[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6630143,"mediaKeyId","2699062-d4171efc7a0ff35f7d3dca03edfb1fc6","parentId",2699062,"title","Sponsor seeks smaller fiscal footprint for proposed disability service-animal program after $75,000 fiscal note","audioSeconds",51,"startMs",1696000,"endMs",1747000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2699062-d4171efc7a0ff35f7d3dca03edfb1fc6&start=1696&end=1747","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2699062-d4171efc7a0ff35f7d3dca03edfb1fc6/thumbnail_1696000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6630143/Maryland/Sponsor-seeks-smaller-fiscal-footprint-for-proposed-disability-service-animal-program-after-75000-fiscal-note","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630143-ab4f8d11c23e7e28ea561ed2da64bd4f/orig.mp4?Expires=1774669840&Signature=hP6wKNkctwrElU32sTnejMSHJXFhmoGvz7fsohEyMoFPNAqb8GXbB1aCWpNY75~PgKemkv95G5DdpnEy-nzg5~XDZPGfOYqJoSF8hbhtbU-ZVmkzqkKUvo3cOoRJbF8pVoaFrRdL-SbDjx0tUmtyNROG7mNkpz-lezA8YaF2cH9n32duR2mLbpTrQGWovH9~i6BnFnwdCpt6b4hr7hHWjOzyHm5iNoEH8AGFd6em6jDTBe~Gnowjne1vHPku-UOCdXWtnRBsq4WhVMInoOeQ-ImmYvnmX19pKtwyDDsJyKG9ISfKy0NAKtnQhOjm~yMxYFauP5GM7HDsvgiUNR-nqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Maryland General Assembly - Health and Government Operations","date","2025-03-19T19:56:17.453Z","article","Annapolis — Senate Bill 157, which would establish a Maryland disability service-animal program modeled on an existing veterans program, drew questioning after the committee reviewed a fiscal note the House chair described as too large for the committee's current posture.

Senator Simon Ayre presented the bill as a cross-file of House Bill 384 and said sponsors were preparing amendments aimed at lowering the program's fiscal footprint, reducing departmental responsibilities and minimizing required staff. \"The intention was to start it small like we did with the veterans program, which cost much less, didn't have any staff added. So, we're working on some amendments on that, 1, to reduce the amount of funding that is allocated, also minimize the department's responsibilities, and then bring it down to a reasonable amount,\" Ayre said.

The committee chair noted the House had not moved the bill because \"our fiscal note was 75,000,\" and asked the senator to draft amendments to reduce the fiscal impact. Ayre said the Senate sponsor and rules chair were coordinating to lower the fiscal note so the bill could proceed through both chambers.

No formal committee vote appears in the transcript. The sponsor requested time to return with amendment language and a lower estimated cost.

What this means: The bill would create a program to provide disability service animals under state administration; the committee signaled willingness to advance the measure if sponsors can produce amendments that reduce the fiscal estimate and narrow administrative obligations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","HGO Committee Session, 3/19/2025 #1","oneSentenceSummary","Senator presenting Senate Bill 157 said sponsors are seeking amendments to reduce program costs and departmental responsibilities after an initial fiscal note estimated higher startup costs; committee members said they would move the bill once the fiscal note is reduced.","taxTitle","Health and Government Operations Committee, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Maryland","taxId",15061,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6630149,"Committee hears bill to replace outdated 'mental hygiene' language with 'mental health'",230,260000,490000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2699062-d4171efc7a0ff35f7d3dca03edfb1fc6&start=260&end=490","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2699062-d4171efc7a0ff35f7d3dca03edfb1fc6/thumbnail_260000.jpg","/articles/6630149/Maryland/Committee-hears-bill-to-replace-outdated-mental-hygiene-language-with-mental-health","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630149-1aace19a6d61ece554f9f2f72468c35a/orig.mp4?Expires=1774669840&Signature=gWPPV~fSZXVMTTcTFE6EvdMoxFYRfFDT0zwV7wcDtK1hMC0XDp7cKpo5EZeEC75GPgsrWHutk1IMFzC2OboR9VS~bD3v3kj5qpQPhjMjL0mcjPNMPTK59DFyZScremP5ML8QgVs2lzZzi5hC4X46J9-c6Z28~SPKoF2RVQlcgkbiSTM5k3LzXPl6hg1lxVfgyfEQu0aryaYEhRN5-BxYEC-rX9Eo0bn50ErP5AGWlvYqLidELS0nn1qhhaCt-IQ~UBdBFw-q-NY5nLyUCpyA7H6yJ7cyruqVB4pWkUIgN70HEuWNNmvm8sPuaQc8vr90t-cBJKYDHx6xunK06GvzYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Annapolis — The House Health and Government Operations Committee heard Senate Bill 163, a measure to replace references to \"mental hygiene\" in Maryland statutes and regulations with modern terminology \"mental health,\" with sponsors framing the change as a dignity and stigma issue.

Senator Mary Washington, sponsor of the Senate measure, said the bill replaces outdated terminology in the Health-General Article to reflect contemporary understanding and reduce stigma: “For many mental hygiene evokes the stigma even derogatory notions implying something akin to an unclean mind,” she said. Washington said advocates asked for a straightforward statutory change and that the bill was amended to extend the deadline by which the Maryland Department of Health must review and update printed regulations. In exchange, the bill as amended requires the department to update public-facing electronic materials as soon as possible.

