SB 550

Did not advance

Health Care Decisions Act - Surrogate Decision Making - Mental Disorders

Sponsor: Nick Charles (District 25)Committee: FinanceSubject: Public HealthStatus: Hearing 2/24 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Repealing the prohibition against a surrogate authorizing treatment for a mental disorder for a person who has been certified to be incapable of making an informed decision.

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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 (19)

MGA witness list

FAV 14FavorableUNF 5Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Clark, Ashleylobbyist	Harris Jones & Malone, LLC	Written (PDF)
FAV	Coble, Annie	Johns Hopkins University & Medicine	Written (PDF)
FAV	Gautam, Rishi	LifeBridge Health	Written (PDF)
FAV	Enchill, Darlene	Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center	Oral
FAV	Mehu, Natashalobbyist	Maryland Hospital Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Dickerson, Taylor	Maryland Psychological Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Donley, Parchenney	SB 550	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lang, Damianlobbyist	Sheppard Pratt	Written (PDF)
FAV	Tilburg, Will	University of Maryland Medical System	Written (PDF)
FAV	Donley, Whitney	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hawkins, Xzavaier	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Millhouse, Delores	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator Charles, Senator Charleslegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Smith, Theresa	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Kelley, Tam Lynne	Disability Rights Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Lynch, Meghan	Maryland Department of Health	Written (PDF)
UNF	Rosen, Niel	Maryland Office of the Public Defender	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Varghese, Sanjeev	Maryland Office of the Public Defender	Oral
UNF	Bergan, Courtney	Individual	Oral

Organizations on record

Disability Rights MarylandUNF 1

Harris Jones & Malone, LLCFAV 1

Johns Hopkins University & MedicineFAV 1

LifeBridge HealthFAV 1

Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical CenterFAV 1

Maryland Department of HealthUNF 1

Maryland Hospital AssociationFAV 1

Maryland Office of the Public DefenderUNF 2

Maryland Psychological AssociationFAV 1

SB 550FAV 1

Sheppard PrattFAV 1

University of Maryland Medical SystemFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVClark, 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…

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.…

FAVLang, DamianSheppard PrattRegistered for: Sheppard Pratt Health Systems