House Bill 19, also known as the "Building Opportunities for Nurses Act of 2025":

Purpose: The bill aims to support nurses by altering the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Nurses, changing education requirements for licensure, and extending certain sunset provisions.

Key Changes:
- Renames the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Nurses and Nursing Support Staff to the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Nurses.
- Alters education requirements for registered nursing licensure and licensure by endorsement.
- Repeals the requirement for the State Board of Nursing to approve nursing assistant training program sites within a specific period.
- Extends the termination dates of certain preceptorship program tax credits and

Extends the termination of the Deptartment and Secretary's oversight of the Board of Nursing. (SB 960 2023)

Funding: The bill outlines the funding structure for the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program Fund for Nurses, including revenue sources and expenditure guidelines.

Regulations: The Department of Health is tasked with adopting regulations to implement the provisions of the bill, including establishing priorities for loan repayment assistance and reporting requirements.

Purpose: The bill aims to regulate the use of reproductive material in assisted reproductive treatments and ensure informed consent from donors and recipients.

​Key Changes:

-Prohibits health care providers from using their own reproductive material or a donor's reproductive material without informed consent.

-Requires health care providers to obtain written consent from donors and recipients before providing assisted reproductive treatment.

-Mandates health care providers to inform recipients of any misuse or misrepresentation of reproductive material and report such incidents to the licensing board.

-Establishes civil and criminal penalties for violations, including fines and imprisonment.

Regulations: The bill outlines the responsibilities of health care providers in obtaining and maintaining consent, as well as the legal consequences for non-compliance.

- 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.

1. Install, Operate, and Maintain Video Surveillance Equipment:

   • Video surveillance must be installed in common areas of the facilities to detect abuse, neglect, or exploitation of residents.

   • Common areas include dining areas, meeting rooms, hallways, facility entrances, activity rooms, and living rooms.

2. Ensure Continuous and Compliant Surveillance:

   • Surveillance must be continuous and without interruption.

   • Surveillance must not capture images within private spaces, such as bedrooms, bathrooms, medical care areas, and private meeting spaces.

   • Surveillance must comply with the Federal Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 and the Maryland Wiretap Act.

3. Store Recorded Video Data:

   • Recorded video data must be stored for 120 days in a common and accessible format.

   • Recorded video data must be made available to law enforcement and State personnel upon request for official duties.

4. Regulations:

   • The Department may adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this section.

The bill aims to enhance the safety and protection of residents in nursing homes and assisted living programs by implementing video surveillance in common areas.

- Requiring applicants for renewal of certain licenses and certificates to attest that they have completed an implicit bias and structural racism training program approved by the Cultural and Linguistic Health Care Professional Competency Program.
- Expanding the definition of "implicit bias" to include structural racism.
- Ensuring that the training programs are recognized by health occupations boards or accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.

The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

• To alter the noncompete and conflict of interest provisions in employment contracts or similar agreements, deeming certain restrictive clauses as null and void against public policy.

Key Provisions:

1. Scope and Applicability:

   • Applies to employment contracts concerning employees earning less than 150% of the state minimum wage or those in certain healthcare and veterinary positions with specific earnings criteria.

2. Prohibited Provisions:

   • Noncompete and conflict of interest clauses that restrict an employee's ability to engage in similar business or employment after separation are considered null and void.

3. Exceptions:

   • Does not apply to provisions regarding the use of proprietary client or patient information.

4. Specific Conditions for Healthcare Workers:

   • For healthcare employees earning more than $350,000 annually, noncompete clauses must be limited to one year and within 10 miles from the primary place of employment.

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

Effective Date:

• October 1, 2025.

Purpose: The bill aims to protect legally protected health care, including reproductive, fertility preservation, and contraceptive treatment and services.

Key Changes:

-Expands the definition of "legally protected health care" to include certain reproductive, fertility preservation, and contraceptive treatments, including medications and supplies.

-Prohibits health occupations disciplinary actions and certain actions in criminal and civil proceedings related to legally protected health care.

-Restricts the use of certain resources in furtherance of investigations and proceedings related to legally protected health care.

Regulations: The bill outlines the responsibilities of various state agencies and health occupations boards in implementing these changes, including maintaining standards of care and ensuring compliance with state laws.

Purpose: The bill aims to support nurses by altering the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Nurses, changing education requirements for licensure, and extending certain sunset provisions.

Key Changes:
- Renames the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Nurses and Nursing Support Staff to the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Nurses.
- Alters education requirements for registered nursing licensure and licensure by endorsement.
- Repeals the requirement for the State Board of Nursing to approve nursing assistant training program sites within a specific period.
- Extends the termination dates of certain preceptorship program tax credits and other provisions related to the Board of Nursing.

Funding: The bill outlines the funding structure for the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program Fund for Nurses, including revenue sources and expenditure guidelines.

Regulations: The Department of Health is tasked with adopting regulations to implement the provisions of the bill, including establishing priorities for loan repayment assistance and reporting requirements.

-Repeals Obsolete Language: Removes outdated and redundant language from the Maryland Medical Practice Act and Maryland Physician Assistants Act.

-Clarifies and Consistent Language: Updates and clarifies language to ensure consistency across various provisions related to the State Board of Physicians and the regulation of physicians, physician assistants, and allied health professionals.

-Licensure Requirements: Alters certain licensure requirements for physicians, physician assistants, and allied health professionals. -

-Disciplinary Procedures: Modifies the grounds for discipline and disciplinary procedures for physicians, physician assistants, and allied health professionals.

- Board Powers and Duties: Changes the duties and powers of the Board, disciplinary panels, and allied health advisory committees. -

Administrative Penalties: Authorizes the Board to impose certain administrative penalties under specific circumstances.

-Reporting and Notification: Establishes new reporting and notification requirements.

-Advisory Committees: Sets membership requirements, term limits, and quorums for allied health advisory committees.

- Employment Prohibitions: Alters prohibitions related to the employment of unlicensed individuals.

-Fines**: Adjusts certain fines related to the regulation of physicians, physician assistants, and allied health professionals. The bill aims to streamline and modernize the regulation of medical professionals in Maryland.

Key Provisions:

1. Training Requirement:

   • Applicants for renewal of licenses and certificates must attest to completing an implicit bias and structural racism training program.

   • The requirement applies to the first license or certificate renewal after April 1, 2026.

2. Program Approval:

   • The Cultural and Linguistic Health Care Professional Competency Program, in coordination with the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities, will identify and approve training programs.

   • Approved programs must be recognized by a health occupations board or accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.

3. Definitions:

   • "Structural racism" is defined as a system of inherited institutional settings that provide differential opportunities based on race.

   • "Cultural and linguistic competency" includes direct communication in the patient's primary language and understanding the roles of culture, ethnicity, and race in diagnosis and treatment.

The bill takes effect on October 1, 2025.

- Requiring applicants for renewal of certain licenses and certificates to attest that they have completed an implicit bias and structural racism training program approved by the Cultural and Linguistic Health Care Professional Competency Program.
- Expanding the definition of "implicit bias" to include structural racism.
- Ensuring that the training programs are recognized by health occupations boards or accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.

The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

- Expanding the definition to include certain employees, agents, or contractors of a hospital who are licensed, certified, registered, or otherwise authorized to render health care services in Maryland.
- Generally relating to health care malpractice claims.

The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.