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Bills/2026 Regular Session

SB 665

Passed both chambersCrossfile HB 439
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Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Maryland Advisory Council on Deaf and Hard of Hearing - Renaming

Sponsor: Kevin M. Harris (District 27)Committee: Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentSubject: State Government - Agencies, Offices, and OfficialsStatus: Third Reading Passed with Amendments (136-0) (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Renaming the Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to be the Office of the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing; and renaming the Maryland Advisory Council on Deaf and Hard of Hearing to be the Maryland Advisory Council on Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing.

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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 (17)

MGA witness list
FAV 15FavorableFWA 2Favorable with amendments
PositionWitnessOrganizationTestimony
FAVHalliburton, DiamonGovernor's Office of the Deaf and Hard of HearingWritten (PDF)
FAVDeBerry, UsherlaGovernors Office of the Deaf and Hard of HearingOral + Written (PDF)
FAVMDAD President, MDAD PresidentMaryland Association of the DeafWritten (PDF)
FAVDove, S. SpencerMaryland Commission on Civil RightsWritten (PDF)
FAVDove, S. SpencerMaryland Commission on Civil RightsWritten (PDF)
FAVBlackfield, AnneMaryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD)Written (PDF)
FAVMartinez, EdwinMetro-Washington Association of the DeafBlindOral
FAVOthman, RonzaNational Federation of the Blind of MarylandWritten (PDF)
FAVDeSomma, MeredithIndividualWritten (PDF)
FAVDelahoussaye, BlaiseIndividualWritten (PDF)
FAVFogarty, KatherineIndividualOral
FAVHedberg, Karl UlfIndividualWritten (PDF)
FAVLeffler, JacobIndividualOral
FAVSenator Harris, Senator HarrislegislatorIndividualOral
FAVSenator Harris, Senator HarrislegislatorIndividualOral + Written (PDF)
FWABlackfield, AnneMaryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD)Written (PDF)
FWAHarris, Kevin M.IndividualWritten (PDF)

Organizations on record

Governor's Office of the Deaf and Hard of HearingFAV 1
Governors Office of the Deaf and Hard of HearingFAV 1
Maryland Association of the DeafFAV 1
Maryland Commission on Civil RightsFAV 2
Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD)FAV 1FWA 1
Metro-Washington Association of the DeafBlindFAV 1
National Federation of the Blind of MarylandFAV 1