HB 1020

Consumer Protection - Credit Reporting - Medical Debt (Fair Medical Debt Reporting Act)

Sponsor: Julie Palakovich Carr (District 17)Committee: Economic MattersSubject: Commercial Law - Consumer ProtectionStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 121 (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Prohibiting a consumer reporting agency from furnishing any consumer report containing certain adverse information relating to a consumer's medical debt, or any collection action against a consumer for medical debt, or maintain a file on a consumer related to medical debt or collections; prohibiting a person from using medical debt information from a consumer report for certain purposes; prohibiting a health care facility, a health care practitioner, or an ambulance service from disclosing medical debt to a consumer reporting agency; etc.

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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (0)

MGA witness list

FAV 21FavorableFWA 1Favorable with amendmentsUNF 6Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Arikat, Loraine	1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East	Written (PDF)
FAV	Morgan, Karen	AARP	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Elliott, Robynlobbyist	American College of Nurse Midwives -Maryland Affiliate	Written (PDF)
FAV	Keys, Rachael	CASH CAMPAIGN OF MARYLAND	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schneiderman, Franzlobbyist	Consumer Auto	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Hudson, Lee	Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCA	Written (PDF)
FAV	White, Marcelinelobbyist	Economic Action Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Kelter, Chris	Maryland Centers for Independent Living	Written (PDF)
FAV	Steinwedel, William	Maryland Legal Aid Bureau	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Edwards, Donna	Maryland State & District of Columbia AFL-CIO	Written (PDF)
FAV	Coleman, Ryan	President, Randallstown NAACP	Position only
FAV	Puentes, Ericalobbyist	Progressive Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Paddy, Michaellobbyist	Public Policy Partners	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Cheung, Byron	The Public Health Law Clinic at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	McNair, Lee	Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice Ministry	Position only
FAV	OMalley, Catherine	Women's Law Center	Position only
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Palakovich Carr, Delegate Palakovich Carrlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Muniak, Lindsey	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Palakovich Carr, Julie	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Taylor, Zachary	CDIA	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Richards, Evanlobbyist	Maryland Bankers Association	Written (PDF)
UNF	Macon, Diana	PRA Group	Written (PDF)
UNF	Glassman, Barrylobbyist	Individual	Oral
UNF	Jones, Lisalobbyist	Individual	Oral
UNF	Peters, Scott	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Williams, Irnise	OAG	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers EastFAV 1

AARPFAV 1

American College of Nurse Midwives -Maryland AffiliateFAV 1

CASH CAMPAIGN OF MARYLANDFAV 1

CDIAUNF 1

Consumer AutoFAV 1

Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCAFAV 1

Economic Action MarylandFAV 1

Maryland Bankers AssociationUNF 1

Maryland Centers for Independent LivingFAV 1

Maryland Legal Aid BureauFAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland State & District of Columbia AFL-CIOFAV 1

OAGFWA 1

PRA GroupUNF 1

President, Randallstown NAACPFAV 1

Progressive MarylandFAV 1

Public Policy PartnersFAV 1

The Public Health Law Clinic at the University of Maryland Carey School of LawFAV 1

Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice MinistryFAV 1

Women's Law CenterFAV 1

YearFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVElliott, RobynAmerican College of Nurse Midwives -Maryland AffiliateRegistered for: American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists; Amica Center for Immigrant Rights; CareForth; Chase Brexton Health System; Coordinating Center, The; Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition…

FAVSchneiderman, FranzConsumer AutoRegistered for: Auto Consumer Alliance; Consumer Auto

FAVWhite, MarcelineEconomic Action MarylandRegistered for: Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition DBA Economic Action Maryland; Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition

FAVPuentes, EricaProgressive MarylandRegistered for: Progressive Maryland

FAVPaddy, MichaelPublic Policy PartnersRegistered for: American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network; Campaign to Protect Patient Health d/b/a Value of Care Coalition; Chase Brexton Health System; Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition; Gaudenzia, Inc.; Gilead Sciences, Inc.…

UNFRichards, EvanMaryland Bankers AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Bankers Association

UNFGlassman, BarryRegistered for: AFT Maryland; Aligned Data Centers; Associated Builders & Contractors; Baltimore Industrial Group; Center for Ecosystem Recovery; Earth Funeral Group, Inc.…

UNFJones, LisaRegistered for: Aligned Data Centers; American Academy of Anesthesiology Assistants, Inc.; Associated Black Charities; Associated Builders & Contractors; Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) on behalf of National Strategies, LLC; Atmosphere Data Centers LLC…