Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland HB1293: Behavioral Health Programs - Residents at Inpatient Facilities - Sex Offender Registry Compliance
Status: In committee, March 11, 2026
Requiring behavioral health programs that own, lease, operate, or control an inpatient facility to take certain affirmative and reasonable steps to determine whether a resident is required to register under the Maryland Sex Offender Registry; and requiring a behavioral health program to take certain steps to ensure a resident's compliance with the sex offender registry law.
What the bill says
A bill ENTITLED AN ACT concerning Behavioral Health Programs - Residents at Inpatient Facilities - Sex Offender Registry Compliance FOR the purpose of requiring behavioral health programs that own, lease, operate, or control an inpatient facility to take certain affirmative and reasonable steps to determine whether a resident is required to register under the Maryland Sex Offender Registry; requiring a behavioral health program to take certain steps to ensure a resident's compliance with the sex offender registry law; and generally relating to behavioral health programs…
From the introduced text, February 12, 2026:
A BILL ENTITLED AN ACT concerning Behavioral Health Programs - Residents at Inpatient Facilities - Sex Offender Registry Compliance FOR the purpose of requiring behavioral health programs that own, lease, operate, or control an inpatient facility to take certain affirmative and reasonable steps to determine whether a resident is required to register under the Maryland Sex Offender Registry; requiring a behavioral health program to take certain steps to ensure a resident's compliance with the sex offender registry law; and generally relating to behavioral health programs. BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - Health - General Section 7.5-101(a) and (f) Annotated Code of Maryland (2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY adding to Article - Health - General Section 7.5-404 Annotated Code of Maryland (2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Health - General Section 7.5-404 Annotated Code of Maryland (2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW. [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from exist in g l aw . *hb1293* HOUSE BILL 1293 SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: Article - Health - General 7.5-101. (a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. (f) "Behavioral health program" means a substance-related disorders …