As the 2026 legislative session comes to a close. Here’s an update on what we accomplished with your input in Annapolis and how that work was done.

This year brought a transition in House leadership, including new committee structures and renewed emphasis on collaboration and communication across the Maryland General Assembly. I was honored to begin serving as Subcommittee Chair of Elder and Long-Term Care. This reorganization renews our state’s commitment to seniors and strengthens our approach to complex issues with greater coordination, transparency, and purpose.

Budget Challenges and Responsible Solutions

A substantial budget deficit required the General Assembly to make difficult but necessary decisions. Working together, we prioritized a balanced approach that preserved core investments in education, healthcare, and essential public services while making targeted reductions where needed.

These constraints also required innovation. In several cases, legislation was refined to reduce fiscal impact while preserving core policy goals. Some initiatives were structured to lay groundwork for future implementation, recognizing that stronger fiscal conditions in coming years may allow for expanded investment. Even where full funding was not immediately possible, we advanced policy ideas in ways that keep them viable going forward.

Protecting Marylanders and Strengthening State Law

A major focus this session was ensuring Marylanders are protected regardless of changes at the federal level. Across healthcare, public safety, and civil protections, the General Assembly worked to codify key standards into state law and clarify existing protections so they remain stable and enforceable.

Working Across the Legislature

Much of this year’s progress was only possible through collaboration across chambers and committees. Many of my bills advanced as crossfiles with Senate sponsors, reflecting shared priorities and coordinated work between Delegates and Senators. Our coalitions knocked down silos created by committee assignments and party affiliations. 
In addition, committee deliberation and stakeholder engagement significantly strengthened legislation throughout the process. These relationships are not in

cidental to lawmaking, they are central to how effective policy is built and passed in Maryland. Introducing advocates with overlapping priorities and expanding access to the progress my bills create, has allowed for more information sharing and a more diverse unified force. 

My Legislation
This session, I introduced 14 brand new bills focused on strengthening healthcare access, supporting caregivers, improving housing and public systems, and protecting vulnerable Marylanders. Of those, 4 will become law. Each bill reflects ongoing conversations with constituents, advocates, providers, and agency partners about how to make Maryland’s systems more responsive and effective.

Rather than simply marking each bill outcome as a success or failure, I view this work as a continuum, where some bills become law immediately, others shape future policy, and all contribute to moving the conversation forward. Around Annapolis, you will hear a lot that it takes, on average, 3 to 7 years for a bill to become a law through the General Assembly. As you can see below, we were very effective in an exceptionally harsh year. 

Healthcare Access and Public Health

HB 372 (Emergency Pregnancy-Related Medical Conditions):PASSED (Crossfile SB 169)
This bill codifies key federal protections into Maryland law to ensure that patients experiencing pregnancy-related medical emergencies receive timely, medically necessary care, including abortion care when required to stabilize a patient. It provides clarity for hospitals and clinicians and reinforces consistent standards of care across the state.

HB 1135 (Pharmacists – Vaccination Orders):PASSED (Crossfile SB 773)
This legislation modernizes Maryland’s vaccine access framework by clarifying that pharmacists may prescribe and dispense FDA-approved vaccines designed for self-administration when clinically appropriate. It removes technical ambiguity in existing law while maintaining all safety standards and oversight. The result is improved access to preventive care through one of the most accessible points in the healthcare system.

HB 1143 (Perinatal Autopsies – Lung Float Test Moratorium):Passed House (2027 Priority)
This bill places a two-year moratorium on the use of the “lung float test” as a determinative tool in perinatal autopsies and requires a comprehensive review by the Department of Health in consultation with forensic and legal experts. The goal is to ensure that findings with serious legal consequences are grounded in reliable, modern science. It reflects a careful, evidence-based approach at the intersection of medicine and justice.

Caregiving, Aging, and Long-Term Care

HB 989 (State Assistance for the Elderly – Income Calculation Study):Passed House (2027 Priority)
This bill directs the state to study the feasibility of excluding certain rental income from eligibility calculations for assistance programs. The goal is to support aging in place by allowing seniors to maintain modest income streams while still accessing critical housing and medical supports. It also explores how existing housing stock can be used more flexibly to address affordability challenges.

HB 1129 (Maryland Medical Assistance Program – Personal Care Aides Wages and Leave): (Advancing Priority)
This legislation strengthens Maryland’s home care workforce by ensuring that personal care aides receive improved wage structures and access to earned sick leave. These workers provide essential daily support to older adults and individuals with disabilities, often in physically and emotionally demanding conditions. The bill helps stabilize a workforce that families across Maryland depend on every day.

HB 724 (Employment Discrimination – Caregiver Status):(Advancing Priority)
This bill would prohibit employment discrimination based on caregiver status, recognizing that many Marylanders balance work with caring for children, aging parents, or family members with disabilities. While it did not pass this session, it remains a priority for future consideration. The bill reflects the growing recognition that caregiving responsibilities should not limit opportunity in the workplace.

HB 1002 (Nursing Facilities – Involuntary Discharge Protections):PASSED (Crossfile SB 493)This legislation strengthens protections for nursing home residents facing involuntary discharge or transfer. It improves notice requirements, enhances oversight, and supports safer transitions of care. The bill helps ensure continuity, dignity, and stability for some of Maryland’s most vulnerable residents.

