Homelessness is a policy choice. Over the last 90 days, Health Care for the Homeless worked with more than 40 community partners, engaged 40+ staff and clients for their expertise and weighed in on dozens of bills. 

Our priorities are...

• informed by our mission and core values. 
• amplified in partnership with like-minded coalitions including Renters United Maryland, CASA, the Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition and Maryland Behavioral Health Coalition. 
• driven by client experience and on-the-ground staff perspective.  
• able to move when we have leaders in the legislature who are driven to act.
• influenced by the issues that gain momentum as the session progresses.

Big wins! These bills passed...and are on the way to the Governor

• The Vax Act | SB 385 / HB 637 

  • This bill requires the Secretary of Health to issue recommendations for certain immunizations, screenings, and preventive services that follow the generally accepted consensus within the scientific community and sound clinical guidance. 
    • As Chief Medical Officer Laura Garcia submitted in written testimony, "I have seen firsthand how essential preventive vaccinations and screening tests are to protecting the health of our most vulnerable patients. These interventions are among the most effective tools we have to prevent serious illness and reduce avoidable suffering."
    • Watch: President & CEO Kevin Lindamood testify in support at 3:28:37.

• Fair Chance Housing Act | HB 1073/SB937

  • Limits landlords from using criminal records in tenant screenings. This was the second year this bill was introduced.

• End source of income housing discrimination | HB315 / SB335

  • Prohibits landlords from using credit checks to screen applicants with income-based housing subsidies. For families who rely on housing assistance, including Housing Choice Vouchers and other income-based subsidies, credit and income-based screening often create a persistent barrier that undermines both the purpose of housing assistance programs and the intent of Maryland’s HOME Act. Ensure that Maryland families using income-based housing subsidies are not unfairly denied the opportunity to secure safe and stable housing.
    • Watch: Chief Behavioral Health Officer Lawanda Williams testify in support of SB335 at 2:38:54 to ensure prospective tenants are evaluated fairly. "I want to be very clear: finding safe, stable, affordable housing in Maryland is extremely difficult. Even when people have income, housing vouchers, or disability benefits, they still face overwhelming barriers."

• Ending MOUD discrimination by Certified Recovery Residences | HB1249 

  • This legislation establishes clear and enforceable certification requirements to ensure that recovery residences cannot refuse services to individuals receiving medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) or require them to discontinue or alter their treatment as a condition of care. 
    • As Director of Outreach Services Jimmy Miller, MD advocated, "No patient should be forced to choose between continuing a medication that keeps them alive and accessing a recovery residence. We have the tools to save lives—this bill helps ensure that we use them."

• Additional wins

  • Passed the Data Privacy Act, which protects an individual's personal data when that data is to be used for the purposes of immigration | HB711
  • Successfully opposed drug-induced homicide bill (Adding longer and longer prison sentences to address an intractable problem like drug addiction does not prevent overdose, deter drug distribution, or reduce the prevalence of fentanyl in the drug supply. Had it passed, this bill would have discouraged people who use drugs from reporting overdoses while increasing state costs through lengthy prison sentences.) | SB906 / HB1386
  • Removed harmful barriers to Temporary Cash Assistance, a lifeline for low-income families | HB1490 
  • Public Health Reform Act | HB1109 / SB790
  • Successful state budget advocacy:
    • Preserved the Medicaid budget, including investments to implement HR1 (Watch our testimony at 1:46:10)
    • Fully funded Department of Housing and Community Development (Watch our testimony at 1:24)
    • $6 million in rental assistance for community schools
    • $1 million for peer recovery specialist workforce

These bills didn't pass this year. More advocacy ahead!

• Affirm the rights of unhoused individuals | SB049 / HB104

  • This bill would prevent law enforcement from arresting and ticketing people experiencing homelessness without first offering shelter. This is in direct response to the Grants Pass decision, which allows local jurisdictions to arrest or punish people for experiencing homelessness. Relying on jails and fines will never solve the homelessness crisis. The real solution is providing access to housing we can all afford and the support services we all need to become stable.
    • Watch: President & CEO Kevin Lindamood testify in support at 1:07:12 (and back up to 59:29 to hear bill sponsor Senator Anthony Muse followed by Eric Tars of the National Homelessness Law Center). "The forced closure of encampments and issuing of citations is cruel, costly and, frankly, utterly counterproductive."
    • Watch: Director of Community Relations and Engagement Malcolm Williams and Board Member and client Mark Council testify in support at 4:06:01. "As a health care worker and organization, we want policies that allow people to focus on healing — not on avoiding arrest while fighting for housing."

• Stop Fail-First Protocols for treating serious mental illness | HB 808/ SB 490

  • This bill applies to Medicaid and would prohibit prior authorization, step therapy, and fail-first protocols (where clients must demonstrate unsuccessful treatment on certain medications before they receive coverage for medications their physician recommends) for prescription drugs treating mental illnesses. Mental health crises require urgent action. Delays caused by administrative barriers can worsen symptoms, leading to unnecessary suffering and more intensive, costly interventions later.

• End paraphernalia penalties | HB551/ SB327

  • This bill removes penalties for paraphernalia in Maryland—and continues momentum of treating addiction and substance use disorder as a public health issue, not a criminal one. 
    • Watch: Medical Director of Primary Care Max Romano, MD testify in support of SB327 at 2:57:23. "When drug paraphernalia is criminalized, it doesn't stop people from using drugs. Rather, it makes their use more dangerous as they resort to reuse, share and utilize substandard paraphernalia." Fast-forward to 3:16:12 to hear Behavioral Health Therapist red nesbitt share why this bill offers needed clarity.

• Enable local "Good Cause" Eviction Prevention | SB 642 / HB 774

  • Helps provide renters with the protections they need from unjust, discriminatory, and arbitrary eviction. In 2024, the bill passed the House but did not pass the Senate. In 2025, the bill did not move. In 2026, the bill passed the House after the crossover deadline, but did not move from the Senate Rules Committee.

See where our 2025 priorities landed

Share your story or perspective

• Share your experience with Director of Public Policy Joanna Diamond at advocacy@hchmd.org. Stories can be in the form of an email, a phone call that's transcribed, a pre-recorded video or a recorded Teams meeting.
• Learn how to find your legislator, search for a bill, and generally engage during the Maryland General Assembly session. 

How your story helps

• We can include them in written testimony that will influence the hearings.
• You might have an opportunity to share your story directly with legislators as part of hearings.
• We can compile written and recorded stories and share with legislators after the hearings to advocate for their votes in favor of the bill.