Health and Government Operations Committee unanimously advances cyber‑security, school officiating pay parity and insulin protections

The Health and Government Operations Committee on April 4 voted unanimously to approve a slate of amended bills, including measures on cyber‑security planning for community water and sewage systems, pay parity for high‑school sports officials, and limits on insurers’ use of step‑therapy for insulin.

The measures — advanced on a party‑line and committee consensus that left no recorded opposition — are intended to: strengthen planning and reporting requirements for water and wastewater utilities facing cyber threats; require school systems to pay officials the same rates for sports the State Department of Education and the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association classify as "similar"; and bar carriers from imposing step‑therapy or “fail‑first” protocols for FDA‑approved insulin products used to treat type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.

Chair Jocelyn Pena‑Melnyk presided. Committee analysts summarized the amended language and fiscal impacts before the committee voted. "The amendments . . . significantly reduced" the fiscal impact for the water‑system bill by narrowing coverage and removing certain training and reporting duties, Committee analyst Lindsay said during the discussion. After brief discussion and no recorded opposition to the amendments, members moved, seconded and adopted each measure by voice vote.

Cyber‑security for water and sewage systems (House Bill 1062 / crossfile Senate Bill 871) Committee analysts said House Bill 1062 was amended to match Senate Bill 871. The amended language limits the bill’s operational requirements to community water systems…