2025 Legislative Wins

MDOA had a very successful 2025 legislative session, despite facing structural budget challenges and the significant impact of a new federal administration on policy priorities and funding. 

Key Achievements

MDOA-Priority Bills:
Three bills streamlined and restructured existing programs to more efficiently and effectively expand reach to better serve a greater number of older adults with the same resources.  

1. HB36, SB212 - Supporting Older Adults with Resources (SOAR): Consolidates and restructures three existing state-funded programs supporting older adults in their communities efficiently and effectively.
2. HB158, SB223 - Senior Call Check and Social Connections Program: Expands the communications methods used to check in on the well-being of Senior Call Check program participants to enhance its value, increase enrollment, and reduce social isolation. 
3. HB538, SB445 - Federal Commodities Supplemental Food Program: Transfers the responsibility of program administration to the Department of Human Services to better align with existing state resources. 

Four priority bills closely aligned with Longevity Ready Maryland's (LRM's) Epic Goals:​​

1. HB246, SB205 - Adult Protective Service Disclosures: Common-sense updates to Adult Protective Services investigations to improve operational impact on Maryland’s Area Agencies on Aging.

• LR​​​​M Epic Goal Alignment 1.2 Build a Longevity-Ecosystem: Objective 2: Enhance multi-disciplinary prevention and response policies for elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation across state agencies.
  

2. HB286, SB266 - Modernizing Comprehensive Planning Principles: Creating affordable housing options for all ages by streamlining processes, promoting mixed-use housing, and prioritizing affordable, reliable, and energy-efficient transportation to keep older​​ adults more engaged, connected, and independent. 

• ​LRM Epic Goal Alignment 3.1 Prepare Marylanders to Afford Longevity: Objective 1: Improve access to affordable, accessible housing options that support aging in place.
  

3. HB502 - Support for Employment and Job Training for Marylanders with Disabilities: Policies to connect​ Marylanders with disabilities with good-paying jobs.

• ​​​LRM Epic Goal Alignment 2.3 Promoting Economic Opportunity: Objective 3: Increase the number of Maryland employers that promote sustainable career opportunities using age-inclusive policies and practices. 
  

4. HB1004, SB748 - Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD): Information on the prevalence and treatment of ADRD, and the establishment and outcomes of outreach of​​ related data.

• ​​​LRM Epic Goal Alignment 4.1 Optimize Health, Wellness and Mobility: Objective 1: Improve equitable access to holistic health care that addresses physical, behavioral, emotional, and cognitive health. 

• (HB1466) Support for the creation of more accessory dwelling units 
• (HB933) Enhancements to analysis and use of nursing home cost reports 
• (SB684, HB1100) Creation of a health indicators dashboard
• (HB1478) Report on the establishment of a home health care providers directory
• (HB1142) Creation of a standing group to elevate the voices of direct care workers in home- and community-based settings 
• (SB776/HB995) Creation of a standing group to study the rise in adverse decisions in health care 
• (HB718) Creation of a standing group to focus on protecting health insurance coverage ​