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Bill > HB637

MD HB637

MD HB637
Public Health - Recommendations for Immunizations, Screenings, and Preventive Services - Pharmacist Administration and Required Health Insurance Coverage (The Vax Act)

summary

Introduced
01/30/2026
In Committee
04/06/2026
Crossed Over
03/21/2026
Passed
04/14/2026
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
04/14/2026

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Requiring the Secretary of Health to issue recommendations for certain immunizations, screenings, and preventive services based on certain evidence-based scientific and clinical guidance; requiring the Secretary, before adopting a recommendation for a certain preventive service, to hold a notice and comment period, obtain a certain analysis from the Maryland Health Care Commission, and cite the basis for the recommendation; altering the health insurance coverage requirements for certain immunizations, screenings, and services; etc.

AI Summary

This bill, known as "The Vax Act," requires the Secretary of Health to issue recommendations for immunizations, screenings, and preventive services for individuals of all ages, ensuring these recommendations align with scientific consensus and clinical guidance from authoritative medical organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Before adopting recommendations for preventive services that aren't immunizations and haven't received a high rating from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the Secretary must hold a public comment period, get an analysis from the Maryland Health Care Commission, and clearly state the basis for the recommendation. The bill also expands the ability of pharmacists to administer a wider range of vaccines, including those recommended by the Secretary of Health, and modifies health insurance coverage requirements to ensure that certain preventive services and immunizations are covered without cost-sharing (like copayments or deductibles) by insurance carriers, with these changes applying to policies and plans issued, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

Sponsors (55)

Gabriel Acevero (D)*,  Nick Allen (D),  Marlon Amprey (D),  Heather Bagnall (D),  Dylan Behler (D),  Harry Bhandari (D),  Adrian Boafo (D),  Regina Boyce (D),  Derrick Coley (D),  Bonnie Cullison (D),  Eric Ebersole (D),  Mark Edelson (D),  Diana Fennell (D),  Linda Foley (D),  Cathi Forbes (D),  Michele Guyton (D),  Pamela Guzzone (D),  Andrea Harrison (D),  Terri Hill (D),  Marvin Holmes (D),  Julian Ivey (D),  Dana Jones (D),  Aaron Kaufman (D),  Robbyn Lewis (D),  Lesley Lopez (D),  Ashanti Martínez (D),  Bernice Mireku-North (D),  David Moon (D),  Gabriel Moreno (D),  Darrell Odom (D),  Julie Palakovich Carr (D),  Cheryl Pasteur (D),  Edith Patterson (D),  Scott Phillips (D),  Andrew Pruski (D),  Lily Qi (D),  Denise Roberts (D),  Mike Rogers (D),  Sandy Rosenberg (D),  Kim Ross (D),  Malcolm Ruff (D),  Gary Simmons (D),  Jared Solomon (D),  Ryan Spiegel (D),  Vaughn Stewart (D),  Deni Taveras (D),  Veronica Turner (D),  Joe Vogel (D),  Courtney Watson (D),  Jennifer White Holland (D),  Greg Wims (D),  Jamila Woods (D),  Teresa Woorman (D),  Chao Wu (D),  Natalie Ziegler (D), 

Last Action

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 7 (on 04/14/2026)

Bill Topics

Health
  • ‐ Disease Prevention
  • ‐ Health Insurance Reform
  • ‐ Regulation of Health-Related Occupations and Services
(1 Companion Bills)

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Document Type Source Location Created
State Bill Page https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0637?ys=2026RS 01/30/2026
BillText https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_7_hb0637t.pdf 04/21/2026
Vote Image https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/votes_comm/hb0637_fin.pdf 04/03/2026
BillText https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0637t.pdf 03/21/2026
Floor Amendment 203925/1 (Delegate Miller) Rejected (37-92) https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/amds/bil_0007/hb0637_20392501.pdf 03/20/2026
Floor Amendment 863029/1 (Delegate Arikan) Rejected (37-94) https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/amds/bil_0007/hb0637_86302901.pdf 03/20/2026
Favorable with Amendments 493126/1 Adopted https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/amds/bil_0007/hb0637_49312601.pdf 03/20/2026
Vote Image https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/votes_comm/hb0637_hlt.pdf 03/20/2026
BillText https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0637f.pdf 01/30/2026
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