Health Occupations - Implicit Bias and Structural Racism Training
Summary
HB783 amends Maryland’s health occupations laws to require applicants for renewal of certain professional licenses and certificates to attest that they completed an approved training program on implicit bias and structural racism. The bill updates the existing Cultural and Linguistic Health Care Professional Competency Program so that it may identify and approve these trainings, and it expands the types of approved programs to include those recognized by health occupations boards or accredited continuing medical education/pharmacy education bodies.
The bill also authorizes health occupations boards to adopt regulations allowing applicants to receive continuing education credit for completing an implicit bias and structural racism training program. The renewal attestation requirement applies only to an applicant’s first renewal after April 1, 2026, and the bill includes a transitional provision stating that applicants renewing before that date must still attest to completing an implicit bias training program under the prior framework. The act takes effect October 1, 2025.
Impact
HB783 changes Sections 20-1301, 20-1302, and 20-1306 of the Health - General Article and Section 1-225 of the Health Occupations Article. It replaces references to implicit bias training alone with implicit bias and structural racism training for license and certificate renewal, broadens the Program’s authority to approve qualifying trainings, and gives health occupations boards discretion to award continuing education credit for completion of such training. The bill affects renewal applicants across covered health professions and the boards that regulate them, while preserving a temporary transition period before the new requirement fully applies.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have generally favorable legislative support, as reflected by passage in both chambers with substantial majorities. The House passed third reading 100-37, and the Senate passed third reading 29-13. The vote margins suggest meaningful support for the policy, but also a notable minority of opposition, indicating the issue was not unanimous and likely reflected broader debate over the scope and framing of required training in health professions.
Contention
The main point of contention is the bill’s expansion from implicit bias training to explicit structural racism training, which may be viewed by supporters as a necessary update to address inequities in health care and by opponents as a more politically charged or burdensome mandate. Another likely area of debate is whether the training requirement should be tied to licensure renewal and continuing education credit, since that affects professional compliance obligations and board rulemaking. The bill’s use of grant funding to develop the structural racism training also suggests concern about implementation and resourcing, though the available record does not include committee testimony.