HB593 establishes a new automated external defibrillator (AED) requirement for most public libraries in Maryland, beginning January 1, 2026. Covered libraries must place an AED in a prominent, accessible location, keep it functional, and ensure that a trained individual is present whenever the library is open to the public. The bill defines “library” broadly to include the State Library Resource Center, regional resource centers, county library systems, the Enoch Pratt Free Library, the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled, and the Maryland Deaf Culture Digital Library, while excluding school library media programs, mobile library units, and correctional facility libraries from the new library-specific section.
The bill also ties libraries into Maryland’s existing Public Access Automated External Defibrillator Program by requiring compliance with current AED program rules and by directing the Maryland Department of Health and the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems to adopt regulations for inspections, annual maintenance, assistance to libraries, and registration. Registration is intended to make library AED locations available to emergency dispatchers and to ensure libraries receive maintenance and recall notices. In addition, the bill requires a report to the legislature by December 1, 2026, on registered library AEDs and any adverse cardiac events requiring AED use.
HB593 changes Maryland Education Article law by creating a specific library AED mandate and by excluding libraries subject to the new section from the broader definition of “facility” under the existing AED program. It also adds civil liability protections: libraries that comply with the section are shielded from liability for acts or omissions in providing AED services, and individuals who render AED aid in good faith, reasonably, and without compensation are similarly protected. The bill therefore affects library operators, library staff, emergency medical regulators, and the public who use library facilities.
The overall sentiment around the bill appears strongly favorable. The recorded floor votes were overwhelmingly in support, with the House and Senate passing the measure by large margins and only a handful of dissenting votes. The lack of committee transcript material limits insight into detailed debate, but the vote totals suggest broad bipartisan agreement that AED access in libraries is a public-safety measure.
Any contention appears to be limited rather than central. The main policy questions likely involve the cost and operational burden on library systems, including purchasing AEDs, maintaining them, training staff, and ensuring coverage during all open hours. There may also be practical concerns about how smaller or specialized library branches will comply, but the bill’s liability protections and regulatory framework appear designed to reduce those concerns and support implementation.
HB593 adds a new section to the Education Article requiring most Maryland libraries to participate in an AED program and amends the existing Public Access Automated External Defibrillator Program to exclude libraries covered by the new section from the general definition of “facility.” It also authorizes and directs the Maryland Department of Health and the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems to issue implementing regulations, and it creates reporting obligations to the General Assembly. The bill affects public library systems, library patrons, and emergency medical oversight agencies by imposing equipment, training, maintenance, registration, and liability requirements.
The bill appears to have enjoyed broad, positive support. The voting history shows overwhelming passage in both chambers, with very few no votes, indicating that lawmakers generally viewed the measure as a straightforward public-safety enhancement. No committee transcript was provided, but the available record suggests little organized opposition and a consensus around improving emergency response capability in libraries.
The likely points of contention are operational rather than ideological: whether libraries can absorb the costs of purchasing and maintaining AEDs, training staff, and ensuring a trained person is present whenever the library is open. Some concern may also exist about compliance burdens for different types of library systems, especially smaller branches or specialized facilities. The bill addresses some of these issues by providing liability protections and by directing state agencies to adopt regulations and assist libraries with implementation.