SB 385

Public Health - Recommendations for Immunizations, Screenings, and Preventive Services - Pharmacist Administration and Required Health Insurance Coverage (The Vax Act)

Sponsor: PresidentCommittee: FinanceSubject: Health Care Facilities and RegulationStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 8 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring the Secretary of Health to issue recommendations for certain immunizations, screenings, and preventive services based on certain evidence-based scientific and clinical guidance; requiring the Secretary, before adopting a recommendation for a certain preventive service to hold a notice and comments period, obtain a certain analysis from the Maryland Health Care Commission, and cite the basis for the recommendation; altering the authority of pharmacists to administer certain vaccinations; 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 (77)

MGA witness list

FAV 49FavorableFWA 1Favorable with amendmentsUNF 27Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Soileau-Burke, Dr. Monique	American Academy of Pediatrics	Oral
FAV	Morris, Austinlobbyist	Children's National Hospital	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ashton, Monique	City of Rockville	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Mills, Morganlobbyist	Compass Government Relations	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mills, Morganlobbyist	Compass Government Relations	Written (PDF)
FAV	Sullivan, Dr. Meg	Deputy Secretary for Public Health, MDH	Oral
FAV	Diamond, Joanna	Health Care for the Homeless	Written (PDF)
FAV	Diamond, Joanna	Health Care for the Homeless	Written (PDF)
FAV	Miller Smith, Nora	League of Women Voters Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Murphy, JD	MD Chesapeake Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kirk Robins, Catherinelobbyist	Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative, Inc.	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Blackfield, Anne	Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lynch, Meghan	Maryland Department of Health	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lynch, Meghan	Maryland Department of Health	Written (PDF)
FAV	Seshamani, Meena	Maryland Department of Health	Oral
FAV	oga, Maryland Department of Health /Office of Governmen	Maryland Dept. of Health	Written (PDF)
FAV	Jacobs, Douglas	Maryland Health Care Commission	Written (PDF)
FAV	Grant, Marie	Maryland Insurance Administration	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Grant, Marie	Maryland Insurance Administration	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Position only
FAV	Horton, Aliyahlobbyist	Maryland Pharmacists Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Schulz, Kelly	Maryland Tech Council	Oral
FAV	Zirkle, Andrewlobbyist	Maryland Tech Council	Oral
FAV	Miller, Lt. Gov Aruna	Moore-Miller Administration	Oral
FAV	Williams, Irnise	OAG	Written (PDF)
FAV	Williams, Irnise	OAG	Written (PDF)
FAV	Allen, Luke	Planned Parenthood of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Collins, Jocelynlobbyist	Public Policy Partners	Written (PDF)
FAV	Collins, Jocelynlobbyist	Public Policy Partners	Written (PDF)
FAV	Vazquez, Javier	Secretary for Bd of Pharmacy - Hospital Acute Care Representative	Oral
FAV	Goldstein, Mathew	Secular Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Goldstein, Mathew	Secular Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schneider, Glennlobbyist	The Horizon Foundation	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schneider, Glennlobbyist	The Horizon Foundation	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hampton, Lorenzo	University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	(MD), State of Maryland	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	(MD), State of Maryland	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Dier, Hannah	Individual	Position only
FAV	Duggirala, Amar	Individual	Oral
FAV	Elliott, Robynlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Elliott, Robynlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kabara, Ilona	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mortoro, Lynn	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	President, President	Individual	Oral
FAV	President, President	Individual	Oral
FAV	State of, Maryland	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Vetter, Drew	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Tarsel, Emily	Health Choice Maryland.org	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Gallagher, George	Individual	Position only
UNF	Garrett, Catherine	Love Maryland PAC	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	MONTGOMERY, MEGAN	Love Maryland PAC	Written (PDF)
UNF	Kelly, John	MD Citizen	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Belford, Tina	Moms for Liberty-AAC Chapter	Position only
UNF	Butler, Jenna	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Cusack, Sarah	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Daly, Denee	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Ferrell, Valerie	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Gteiner, Tim	Individual	Position only

Showing 60 of 77

Organizations on record

American Academy of PediatricsFAV 1

Children's National HospitalFAV 1

City of RockvilleFAV 1

Compass Government RelationsFAV 2

Department of AgingFWA 1

Deputy Secretary for Public Health, MDHFAV 1

Health Care for the HomelessFAV 2

Health Choice Maryland.orgUNF 1

IndividualUNF 1

League of Women Voters MarylandFAV 1

Love Maryland PACUNF 2

Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative, Inc.FAV 1

Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD)FAV 1

Maryland Department of HealthFAV 3

Maryland Dept. of HealthFAV 1

Maryland Health Care CommissionFAV 1

Maryland Insurance AdministrationFAV 2

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Pharmacists AssociationFAV 1

Maryland Tech CouncilFAV 2

MD Chesapeake Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)FAV 1

MD CitizenUNF 1

Moms for Liberty-AAC ChapterUNF 1

Moore-Miller AdministrationFAV 1

OAGFAV 2

Planned Parenthood of MarylandFAV 1

Public Policy PartnersFAV 2

Secretary for Bd of Pharmacy - Hospital Acute Care RepresentativeFAV 1

Secular MarylandFAV 2

The Horizon FoundationFAV 2

University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of LawFAV 1

YearFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVMorris, AustinChildren's National HospitalRegistered for: Children's National Hospital; Children's National Health System

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.…

FAVKirk Robins, CatherineMaryland Citizens' Health Initiative, Inc.Registered for: Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative, Inc.

FAVHorton, AliyahMaryland Pharmacists AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Pharmacists Association

FAVZirkle, AndrewMaryland Tech CouncilRegistered for: Technology Council of Maryland, Inc.

FAVCollins, JocelynPublic Policy PartnersRegistered for: American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network; Bard College; Campaign to Protect Patient Health d/b/a Value of Care Coalition; Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; HealthCare Access Maryland…

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

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…