SB 348

Passed both chambers

Hospitals and Freestanding Birthing Centers - High-Risk Pregnancies - Communication After Discharge

Sponsor: Carl Jackson (District 8)Committee: FinanceSubject: Public HealthStatus: Third Reading Passed with Amendments (100-34) (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Altering the requirement that a hospital or freestanding birthing center contact the birth parent after the delivery of a newborn following a high-risk pregnancy to evaluate the birthing parent's status and, as necessary, provide certain information to be at least 24 hours after discharge.

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Testimony (26)

MGA witness list

FAV 11FavorableFWA 5Favorable with amendmentsUNF 8UnfavorableINFO 2Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Collins, Quinn	Johns Hopkins Health System	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Collins, Quinn	Johns Hopkins Health System	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Witten, Jenniferlobbyist	LifeBridge Health	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Mehu, Natashalobbyist	Maryland Hospital Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Garifo, Laura	MedStar Health	Oral
FAV	Routson, Kimberlylobbyist	MedStar Health	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Reilly, Joan	Third Act	Position only
FAV	Banfield, Anne	Individual	Oral
FAV	Krone, Christinelobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator Jackson, C., Senator Jackson, C.legislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator Jackson, Senator Jacksonlegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	Polsky, Larry	Maryland Association of County Health Officers	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Polsky, Larry	Maryland Association of County Health Officers	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Harris, Tanay Lynn	Maryland Black Perinatal Health & Reproductive Justice Policy Collective	Written (PDF)
UNF	Schneider, Glennlobbyist	The Horizon Foundation	Position only
UNF	(MD), State of Maryland	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	(MD), State of Maryland	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Elliott, Robynlobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Krone, Christinelobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Schucker, MSN, RN, Joy	LifeBridge Health	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Mehu, Natashalobbyist	Maryland Hospital Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Routson, Kimberlylobbyist	MedStar Health	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Banfield, M.D., Anne	Individual	Oral
FWA	Jackson, Senator	Individual	Written (PDF)
INFO	Lynch, Meghan	Maryland Department of Health	Written (PDF)
INFO	Lynch, Meghan	Maryland Department of Health	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Johns Hopkins Health SystemFAV 2

LifeBridge HealthFAV 1FWA 1

Maryland Association of County Health OfficersUNF 2

Maryland Black Perinatal Health & Reproductive Justice Policy CollectiveUNF 1

Maryland Department of HealthINFO 2

Maryland Hospital AssociationFAV 1FWA 1

MedStar HealthFAV 2FWA 1

The Horizon FoundationUNF 1

Third ActFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVWitten, JenniferLifeBridge HealthRegistered for: Lifebridge Health, Inc.

FAVMehu, NatashaMaryland Hospital AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Hospital Association; Maryland Patient Care and Access Coalition; Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants; Maryland Academy of Advanced Practice Clinicians; Baltimore Washington Rapid Rail, LLC; Maryland Works, Inc.…

FAVRoutson, KimberlyMedStar HealthRegistered for: MedStar Health

FAVKrone, ChristineRegistered for: American Coatings Association; Baltimore Gas and Electric Company; City of Rockville; Coordinating Center for Home and Community Care, The, LLC (dba The Coordinating Center); Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work, Inc.; LifeSpan Network…

UNFSchneider, GlennThe Horizon FoundationRegistered for: Horizon Foundation of Howard County, Inc., The

UNFElliott, 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…

UNFKrone, ChristineRegistered for: American Coatings Association; Baltimore Gas and Electric Company; City of Rockville; Coordinating Center for Home and Community Care, The, LLC (dba The Coordinating Center); Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work, Inc.; LifeSpan Network…

FWAMehu, NatashaMaryland Hospital AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Hospital Association; Maryland Patient Care and Access Coalition; Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants; Maryland Academy of Advanced Practice Clinicians; Baltimore Washington Rapid Rail, LLC; Maryland Works, Inc.…

FWARoutson, KimberlyMedStar HealthRegistered for: MedStar Health