SB 326

Physician Assistants and Midwives - Parity With Other Health Care Practitioners (Physician Assistant Parity Act of 2026)

Sponsor: Clarence K. Lam (District 12)Committee: FinanceSubject: Health OccupationsStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 222 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Altering certain provisions of law to include physician assistants in the health care practitioners who may take certain actions, including actions related to the guardianship of disabled persons, admissions to mental health facilities and the Emergency and Allergy Treatment Program; altering the health care practitioners that may order that a pregnant incarcerated individual be admitted to the infirmary; requiring the Maryland Department of Health to cover charges related certain examinations for certain emergency evaluees; etc.

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Testimony (31)

MGA witness list

FAV 20FavorableFWA 6Favorable with amendmentsUNF 5Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Rabbitt, Dan	Behavioral Health System Baltimore	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mills, Morganlobbyist	Compass Government Relations	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schutz, Kelly	Individual Physician Assistant - Emergency Department	Oral
FAV	Floyd, Brandonlobbyist	Johns Hopkins	Written (PDF)
FAV	Witten, Jenniferlobbyist	LifeBridge Health	Written (PDF)
FAV	Beauchamp, Dr. Jennifer	Maryland Academy of Physician Assistants	Oral
FAV	Tran, Michael	Maryland Board of Physicians	Oral
FAV	Krienke, Janelobbyist	Maryland Hospital Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Krienke, Janelobbyist	Maryland Hospital Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	fernandes, priyanka	Maryland Rural Health Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Tilburg, Will	University of Maryland Medical System	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wong, Dean Kenneth	University of Maryland, Baltimore Graduate School	Written (PDF)
FAV	(MD), State of Maryland	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	(MD), State of Maryland	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Elliott, Robynlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Elliott, Robynlobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Partners, Public Policy	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Partners, Public Policy	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator Lam, Senator Lamlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator Lam, Senator Lamlegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	Gallant, Judith	Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work	Written (PDF)
UNF	Clark, Ashleylobbyist	Harris Jones & Malone, LLC	Written (PDF)
UNF	Varghese, Sanjeev	Maryland Office of the Public Defender	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Bogley, Laura	Maryland Right to Life	Written (PDF)
UNF	Bogley, Laura	Maryland Right to Life	Written (PDF)
FWA	Peters, Sarahlobbyist	HBS	Written (PDF)
FWA	Maryland Academy of Audiology, Advocacy	Maryland Academy of Audiology	Written (PDF)
FWA	Morhaim, Dan	none	Oral
FWA	Bode, Claire	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Daviss, Steve	Individual	Oral
FWA	Wise, Steve	Individual	Oral

Organizations on record

Behavioral Health System BaltimoreFAV 1

Compass Government RelationsFAV 1

Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social WorkUNF 1

Harris Jones & Malone, LLCUNF 1

HBSFWA 1

Individual Physician Assistant - Emergency DepartmentFAV 1

Johns HopkinsFAV 1

LifeBridge HealthFAV 1

Maryland Academy of AudiologyFWA 1

Maryland Academy of Physician AssistantsFAV 1

Maryland Board of PhysiciansFAV 1

Maryland Hospital AssociationFAV 2

Maryland Office of the Public DefenderUNF 1

Maryland Right to LifeUNF 2

Maryland Rural Health AssociationFAV 1

noneFWA 1

University of Maryland Medical SystemFAV 1

University of Maryland, Baltimore Graduate SchoolFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

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.…

FAVFloyd, BrandonJohns HopkinsRegistered for: Johns Hopkins

FAVWitten, JenniferLifeBridge HealthRegistered for: Lifebridge Health, Inc.

FAVKrienke, JaneMaryland Hospital AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Hospital Association

FAVElliott, RobynRegistered 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…

UNFClark, AshleyHarris Jones & Malone, LLCRegistered for: Beltway Fine Wine; Chesapeake Employers' Insurance Company; Community Associations Institute/Maryland Legislative Action Committee; Employ Prince George's, Inc.; Frederick Community College; Greater Baltimore Committee…

FWAPeters, SarahHBSRegistered for: Action Now Initiative, LLC; Alibaba; Ameresco; American Diabetes Association; Apartment & Office Building Association; Barwood Taxi Service…