Legislation

Advancing a Longevity Ready Maryland: A New Vision for Policy and Systems Change

The Maryland Department of Aging (MDOA) has redefined its role to meet the unprecedented challenges and opportunities of a rapidly shifting demographic landscape. Recognizing that 100-year lives are becoming a societal norm, the Department has moved beyond traditional advocacy to lead a comprehensive, all-of-government strategy. Our work focuses on the systems change necessary to ensure Maryland’s infrastructure, economy, and healthcare systems are prepared to support—and benefit from—longer lives for both current and future generations.

From championing policies that promote affordable housing to expanding guardianship avoidance, MDOA serves as an expert resource and a driving force behind meaningful legislative change. Through the Longevity Ready Maryland (LRM) framework, we will proactively address systemic barriers to ensure every Marylander ages with health, financial security, and purpose.

As we look toward the future, we invite our partners in the General Assembly and across the state to:

• Adopt a "longer lives" lens when evaluating all future policy and legislation;
• Share the LRM plan widely within your professional and community networks; and
• Partner with us on the multi-year implementation of the LRM plan to ensure a resilient, inclusive Maryland for years to come.

2026 Legislative Session Overview

MDOA achieved a landmark legislative session in 2026, securing historic policy shifts and new fiscal tools to support the state’s shifting demographics. 

Three priority bills passed:

• HB278 and SB113, The Longevity Ready Maryland (LRM) Act: MDOA’s marquee departmental bill was officially signed into law, establishing Maryland as a national leader in aging policy. This first-of-its-kind legislation – rooted in years of stakeholder engagement and an Executive Order that initiated this work within the Department – permanently embeds a longevity-ready planning approach into the agency's work. The law also expands the membership and role of the Commission on Aging and mandates public transparency through common-sense reporting and regular updates to the LRM plan.
• HB804 and SB560, Aging Resilience Fund: Championed by Senator Craig Zucker and Delegate Sarah Wolek, this legislation establishes a new non-lapsing special fund that gives MDOA more flexibility to receive and leverage philanthropic and other sources of private funding in alignment with the Department’s work going forward—a tool that is sorely needed.
• HB811 and SB530, the Multigenerational Third Places Act: Led by Senator Shelly Hettleman and Delegate Sarah Wolek, this act clarifies that senior villages and Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) can utilize MDOA Aging-In-Place grant funds for gathering space rent and lease costs, promoting greater multigenerational social connection. This will give Maryland’s senior villages and AAAs greater flexibility to rent or lease gathering spaces on a standing basis, and not just in connection with specific, time-limited events.

Other Legislative Achievements:

• Strengthened oversight and resident stability in long-term care homes by providing $2M in mandatory annual funding for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program and tightening protections against involuntary nursing home discharges (see bills below).
• As a result of improved spending effectiveness, MDOA successfully protected critical state funding for older adults to access in-home and community supportive services and get help navigating Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
• Deepened relationships through early in-session briefings and actively supporting Longevity Ready Maryland-aligned legislation from the Governor, sister state agencies, and private sponsors.

Key Legislation that Aligns with LRM:

Protecting Health & Essential Resources

• SB 385/HB 895 decouples Maryland’s vaccine recommendations from federal changes to ensure consistent, local access to preventative care.
• SB 387/HB 895 implements measures to keep grocery prices as low as possible for Maryland families.
• SB 22/HB 226 establishes an affiliated foundation for the Maryland Department of Disabilities to fund and expand critical housing programs.
• SB 555/HB 446 creates a new online resource to increase healthcare provider training on dementia and other cognitive health issues.
• HB 648 streamlines redetermination processes to maintain smooth access to state energy assistance for older Marylanders.

Enhancing Quality of Care in Long-Term Care 

• SB 340/HB 671 allocates $2M annually from the Medicaid Health Plan Medical Loss Ratio to the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, strengthening resident advocacy.
• HB 493/HB 1002 tightens regulations regarding involuntary discharges from nursing homes to protect resident stability.
• HB 945 establishes a Health Care Quality Improvement Initiative involving MDOA and key stakeholders to drive focused quality improvements in care settings.

Advancing Justice & Autonomy for Older Adults

• SB 182/HB 282 codifies essential updates to Adult Protective Services procedures to improve safety and intervention.
• HB 1062 increases autonomy by authorizing limited judicial authority to access financial records and establish benefit eligibility, providing a "least restrictive" alternative to full guardianship.
• SB 140/HB 216 strengthens criminal law to address the exploitation of government benefits (including Social Security, Medicare, and SNAP), providing new protections for older adults and vulnerable Marylanders.