Bill > HB27

This bill establishes the Maryland Long COVID Innovation Grant and Loan Program, administered by the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (Corporation), to fund research, product development, and manufacturing in Maryland related to treatments for Long COVID. The program will be supported by the Maryland Long COVID Research Fund, which will receive state appropriations, interest earnings, and other contributions. An independent scientific peer review committee will evaluate research proposals, and the Corporation will use these recommendations to award grants and loans. The Corporation is responsible for setting criteria for applications, overseeing the use of funds, and ensuring that grant recipients meet project goals, with the ability to rescind funds if they fail to do so. The bill also mandates that the Corporation develop policies to manage conflicts of interest among committee members and requires annual reporting to the Governor and General Assembly on the program's progress and economic impact. Importantly, this bill amends existing law to ensure that interest earned on the Maryland Long COVID Research Fund accrues to the fund itself, rather than the State's General Fund, and the program is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.