• Purpose: The bill aims to alter the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Nurses, update education requirements for nursing licensure, and extend the sunset provisions for the State Board of Nursing.

• Key Changes:

  • Renames the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Nurses and Nursing Support Staff to the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Nurses.

  • Updates education requirements for licensure in registered nursing and licensure by endorsement in registered nursing.

  • Repeals the requirement for the State Board of Nursing to approve nursing assistant training program sites within a certain period.

  • Extends the termination dates of certain preceptorship program tax credits and provisions governing the authority of the Secretary of Health over the Board's staffing and infrastructure operations.

  • Establishes priorities for funding the repayment of education loans for nurses practicing in areas with healthcare workforce shortages or public health needs.

• Purpose: The bill aims to repeal the prohibition on an individual from knowingly transferring or attempting to transfer the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to another individual.

• Key Changes:

  • Repeals the prohibition on knowingly transferring or attempting to transfer HIV.

  • Removes the misdemeanor penalty for violating this prohibition, which previously included a fine of up to $2,500 or imprisonment for up to 3 years, or both.

- **Training Hours**: Alters the number of training hours required for health care practitioners to qualify for a state income tax credit.

- **Preceptorship Program**: Defines the preceptorship program and its requirements.

- **Credit Amount**: Specifies the amount of credit that can be claimed and the conditions under which it can be claimed.

- **Fund**: Establishes the Nurse Practitioner Preceptorship Tax Credit Fund to offset the costs of the tax credit.

- **Reporting**: Requires the Department of Health to report on the utilization of the tax credit and the status of the fund. The bill aims to support health care practitioners serving as preceptors in areas with health care workforce shortages by providing tax incentives.

• Update Nursing Loan Repayment and Education:

  • Rename and alter the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Nurses.

  • Extend the sunset provisions for the Board of Nursing and related programs.

Key Provisions:

• Loan Assistance Program:

  • Modify the name and purpose of the loan assistance repayment program.

  • Remove certain nursing support staff from eligibility.

• Education Requirements:

  • Update education requirements for licensure in registered nursing.

  • Allow certain licensure by endorsement based on degree and clinical practice hours.

• Regulatory Changes:

  • Extend the termination dates for various nursing-related programs and tax credits.

  • Authorize the State Board of Nursing to develop regulations for nurse education and licensure.

Effective Date: June 1, 2025.

• Purpose: The bill aims to authorize certain retirees who began State service before a certain date to be eligible for prescription drug benefits in the State Employee and Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits Program.

• Key Changes:

  • Specifies that prescription drug benefits shall be discontinued for certain Medicare-eligible retirees who began State service on or after a certain date and their Medicare-eligible spouses and dependent children.

  • Repeals the Maryland State Retiree Prescription Drug Coverage Program, the Maryland State Retiree Catastrophic Prescription Drug Assistance Program, and the Maryland State Retiree Life-Sustaining Prescription Drug Assistance Program.

  • Repeals a requirement that the Secretary of Budget and Management provide a certain notice.

  • Repeals a requirement for the Department of Budget and Management to submit certain reports and ensure Medicare-eligible retirees have access to certain services.

• Noncompete and Conflict of Interest Provisions:

  • Alter the provisions in employment contracts to ensure they are fair and not against public policy.

Key Provisions:

• Applicability:

  • Applies to employment contracts for employees earning equal to or less than 150% of the state minimum wage, those licensed under the Health Occupations Article earning less than $350,000 annually, and licensed veterinary practitioners or technicians.

• Prohibited Provisions:

  • Noncompete or conflict of interest provisions restricting an employee's ability to work in the same or similar business after separation from the employer are null and void.

  • Exceptions exist for contracts involving the use of client or patient lists or proprietary information.

• Limitations:

  • For employees licensed under the Health Occupations Article earning more than $350,000 annually, noncompete provisions are limited to one year and a 10-mile geographical restriction.

  • Employers must inform patients of the new location of a former employee upon request.

Effective Date: October 1, 2025.