HB 446

Health - Dementia Services and Brain Health Program and Provider Resource Toolkit

Sponsor: Ashanti Martinez (District 22)Committee: HealthSubject: Public HealthStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 239 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Altering the duties of the Virginia I. Jones Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Council to include an examination of the capacity of health care providers to deliver care to certain individuals and to identify methods by which the State can assist health care providers in delivering care to certain individuals; establishing the Dementia Services and Brain Health Program in the Maryland Department of Health to lead the State's public health efforts relating to brain health and dementia; 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 (26)

MGA witness list

FAV 26Favorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Arikat, Loraine	1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East	Written (PDF)
FAV	Westrick, Saralobbyist	AARP Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	BOWERS, JOHN	Alzheimer's Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Peters, Meganlobbyist	Alzheimer's Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Twesigye, Kayenda	Baltimore County Government	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mills, Morganlobbyist	Compass Government Relations	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bartolomeo, Kathleen	GCAN, MCRT	Position only
FAV	Agarin, Ufuoma	Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hartung, Bruce	Maryland Continuing Care Residents Association	Position only
FAV	fernandes, priyanka	Maryland Rural Health Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Peters, Meganlobbyist	Maryland Senior Citizens Action Network (MSCAN)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Palmisano, Anna	Marylanders for Patient Rights	Written (PDF)
FAV	Rossheim, Brooke	Marylanders for Patient Rights	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Proctor, Karessa	NASW Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ciekot, Annlobbyist	Public Policy Partners	Written (PDF)
FAV	Paddy, Michaellobbyist	Public Policy Partners	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Martinez, Delegate Martinezlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Donnellan, Joann	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Fields, Cynthia	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Greenfield, Aaronlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Gupta, Ravi	Individual	Oral
FAV	Hennawi, George	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hessler, Thereselobbyist	Individual	Position only
FAV	Kauffman, Dannalobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mauer, William	Individual	Position only
FAV	Sarkar, Shaolilobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers EastFAV 1

AARP MarylandFAV 1

Alzheimer's AssociationFAV 2

Baltimore County GovernmentFAV 1

Compass Government RelationsFAV 1

GCAN, MCRTFAV 1

Legislative Black Caucus of MarylandFAV 1

Maryland Continuing Care Residents AssociationFAV 1

Maryland Rural Health AssociationFAV 1

Maryland Senior Citizens Action Network (MSCAN)FAV 1

Marylanders for Patient RightsFAV 2

NASW MarylandFAV 1

Public Policy PartnersFAV 2

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVWestrick, SaraAARP MarylandRegistered for: AARP Maryland

FAVPeters, MeganAlzheimer's AssociationRegistered for: Alzheimer's Association

FAVMills, MorganCompass Government RelationsRegistered for: Alley Cat Allies; CFG Health Network; Coinbase, Inc.; Girl Scouts of Central Maryland; Horizon Foundation of Howard County, Inc., The; Maryland Association for Justice, Inc.…

FAVPeters, MeganMaryland Senior Citizens Action Network (MSCAN)Registered for: Alzheimer's Association

FAVCiekot, AnnPublic Policy PartnersRegistered for: American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network; B'More Clubhouse; Baltimore City Substance Abuse Directorate; Bard College; CareForth; Children's Advocacy Institute…

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.…

FAVGreenfield, AaronRegistered for: BTS Bioenergy; Baltimore Area Council Boy Scouts of America, Inc.; Embassy of Japan; Ernst & Young, LLP; FEi Systems; Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake…

FAVHessler, ThereseRegistered for: City of Gaithersburg; Elevate Recovery Centers; Evolve Kids Care; Evolve Life Centers; High Roller Technologies; Laila's Gift…

FAVKauffman, DannaRegistered for: Amazon.com Services, LLC; American Association of Dental Boards c/o Commission on Dental Competency Assessments; Baltimore Gas and Electric Company; Behavioral Health System Baltimore; City of Rockville; Community Behavioral Health Association of Maryland…

FAVSarkar, ShaoliRegistered for: Maryland State Bar Association, Inc.