Housing, Government Systems, and Public Infrastructure

HB 691 (Permitting Efficiency for Housing Development Projects):Passed House (2027 Priority)
This bill streamlines the housing permitting process by allowing certain reviews to occur simultaneously rather than sequentially. The goal is to reduce delays in housing construction and help bring more units online more efficiently. It is part of a broader effort to address Maryland’s housing shortage through smarter, more coordinated permitting systems.

HB 9 (3-1-1 Systems Expansion and Oversight Board):PASSED(Crossfile SB 114)
This legislation proposed a statewide 3-1-1 system to improve access to government services and information. While the bill did not pass in its original form, it helped lay the groundwork for ongoing efforts in this space, including work advanced by Senate partners. The concept remains a strong model for improving how residents connect with state and local resources.

Civil Rights and Protections

HB 1131 (Pregnancy Outcome Protection Act):(Advancing Priority)
This bill would ensure that individuals are not criminalized solely based on the outcome of a pregnancy, while preserving accountability for unrelated criminal conduct. It addresses concerns about the chilling effect that criminal investigations can have on individuals experiencing pregnancy loss or medical emergencies. The goal is to strengthen trust in healthcare settings and ensure clarity in the law.

HB 1198 (Coerced Debt – Debtor Protections):(Advancing Priority)
This legislation would create a pathway for victims of financial abuse to challenge coerced debt, pause collections, and correct credit records when abuse is proven. It is designed to address the long-term financial harm experienced by survivors of domestic violence, older adults, and vulnerable individuals. This work will continue as part of broader efforts to address financial exploitation.

HB 1356 (Maryland Employee Civic Activity and Lawful Expression Protection Act):(Advancing Priority)
This bill would protect Marylanders from workplace retaliation for lawful civic engagement and political expression outside of work. It balances employee rights with employer needs by focusing only on lawful, off-duty activity that does not impact job performance. The goal is to reinforce democratic participation without fear of professional consequences.

Government Transparency and Accountability

HB 1536 (Maryland Enforcement Limits and Transparency Act):(Advancing Priority)

This bill would strengthen due process protections and transparency standards related to state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. It reinforces the principle that significant government actions affecting liberty or family stability should be grounded in judicial warrants, not administrative orders. It also provides clearer guidance for agencies and protects sensitive personal data collected by the state.

Bills We Will Continue Building On

Whether a bill passed this session or continues into the next, each one reflects an ongoing commitment to improving how Maryland’s systems work for the people who rely on them. Progress in the General Assembly is often incremental, and even legislation that does not pass helps shape future solutions, refine policy approaches, and build consensus for the years ahead.

These include continued efforts related to caregiving protections, long-term care system improvements, and additional support for Maryland’s aging population. Progress often happens in stages, and this work remains a priority moving forward.

Additional Bills that Highlight the Legislature’s Priorities: 

“We never forget who we are working for: the voters, the taxpayers of Maryland. I’m proud that during this session, we put people first - by reducing energy bills, holding the line on taxes, investing in our future, and protecting our immigrant neighbors.” 

- Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk

The 2026 session of the Maryland General Assembly focused on a simple but urgent idea: if families cannot afford to live here, nothing else works. Lawmakers prioritized lowering everyday costs by passing the Utility RELIEF Act (HB 1532) to reduce energy bills, advancing the Maryland Housing Certainty Act (HB 548) to increase housing supply, and expanding access to child care for thousands more families through the Child Care Scholarship Program (HB 1321). These efforts were paired with a balanced budget that invests in education, transportation, and basic needs without raising taxes.

The legislature also emphasized accountability and a government that delivers results. New laws strengthen oversight of state spending, increase transparency in contracts, and require agencies to follow through on audit findings. Reforms to the juvenile justice and foster care systems, including Kanaiyah’s Law (HB 980), aim to better protect vulnerable children, while HB 444, the law prohibiting local law enforcement contracts with ICE, and the Community Trust Act (SB 791) establish clear limits on local cooperation with immigration enforcement and reinforce constitutional protections.

This session also focused on expanding opportunity across the state. Lawmakers advanced protections for voting rights through the Voting Rights Act of 2026 (SB 255) crossfiled with D39’s own Delegate Greg Wims, invested in public education through the state budget, improved transit infrastructure, and supported rural communities through targeted funding and resources. The result is a set of practical, forward-looking policies designed to improve daily life and keep Maryland moving in the right direction.

Investing in Older Adults and Long-Term Care

As Subcommittee Chair of Elder and Long-Term Care, I approach this role with a strong focus on Maryland’s growing and aging population. This subcommittee will play an increasingly important role in shaping oversight and policy as demand for long-term care and caregiver support continues to rise. Marylanders are getting older rapidly. Statistics show that older adults already make up a significant share of our population, and that share will continue to grow for decades up to over 25% of the population by 2040.

My focus will be on emphasizing systems, elevating real-world challenges faced by families and providers, and ensuring that caregiving remains central to how we design healthcare and aging policy in Maryland. 

Looking Ahead

This session demonstrated both the challenges and the resilience of our legislative process, balancing fiscal constraints, responding to evolving needs, and advancing meaningful policy across a wide range of issues.

As we move into the interim between legislative sessions, I will continue listening, learning, and advocating for the needs and concerns of our community. My office remains open year-round, and I encourage you to reach out at any time, whether you have a policy concern, a personal issue, or simply need assistance navigating local or state services.

It is an honor to serve you in the Maryland House of Delegates. Thank you for your trust, your engagement, and your advocacy.

Sincerely,

Delegate Lesley Lopez

District 39, Montgomery County