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Bill

HB 1066

Commission on Behavioral Health Care Treatment and Access - Workgroups

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tiffany Alston and 16 co-sponsors

Maryland establishes a behavioral health commission with workgroups to study treatment access gaps and propose system improvements addressing mental health and substance use services.

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 763
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Bill Summary · HB 1066

Legislative bill overview

HB 1066 establishes a Commission on Behavioral Health Care Treatment and Access in Maryland and creates workgroups to study and develop recommendations on behavioral health services. The bill directs these workgroups to examine gaps in treatment access, workforce development, and service delivery across the state's mental health and substance use disorder systems.

Why is this important

Maryland's behavioral health system faces documented gaps in service availability, workforce shortages, and access disparities. By formalizing a commission with structured workgroups, the state creates an institutional mechanism to identify problems and propose solutions—potentially informing future legislation and resource allocation for mental health and addiction services that affect hundreds of thousands of residents.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation clarity: The bill's actual authority, staffing, and budget for the commission and workgroups are unclear from the summary; without adequate resources, it risks becoming a study with limited impact
  • Timeline and recommendations: No specified deadline for final reports or recommendations is evident, potentially delaying actionable outcomes when behavioral health crises demand urgent attention
  • Workgroup composition and representation: Questions about whether all relevant stakeholders (consumers, providers, community organizations) have meaningful seats at the table to ensure recommendations reflect diverse perspectives and needs

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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