026. 24
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.