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SB 986

SCS/SB 986 - This act modifies various provisions relating to elections. VOTER REGISTRATION - Documentary Proof of Citizenship The act requires the citizenship status of each person submitting a voter registration application to be verified by local election authorities (LEAs). In the event that an applicant's citizenship status cannot be verified by the LEA, the applicant must provide documentary proof of citizenship. Nothing in this act shall require a person who appears on the list of registered voters or who seeks to transfer voter registration within this state from being required to provide an election authority documentary proof of United States citizenship, unless the person is stricken from the list of registered voters and the person thereafter seeks to register to vote. Specific provisions are created for persons who register to vote using the National Mail Voter Registration form provided by the Federal Election Assistance Commission. These persons are referred to as "federal-only voters" and are only permitted to vote in federal contests, as that term is defined in the act. Federal-only voters may vote either in person on election day at the office of the LEA or by absentee ballot. Additionally, ballots cast by a federal-only voter must be treated the same as a provisional ballot. These provisions are similar to provisions in SB 1122 (2026). MAINTENANCE OF VOTER REGISTRATION LISTS Current law requires the Secretary of State to enter into an agreement with the Department of Revenue to match information in the voter registration system with the information in the database of the motor vehicle system. This act requires such agreement to include matching information pertaining to the citizenship status of those within the Department of Revenue's database. This provision is identical to provisions in SCS/SB 983 (2026), SB 1772 (2026), HCS/HB 2125 (2026), HB 3227 (2026), HB 3263 (2026), and HB 3493 (2026). The clerk of each circuit court in the state is required to prepare and transmit to the Secretary of State (SOS) a complete list of all persons who identify themselves as not being citizens of the United States when called to jury duty. This report shall be sent on a monthly basis. If an election authority determines that a person who is not eligible to vote registered to vote or voted in an election, the election authority shall execute and deliver to the Attorney General, SOS, and the relevant prosecuting or circuit attorney an affidavit stating the relevant facts. ABSENTEE VOTING The act allows eligible covered voters to vote absentee by submitting a federal postcard application at the office of the election authority on election day even though the person is not registered. This provision is identical to a provision in the truly agreed to SS/SCS/HCS/HB 1871 (2026), SCS/SB 836 (2026), SCS/SB 182 (2025), SB 926 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 1525 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2140 (2024), and a provision in HCS/HB 2895 (2024). REFERRAL OF VIOLATION OF ELECTION LAWS Current law provides that if the SOS finds that reasonable grounds appear that the alleged election offense was committed, the SOS may issue a probable cause statement and refer the offense to the appropriate prosecuting attorney. This act permits referral to the appropriate prosecuting attorney or the Attorney General. This act contains a severability clause and a contingent effective date, based on when the Secretary of State notifies the Revisor of Statutes that citizenship verification data is able to be utilized through the Missouri centralized voter registration database. This act is similar to SCS/SB 62 (2025). SCOTT SVAGERA

2026 Regular Session

Requires MDH to study cancer patient navigation, map availability and barriers, and propose policy/budget actions with a Dec 1, 2025 report; withdrawn, no enacted change.

Committee Vote Reconsidered
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 986

SB 986 — Maryland Department of Health — Patient Navigation Services — Study

Status: Withdrawn by Sponsor (filed Jan 29, 2025; withdrawn Mar 3, 2025)
Sponsor: Sen. A. Washington

Purpose

Require the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) to conduct a time‑limited study of “patient navigation” services for people with cancer, with the goal of identifying gaps and barriers and recommending policy, legislative, and budgetary actions to improve timely access to medical and psychosocial care from pre‑diagnosis through all phases of the cancer experience.

Key provisions

  • Defines “patient navigation” as individualized assistance offered to a patient with cancer and the patient’s family and caregivers at the health care facility where the patient receives care.
  • Directs MDH, in consultation with stakeholders (including those with policy, clinical, or personal expertise), to:
    • Assess the availability of patient navigation services across the State.
    • Analyze barriers to accessing those services.
    • Recommend policy, legislative, and budgetary initiatives to improve patient navigation services in Maryland.
  • Requires MDH to report findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by December 1, 2025 (per State reporting rules).
  • Sets the bill’s effective date as July 1, 2025 (if enacted).

Who would be affected

  • Primary duty-bearer: Maryland Department of Health (responsible for executing the study and producing the report).
  • Stakeholders to be consulted: clinical providers, patient navigators, advocacy organizations, patients/caregivers, payers, and other policy experts.
  • Indirectly affected: cancer patients and their families/caregivers (potential future benefits if recommendations are implemented), health care facilities, and state budget planners (if recommendations require funding).

Timeline and procedural notes

  • Introduced late January 2025; required report completion date was December 1, 2025.
  • The bill was withdrawn by the sponsor (administrative action noted March 3, 2025), so the statutory study requirement did not advance into law.
  • If reenacted or refiled, enactment would have taken effect July 1 following passage.

Potential impact

  • As written the measure funded/mandated only a study and report (rather than immediate program changes), so direct fiscal impact would have been limited to study costs.
  • The principal value would be in producing an evidence basis for future legislative, regulatory, or budgetary changes to expand or standardize patient navigation services for people with cancer across Maryland.
  • Because the bill was withdrawn, any improvements would require a future bill or administrative action to be implemented.

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

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