SB792 requires the State Health Services Cost Review Commission to develop, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Maryland Hospital Association, a model policy for hospitals on how to respond to immigration enforcement actions at a hospital. The model policy must consider patient privacy and the safety of patients, guests, and staff, and must be published on the Commission’s website by October 1, 2026.
The bill also requires most hospitals in Maryland to adopt their own immigration-enforcement-action policy by the earlier of January 1, 2027, or three months after the Commission publishes the model policy. Hospitals must make the policy available to staff and provide annual training to staff on the policy. The law does not apply to hospitals operated by state or local government units that are already required to follow Attorney General guidance under a separate statute.
Impact
SB792 adds a new section to the Health-General Article and expands the duties of the Health Services Cost Review Commission. It creates a statewide framework for hospital response protocols during immigration enforcement actions, while leaving hospitals some flexibility to tailor their own policies so long as they meet the statutory requirement. The bill affects hospitals, hospital staff, and enforcement interactions at health care facilities, and it may also interact with Attorney General guidance governing public hospitals.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad legislative support overall, as reflected by strong third-reading passage in both chambers and final passage in the House by a wide margin. The rejection of two floor amendments suggests there was some disagreement over the bill’s details, but the underlying policy was not broadly opposed. No committee transcript is available, so the recorded votes are the main indicator of sentiment.
Contention
The main point of contention appears to have been the scope and wording of the hospital policy requirement, as shown by the failed floor amendments offered by Delegate Arikan. The bill also includes an exemption for certain government-operated hospitals already covered by Attorney General guidance, which may reflect concern about duplicative regulation or differing treatment of public facilities. More generally, the subject matter—hospital procedures during immigration enforcement actions—likely implicates competing concerns about patient privacy, staff safety, and cooperation with immigration authorities.