2025 Legislative Wins

Legislative Accomplishments for the 2025 Legislative SessionMDOA 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-Sponsored 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. 
MDOA-Supported Bills:

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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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. 
  1. 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. 
    Additional MDOA-supported bills that support LRM:
    • (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 ​

    MDOA's 2025 Legislative Session by the Numbers:

    • Priority Bills Passed: 3 out of 3
    • Relevant Bills Analyzed, Monitored (Closely): 85
    • Pieces of Testimony Delivered: 47 
    • Constituent Service Requests from Legislators Handled: 25
    • Fiscal Notes Responded to: 25
    • Bills that Passed with Positive MDOA Testimony: 11
    • Bills (that MDOA testified on) that Reached MDOA's Desired Outcome: 85% (17/20)​