Wrapping up the 2026 Maryland General Assembly Session

The 2026 legislative session in Annapolis has officially come to a close. Although the environment this session was a difficult one due to the state’s ongoing budget woes, the Horizon Foundation was proud to join with our partners to successfully advocate for a number of policies to protect and strengthen public health here in Maryland. These include:

1. Defending Medicaid: H.R. 1, passed by the federal government last summer, included the largest-ever cut to Medicaid in the nation’s history and changes to the program, including work requirements, are projected to cause 130,000 Marylanders to lose their health coverage. We joined with a network of over 90 statewide advocates to ensure the General Assembly protected resources for the state’s Medicaid program at the Department of Health. Though we were not able to secure the full amount of additional funding we requested for local health department navigators to help enrollees through the redetermination process, we were able to secure a $500K down payment, which will be matched with federal funds. We will continue to work together with our statewide partners to support Medicaid and ensure Marylanders stay on the rolls.
2. Restoring funding for mental health: Together with our partners at the Maryland Behavioral Health Coalition, we helped restore a proposed $20M cut to the Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports, which provides mental health wraparound services in schools. We also were able to remove budget language that would have harmed our network of Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers (CCBHCs). We were also thrilled to join hundreds of Marylanders who showed up for the Keep the Door Open Rally in February, which urged lawmakers to support behavioral health services and providers across the state.
3. The Vax Act: With rampant disinformation around vaccines and ongoing attacks on vaccine science by the federal government, the Foundation supported legislation that enables the state’s Secretary of Health to make recommendations around vaccines, screenings and preventive services, without being required to follow guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Foundation believes in following clear vaccine science to protect public health.
4. Protecting emergency pregnancy care: This bill requires hospitals to examine and treat patients who present to emergency departments with an emergency pregnancy-related medical condition, and to allow for the termination of a pregnancy if it is medically necessary to stabilize the patient. With attacks on reproductive freedom continuing across the country, and with the ongoing national maternal health crisis, this bill will help Maryland to remain a leader and ensure that all women and pregnant people can get the care they need.
5. Improving perinatal mental health: We supported legislation that would train health care providers and provide coverage for screening for perinatal mental health conditions, including postpartum depression, during pregnancy, and up to one year after giving birth. This will help address the maternal health crisis, particularly for for women of color, and would help ensure that the needs of all women and birthing people before, during and after pregnancy are being met. Improving access to mental health care and developing a more robust screening system for perinatal mental health conditions will also help ensure that all of Maryland’s children can be given the healthy start they deserve.

We are proud and thankful to work with so many partners and grantees who are such strong advocates for public health in Annapolis. Though we have much to be proud of, we know there is plenty of work to do in the future to ensure that all Marylanders can live abundant and healthy lives. In particular, we are disappointed that several priority bills related to housing, including the Starter and Silver Homes Act, did not make it across the finish line this year. We will continue to advocate for a fairer housing system in our state and ensure that we can build more quality, stable places to rent or buy in our community. Stay engaged with us in the coming months to learn more about how you can get involved in local and state advocacy efforts!