Maryland House Bill HB1540

Maryland 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/13/26
• Refer: 2/13/26
• Report Pass: 3/16/26
• Engrossed: 3/18/26
• Refer: 3/19/26
• Report Pass: 4/3/26
• Enrolled: 4/8/26

Caption

University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center - Funding - Repeal of Termination Date

Summary

HB1540 extends the State’s ongoing funding commitment to the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center by repealing the existing termination date on the law that requires the Governor to include a $10 million annual operating appropriation in the budget. The bill amends Health-General § 19-2401 and related uncodified provisions from the 2016 law establishing the funding framework for the Prince George’s County Regional Medical Center transition to the University of Maryland Medical System. The bill also updates the General Assembly’s findings to reflect the history and purpose of the public-private partnership among the State, Prince George’s County, and the University of Maryland Medical System. Those findings emphasize expanding access to high-quality care in Prince George’s County, supporting specialty services such as cancer, cardiac, and stroke care, preserving community services, and using the medical center as an economic anchor for the region. By removing the sunset, the bill makes the annual State appropriation requirement continue beyond fiscal year 2028 and on an ongoing basis. In practical terms, HB1540 preserves the State’s obligation to include the medical center’s operating grant in future budget bills and leaves in place the county’s matching and capital support structure tied to the hospital’s transition and construction. It does not create a new program so much as it makes permanent a funding mechanism that had been scheduled to end, thereby affecting future State budgeting and the financial planning of the University of Maryland Capital Region Health system and Prince George’s County. The overall sentiment around the bill appears strongly supportive. It passed the House 113-14 and the Senate 46-0, indicating broad bipartisan agreement that continued State support is needed to sustain the medical center’s mission and protect prior public investment. The bill’s framing as a continuation of a successful regional health-care partnership likely contributed to the favorable votes. The main point of contention is the policy choice to continue State operating support indefinitely rather than allow the original sunset to take effect. Supporters view the funding as necessary to maintain access, quality, and regional health equity in Prince George’s County, while any opposition appears to center on the long-term fiscal commitment and whether the medical center should remain dependent on State appropriations. No committee transcript was provided, so the record here reflects the bill text and vote margins rather than detailed floor debate.

Impact

HB1540 amends Maryland Health-General § 19-2401 and the 2016 enabling act for the Prince George’s County Regional Medical Center to remove the sunset on the State’s annual operating appropriation requirement. As a result, the Governor must continue to include a $10 million appropriation in the budget bill for the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center for fiscal year 2022 and each fiscal year thereafter, rather than ending the obligation in 2028. The bill also preserves the related findings and funding structure supporting the hospital’s transition, affecting State budget law, Prince George’s County’s matching obligations, and the ongoing financing of the University of Maryland Capital Region Health system.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have enjoyed broad support and little visible controversy in the recorded votes. It passed the House 113-14 and the Senate 46-0, suggesting strong bipartisan agreement that the medical center remains an important public investment. The bill’s emphasis on health care access, specialty services, and regional economic development likely helped drive the favorable sentiment.

Contention

The principal disagreement is over whether the State should make its operating support for the medical center permanent by repealing the termination date. Supporters argue that continued funding is necessary to protect the State’s investment, sustain high-quality care, and maintain access in Prince George’s County and southern Maryland. Potential critics would be concerned about the ongoing fiscal commitment and the extent to which the hospital should continue to rely on mandated State appropriations, but the vote totals indicate that any such concerns were limited.