SB 489

Passed both chambers

Health Occupations - Physicians Trained in Foreign Countries - Exemption From Educational Requirements and Limited License

Sponsor: Clarence K. Lam (District 12)Committee: FinanceSubject: Health OccupationsStatus: Third Reading Passed with Amendments (128-9) (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Altering the exemption from certain educational requirements required for a license to practice medicine for certain applicants who have studied at an international medical school; authorizing the State Board of Physicians, beginning October 1, 2028, to issue a limited license to practice medicine to a physician trained and licensed in a foreign county under certain circumstances; and requiring the State Board of Physicians to consult with MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society on the development of certain policies and regulations.

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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 (32)

MGA witness list

FAV 14FavorableFWA 10Favorable with amendmentsUNF 5UnfavorableINFO 3Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Moley, Jo	Governor's Office of Immigrant Affairs	Written (PDF)
FAV	Floyd, Brandonlobbyist	Johns Hopkins	Written (PDF)
FAV	Krienke, Janelobbyist	Maryland Hospital Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Krienke, Janelobbyist	Maryland Hospital Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Position only
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Position only
FAV	Yeung, Estelle	Maryland Rural Health Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Routson, Kimberlylobbyist	MedStar Health	Written (PDF)
FAV	DeCheubel, Leeza	Rural Maryland Council	Written (PDF)
FAV	Tilburg, Will	University of Maryland Medical System	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ortiz, Jeanette	University of Maryland, Baltimore	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator Lam, Senator Lamlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator Lam, Senator Lamlegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	Price, Suzanne	Concerned Citizen	Position only
UNF	Price, Suzanne	Concerned Citizen	Position only
UNF	Brocato, Deborah	Individual	Position only
UNF	Lang, Alan	Individual	Position only
UNF	Tibbals, Trudy	Individual	Position only
FWA	Bremer, John	Federation of State Medical Boards	Written (PDF)
FWA	Robin, Lisa	Federation of State Medical Boards	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Ajrawat, Harry	Maryland Board of Physicians	Oral
FWA	Tran, Michael	Maryland Board of Physicians	Oral
FWA	Tran, Michael	Maryland Board of Physicians	Oral
FWA	Tilburg, Will	University of Maryland Medical System	Written (PDF)
FWA	(MD), State of Maryland	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	(MD), State of Maryland	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Wise, Steve	Individual	Oral
FWA	Wise, Steve	Individual	Oral
INFO	Floyd, Brandonlobbyist	Johns Hopkins	Written (PDF)
INFO	Parker, Allison	University of Maryland Faculty Physicians Inc.	Written (PDF)
INFO	Elliott, Robynlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Concerned CitizenUNF 2

Federation of State Medical BoardsFWA 2

Governor's Office of Immigrant AffairsFAV 1

Johns HopkinsFAV 1INFO 1

Maryland Board of PhysiciansFWA 3

Maryland Hospital AssociationFAV 2

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 2

Maryland Rural Health AssociationFAV 1

MedStar HealthFAV 1

Rural Maryland CouncilFAV 1

University of Maryland Faculty Physicians Inc.INFO 1

University of Maryland Medical SystemFAV 1FWA 1

University of Maryland, BaltimoreFAV 1

YearFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVFloyd, BrandonJohns HopkinsRegistered for: Johns Hopkins

FAVKrienke, JaneMaryland Hospital AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Hospital Association

FAVRoutson, KimberlyMedStar HealthRegistered for: MedStar Health

INFOFloyd, BrandonJohns HopkinsRegistered for: Johns Hopkins

INFOElliott, 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…