We are Halfway Through the 446th Session of the Maryland General Assembly 

Monday March 18 was the crossover deadline for the 2024 Maryland General Assembly legislative session. Bills generally need to pass at least one chamber by the crossover deadline to be considered for final passage by the end of session in April.

Check out some highlights of the session so far and our full Crossover Report below.

Crossover Highlights

Full funding for the Behavioral Health Administration in FY 2025

The Governor’s Office proposed some cuts to balance the FY 2025 budget but did not include any reductions for the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA). Indeed, the BHA budget included a 3% rate increase for behavioral health providers and $89.2 million in new behavioral health investments, including $17.6 million for the 988 helpline.

Strong support for the 988 telecom fee legislation (HB 933/SB 974)

This session, BHSB and the Fund Maryland 988 Campaign prioritized the passage of HB 933/SB 974 to establish a 25-cent telecom fee to support 988 and crisis services. Each bill passed its respective chamber with sizable bipartisan majorities, and they are poised for approval by the full legislature. These bills will provide more than $25 million annually in new behavioral health funding to support 988 helplines and related crisis services.

Assisted Outpatient Treatment legislation passed the House with significant amendments (HB 576)

HB 576 aims to establish a new Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) program in Maryland. AOT allows courts to mandate outpatient treatment for adults with severe and persistent mental illness who have experienced frequent psychiatric hospitalizations. BHSB and our partners worked to craft amendments that narrow the eligibility criteria for AOT and expand due process protections. The House passed HB 576 as amended but it is unclear how the Senate will approach this. Establishing AOT is a priority for the Moore-Miller Administration.

Revisions to the Behavioral Health Treatment and Access Commission

The Moore-Miller Administration introduced HB 1048/SB 212 to require the Behavioral Health Commission to make recommendations regarding the financial structure of the public behavioral health system. The legislation was amended to provide more time for the Commission to develop recommendations, which are due July 1, 2025.

We will provide another update on the 2024

legislative session after it closes on April 8, 2024.