Legislation - SB0385

Title: Public Health - Recommendations for Immunizations, Screenings, and Preventive Services - Pharmacist Administration and Required Health Insurance Coverage (The Vax Act)
Sponsored by: The President (By Request - Administration) and Senators Augustine, Beidle, Harris, Hettleman, Kagan, King, Lam, Lewis Young, Love, and Zucker
Status: In the House - Second Reading Passed
Analysis: Fiscal and Policy Note (Revised)

Synopsis

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 comments period, obtain a certain analysis from the Maryland Health Care Commission, and cite the basis for the recommendation; altering the authority of pharmacists to administer certain vaccinations; etc.

Committees

Original:: Finance Click to view Recorded Media

Opposite:: Health Click to view Recorded Media

Committee Testimony

Witness List

Details

Cross-filed with: HB0637

Bill File Type: Regular

Effective Date(s): July 1, 2026

By Request of the Governor

History

Legislation History
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 1/27/2026 Legislative Date 1/27/2026 Action First Reading Finance Proceedings
Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Text - First - Public Health - Recommendations for Immunizations, Screenings, and Preventive Services - Pharmacist Administration and Required Health Insurance Coverage (The Vax Act) Proceedings
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 1/27/2026 Legislative Date 1/27/2026 Action Hearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m. Proceedings
Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Vote - Senate - Committee - Finance Proceedings Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 3/20/2026 Legislative Date 3/20/2026 Action Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance Proceedings
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 3/20/2026 Legislative Date 3/04/2026 Action Favorable with Amendments {583921/1 Adopted Proceedings 43 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 3/20/2026 Legislative Date 3/04/2026 Action Second Reading Passed with Amendments Proceedings 43 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Text - Third - Public Health - Recommendations for Immunizations, Screenings, and Preventive Services - Pharmacist Administration and Required Health Insurance Coverage (The Vax Act) Proceedings
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 3/23/2026 Legislative Date 3/06/2026 Action Third Reading Passed (32-12) Proceedings 45 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 3/23/2026 Legislative Date 3/11/2026 Action Referred Health Proceedings 48 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 3/25/2026 Legislative Date 3/25/2026 Action Hearing 4/02 at 1:00 p.m. Proceedings
Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Vote - House - Committee - Health Proceedings Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 4/03/2026 Legislative Date 4/03/2026 Action Favorable Report by Health Proceedings
Chamber House Calendar Date 4/03/2026 Legislative Date 3/18/2026 Action Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed Proceedings 55 Click to view Recorded Media

Chamber	Calendar Date	Legislative Date	Action	Proceedings
Senate	1/27/2026	1/27/2026	First Reading Finance
			Text - First - Public Health - Recommendations for Immunizations, Screenings, and Preventive Services - Pharmacist Administration and Required Health Insurance Coverage (The Vax Act)
Senate	1/27/2026	1/27/2026	Hearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m.
			Vote - Senate - Committee - Finance	Click to view Recorded Media
Senate	3/20/2026	3/20/2026	Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance
Senate	3/20/2026	3/04/2026	Favorable with Amendments {583921/1 Adopted	43 Click to view Recorded Media
Senate	3/20/2026	3/04/2026	Second Reading Passed with Amendments	43 Click to view Recorded Media
			Text - Third - Public Health - Recommendations for Immunizations, Screenings, and Preventive Services - Pharmacist Administration and Required Health Insurance Coverage (The Vax Act)
Senate	3/23/2026	3/06/2026	Third Reading Passed (32-12)	45 Click to view Recorded Media
House	3/23/2026	3/11/2026	Referred Health	48 Click to view Recorded Media
House	3/25/2026	3/25/2026	Hearing 4/02 at 1:00 p.m.
			Vote - House - Committee - Health	Click to view Recorded Media
House	4/03/2026	4/03/2026	Favorable Report by Health
House	4/03/2026	3/18/2026	Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed	55 Click to view Recorded Media

File Code

Subjects

Statutes