Committee orders study of licensing options for former federal health workers, asks MDH for plan by Oct. 1, 2025

The Health and Government Operations Committee voted to amend and pass legislation directing the Maryland Department of Health and the State’s health occupations boards to develop a plan to authorize practice for certain non-Maryland license holders and former federal employees.

The amendment added to the cross-file of House Bill 723 and Senate Bill 749 requires MDH to produce a plan by Oct. 1, 2025, for temporary or permanent authorization to practice in Maryland for individuals who are not licensed in the state but hold equivalent licenses elsewhere and who left federal employment after Jan. 20, 2025. The amendment instructs MDH to include any statutory changes needed to implement the plan when it reports to the Senate Finance Committee and the Health and Government Operations Committee.

Supporters said the change responds to an extraordinary situation in which thousands of federal health workers are facing job losses and may want to continue living and working in Maryland. "Ten thousand people are losing their jobs at the federal Department of Health and Human Services," Delegate Rosenberg said, arguing the proposal would help highly skilled workers remain employed in Maryland. Delegate Lopez, who brought the idea forward, said it was intended to identify options — such as temporary licenses, reciprocity, or other credits for out-of-state qualifications — that boards could recommend without presuming an outcome.

Opponents and some board advocates cautioned that boards operate differently and that broad changes could require statutory amendments. Several members asked whether the boards could act without legislation; committee counsel and staff said boards could pursue reciprocity agreements where statute already allows, but statutory changes would require returning to the General Assembly. Committee members discussed the pace of action and whether an emergency measure or a direct directive would be needed to expedite any statutory fixes.

Committee members noted the plan is intended to be investigatory: MDH "shall develop a plan" and must return with recommendations; any statutory or regulatory changes would require subsequent legislative or board action. The committee adopted the amendments after debate and passed the bill as amended. Opposition on the amendment and/or the final bill was recorded for several members, including Delegate Olson (who opposed the final bill) and other members who opposed the amendment in committee.

The amendment’s title was revised in committee to read: "Health occupations — authorization to practice for former federal employees, and dental applicants licensed or certified in another state." The committee directed MDH to consider compact membership, reciprocity, temporary authorizations, and outreach measures in its plan and to prioritize timely recommendations given the reported federal layoffs.

The committee emphasized that any changes requiring statutory language would need separate legislative action; the MDH plan is to identify options and statutory needs.