HB 671

Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman - Mandatory Appropriation

Sponsor: Emily Shetty (District 18)Committee: AppropriationsSubject: ElderlyStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 762 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring the Governor to include in the annual budget bill, for fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal year thereafter, a minimum appropriation for the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman from certain money remitted by managed care organizations and, under certain circumstances, general funds.

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Testimony (22)

MGA witness list

FAV 16FavorableFWA 1Favorable with amendmentsUNF 2UnfavorableINFO 3Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Westrick, Saralobbyist	AARP Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Peters, Meganlobbyist	Alzheimer's Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Harris, Mrs	District 25 Constituent	Position only
FAV	Arias, Dianelobbyist	Maryland Catholic Conference	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hartung, Bruce	Maryland Continuing Care Residents Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bright Gordon, Cornelia	Maryland Legal Aid	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Peters, Meganlobbyist	Maryland Senior Citizens Action Network (MSCAN)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Geddes, Annlobbyist	Mental Health Association of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Proctor, Karessa	NASW Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ciekot, Annlobbyist	Public Policy Partners	Written (PDF)
FAV	Craig, Karrie	State Long-Term Care Ombudsman	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bergofsky, Linda	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Shetty, Delegate Shettylegislator	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Montgomery, Roxann	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Shetty, Emily	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Lynch, Meghan	Maryland Department of Health	Written (PDF)
UNF	Davis, Stacey	Individual	Position only
FWA	Kauffman, Dannalobbyist	Individual	Oral
INFO	Farrar, Madalyn	MDH	Written (PDF)
INFO	Williams, Irnise	OAG	Written (PDF)
INFO	Greenfield, Aaronlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

AARP MarylandFAV 1

Alzheimer's AssociationFAV 1

District 25 ConstituentFAV 1

Maryland Catholic ConferenceFAV 1

Maryland Continuing Care Residents AssociationFAV 1

Maryland Department of HealthUNF 1

Maryland Legal AidFAV 1

Maryland Senior Citizens Action Network (MSCAN)FAV 1

MDHINFO 1

Mental Health Association of MarylandFAV 1

NASW MarylandFAV 1

OAGINFO 1

Public Policy PartnersFAV 1

State Long-Term Care OmbudsmanFAV 1

YearFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVWestrick, SaraAARP MarylandRegistered for: AARP Maryland

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

FAVArias, DianeMaryland Catholic ConferenceRegistered for: Maryland Catholic Conference

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

FAVGeddes, AnnMental Health Association of MarylandRegistered for: Mental Health Association of Maryland; Maryland Coalition of Families

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…

FWAKauffman, 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…

INFOGreenfield, 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…