Vice Chair Bonnie Collison asked whether the sponsor had incorporated the health department's amendments. Washington said she had extended the date and added the requirement for digital materials, and that the department had indicated the updates could be done with staff resources; she confirmed there was no fiscal note in the hearing record.

Washington closed by saying that while \"SB163 is about words,\" constituents and families view the change as matters of dignity and clarity; she respectfully requested a favorable report.

The transcript records committee discussion but does not show a formal vote; the sponsor and committee agreed the changes were minor and the Senate would conform to the House bill where postures differed.","Senator Mary Washington presented legislation to update Maryland law and regulations by replacing the term \"mental hygiene\" with \"mental health,\" and reported an amendment to extend regulatory review deadlines while requiring quicker updates to public-facing electronic materials.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6630153,"Committee debates whether BMI should be listed in statutory health equity dashboard indicators",929,659000,1588000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2699062-d4171efc7a0ff35f7d3dca03edfb1fc6&start=659&end=1588","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2699062-d4171efc7a0ff35f7d3dca03edfb1fc6/thumbnail_659000.jpg","/articles/6630153/Maryland/Committee-debates-whether-BMI-should-be-listed-in-statutory-health-equity-dashboard-indicators","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630153-162532896ec18ce8362944ee0b7f4f0a/orig.mp4?Expires=1774669840&Signature=PISWkT6JiT2zAhLei1f-Ss4uSY0QuFA535UQocNxp2RTBgIbfeK8ST2eOIUUK0VjHaRp0rpy3mTp~in4OKbSjBcfVVb7Uk12UHAscF7jqImI86frYXII4ZqhedLUUBnwMrCOpqslSbue4tB9BsI7QWlExZZbroKCgeW~IuYsuksmSZCp7EwHXiB5g1cfwT9v8ie2-qyBA86hKd-9~4s6uiV-uGcCoSeUlcUozAluDD-3Y6RDibwSQMSU0zjhthSoyEbbqFYozfikCobjcRWS6EQ94pdv4DnCx4n9rbrBCt8WaStL04~swF95hyEtpvj9pvU2K~ML~F4mc-GRe712bQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Annapolis — Lawmakers at a House Health and Government Operations Committee hearing discussed Senate Bill 6 84, a measure to require a statewide health equity dashboard showing disparities across specified health indicators, debating whether body mass index (BMI) should be explicitly listed in statute.

Senator Malcolm Augustine, the bill sponsor in the Senate, told the committee that the Senate version and House version differ on several indicator listings and on wording. Augustine said the Senate bill “does not include A2, Roman numeral number 8, which, incorporates body mass index into the list of indicators.” He argued that BMI is a risk factor rather than a health condition and warned that putting BMI in statute could lock the dashboard into displaying a single metric even if better indicators emerge: “BMI does not distinguish between muscle and fat. It only considers weight and height…If the BMI language is struck, it would not preclude the department from including it,” Augustine said, noting the bill’s provision that allows the Maryland Department of Health to include “any other health indicators determined relevant by the department.”

During questioning, Delegate Morgan asked how the dashboard would treat indicators that reflect personal choices and observed that the dashboard’s purpose was to clarify disparities: “That dashboard didn't really include anything that was really controlled by the individual. Is that correct?” Morgan asked. Augustine and other supporters said the dashboard’s chief aim is visibility of disparities disaggregated by race, ethnicity and gender so policymakers can monitor change over time.

Vice Chair Bonnie Collison pressed the point that BMI data could reveal local patterns such as ‘‘food deserts’’ that limit healthy choices: “So could we learn in this dashboard about those food deserts by virtue of high BMI's in particular areas?” she asked, saying local environmental drivers can shape risk indicators. Delegate Chisholm and other members likewise argued BMI can be a useful local-level signal tied to type 2 diabetes risk.

Augustine said the department already has the technical capacity to display BMI and that statutory omission would not prevent the agency from showing it; his preference was to avoid prescribing a specific metric in law so the dashboard can adapt if more appropriate measures are developed.

No formal committee vote on SB 6 84 was recorded in the transcript. Augustine asked for a favorable report with amendment to align indicators between chambers and to preserve flexibility for the department.

What this means: The committee’s discussion centered on a technical but consequential design choice — whether statute should dictate dashboard indicators or leave room for the health department to choose measures that best reflect health risk and equity. Supporters said statutory specificity can ensure consistent reporting; proponents of flexibility warned that statute can become outdated and limit effective data presentation.

The hearing record shows back-and-forth on whether inclusion of BMI is chiefly a matter of statute or implementation; sponsors said the department can display BMI regardless of statute, and asked the committee to consider an amendment that preserves departmental discretion.","Lawmakers and committee members questioned whether body mass index (BMI) should be named in statute as a health equity dashboard indicator, with sponsors arguing BMI is a risk factor best left to department discretion and others saying it helps identify local drivers such as food deserts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sponsor seeks smaller fiscal footprint for proposed disability service-animal program after $75,000 fiscal note

Committee hears bill to replace outdated 'mental hygiene' language with 'mental health'

Committee debates whether BMI should be listed in statutory health equity dashboard indicators