Legislation - HB0166

Title: State Government - Henrietta Lacks Commission - Establishment (Henrietta Lacks Commission of Maryland Act of 2026)
Sponsored by: Delegates Metzgar, Crutchfield, Fair, Kerr, Lehman, Ruth, Sample-Hughes, Schmidt, Solomon, Terrasa, Wells, Wilson, and Wu
Status: In the Senate - Hearing 3/26 at 1:00 p.m.
Analysis: Fiscal and Policy Note (Revised)

Synopsis

Establishing the Henrietta Lacks Commission to take certain actions related to the legacy of Henrietta Lacks and the use of HeLa cells, including promotion of education on the life of Henrietta Lacks and HeLa science; and requiring the Commission, beginning in 2027, to report by December 1 annually to the Governor and the General Assembly on its activities in the State.

Committees

Original:: Government, Labor, and Elections Click to view Recorded Media

Opposite:: Education, Energy, and the Environment Click to view Recorded Media

Committee Testimony

Witness List

Details

Bill File Type: Pre-Filed

Effective Date(s): October 1, 2026

Creates a Task Force or Commission

History

Legislation History
Chamber House Calendar Date 10/16/2025 Legislative Date 10/16/2025 Action Pre-filed Proceedings
Chamber House Calendar Date 1/14/2026 Legislative Date 1/14/2026 Action First Reading Government, Labor, and Elections Proceedings
Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Text - First - Public Health – Henrietta Lacks Commission – Establishment (Henrietta Lacks Commission of Maryland Act of 2026) Proceedings
Chamber House Calendar Date 1/28/2026 Legislative Date 1/28/2026 Action Hearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m. Proceedings
Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Vote - House - Committee - Government, Labor, and Elections Proceedings Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 3/16/2026 Legislative Date 3/16/2026 Action Favorable with Amendments Report by Government, Labor, and Elections Proceedings
Chamber House Calendar Date 3/17/2026 Legislative Date 3/03/2026 Action Favorable with Amendments {553725/1 Adopted Proceedings 40 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 3/17/2026 Legislative Date 3/03/2026 Action Second Reading Passed with Amendments Proceedings 40 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Text - Third - State Government - Henrietta Lacks Commission - Establishment (Henrietta Lacks Commission of Maryland Act of 2026) Proceedings
Chamber House Calendar Date 3/18/2026 Legislative Date 3/05/2026 Action Third Reading Passed (128-0) Proceedings 42 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 3/19/2026 Legislative Date 3/03/2026 Action Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment Proceedings 42AClick to view Recorded Media
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 3/20/2026 Legislative Date 3/20/2026 Action Hearing 3/26 at 1:00 p.m. Proceedings

Chamber	Calendar Date	Legislative Date	Action	Proceedings
House	10/16/2025	10/16/2025	Pre-filed
House	1/14/2026	1/14/2026	First Reading Government, Labor, and Elections
			Text - First - Public Health – Henrietta Lacks Commission – Establishment (Henrietta Lacks Commission of Maryland Act of 2026)
House	1/28/2026	1/28/2026	Hearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m.
			Vote - House - Committee - Government, Labor, and Elections	Click to view Recorded Media
House	3/16/2026	3/16/2026	Favorable with Amendments Report by Government, Labor, and Elections
House	3/17/2026	3/03/2026	Favorable with Amendments {553725/1 Adopted	40 Click to view Recorded Media
House	3/17/2026	3/03/2026	Second Reading Passed with Amendments	40 Click to view Recorded Media
			Text - Third - State Government - Henrietta Lacks Commission - Establishment (Henrietta Lacks Commission of Maryland Act of 2026)
House	3/18/2026	3/05/2026	Third Reading Passed (128-0)	42 Click to view Recorded Media
Senate	3/19/2026	3/03/2026	Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment	42AClick to view Recorded Media
Senate	3/20/2026	3/20/2026	Hearing 3/26 at 1:00 p.m.

File Code

Subjects

Statutes