[{"_1":2,"_76":-5,"_77":-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],{"_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",6347368,"mediaKeyId","2245494-2854bb4b3d5d09ffd2203578b8c721e8","parentId",2245494,"title","Finance Committee unanimously approves a package of departmental and regulatory bills, including pharmacy renewal notices and THC limits","audioSeconds",836,"startMs",204434,"endMs",1041001,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2245494-2854bb4b3d5d09ffd2203578b8c721e8&start=204&end=1041","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2245494-2854bb4b3d5d09ffd2203578b8c721e8/thumbnail_204434.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6347368/Maryland/Finance-Committee-unanimously-approves-a-package-of-departmental-and-regulatory-bills-including-pharmacy-renewal-notices-and-THC-limits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6347368-879f895500e9554c1ab2c4618cba8e92/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160856&Signature=FdVq0U0tzsKZXU3J~9Z5q7z7Y~YT8QLy2VSj0Q3NHkv8W9GUXUPPD7Vqof0lEYLoNFh0Wpj1-t0BOHYP3pBLkLg1gaIBEAqrGuFACNvXz4FF6RUucwiwkb0RH5G9vHqevJnGyrINFJ8iXsYCR9VbYHXWFf3DoQ3AUBVnKtBFXhpi5v6LrGW6bWDHgoPCXbvusXij6nyLbK0siy0t7vYhujXFPQgI16P8GMjjE31QnW6lsgdCM1tDsBm1JctDqk~jCXf1opR6LKW1aBY0gcnsHrQCVYrN-MF3dM9l~M9Om3behXnmLBntuag-iuqhUU~QyXDe3-AaBhOn7hEWDO~zOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Maryland General Assembly - Finance","date","2025-02-06T00:00:00Z","article","The Finance Committee met on Thursday, Feb. 6, and voted unanimously to approve a series of bills covering administrative changes, program codifications and regulatory limits, including a measure that directs the State Board of Pharmacy to send renewal notices by email and a bill that sets potency limits for hemp-derived THC products.

Why it matters: The bills change how state agencies communicate with licensees, how some state programs are structured and expand enforcement authority in selected regulatory areas. Several measures are technical or departmental and were presented to the committee without opposition; one bill establishes a work group to study newborn nurse home visiting services.

Votes at a glance

- Senate Bill 371: Requires the State Board of Pharmacy to send renewal notices by email unless a licensee or registrant requests first-class mail. Motion moved and seconded; committee recorded no opposition and approved the bill.

- Senate Bill 102: Authorizes resilience authorities to join with other public entities, including other resilience authorities, to purchase insurance or self-insure against casualty, property or health risks. Motion by Senator Hayes, seconded by Senator Washington; approved unanimously.

- Senate Bill 156 (as amended): Establishes a work group on universal newborn nurse home visiting services to examine Family Connects programs and other maternal/newborn health programs. Two amendments were adopted (one technical; one that replaces a program with the work group). Committee discussion clarified the measure is a voluntary work group; the committee approved the bill unanimously.

- Senate Bill 208: Codifies the federally funded Maryland Technology Assistance Program within the Maryland Department of Disabilities and requires the program to provide or coordinate assistive-technology services as described in the federal assistive-technology law. No opposition; approved unanimously.

- Senate Bill 210: Increases the Maryland Transportation Authority emergency-status determination from 180 days to 300 days. No fiscal impact reported; approved unanimously.

- Senate Bill 223 (as amended): Renames and revises the Senior Call Check program to the Senior Call Check and Social Connections program, alters minimum ages for eligibility and authorizes additional communication methods for the program. Two amendments were filed (one technical; one substantive); approved unanimously.

- Senate Bill 230 (as amended): Alters the frequency with which the Office of the Inspector General audits local departments of social services, revising the schedule so audits occur on a case-by-case basis and (as amended) generally setting a three-year frequency where appropriate. The amendment was described as aligning the bill with departmental intent; approved unanimously.

- Senate Bill 214: Prohibits sale or distribution of hemp-derived THC products that exceed specified potency, packaging or labeling limits. The bill bars products advertised to contain more than 0.5 milligrams of THC per serving or more than 2.5 milligrams per package, authorizes disciplinary action by the Alcohol, Tobacco and Cannabis Commission (ATCC) against licensees, makes nonlicensee violations a misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $5,000, and expands ATCC authority to issue citations and seize violating products. The committee discussed how appeal procedures would follow existing administrative-hearing processes; the committee approved the bill unanimously.

- Senate Bill 226: Modifies the purpose and authorized uses of the Maryland Farms and Families Fund within the Maryland Department of Agriculture; technical changes were included. No opposition; approved unanimously.

- Senate Bill 285: Reduces the frequency for Attorney General reporting to the General Assembly on economic damages actions related to the Port of Baltimore and the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse from once a month to every six months and clarifies chapter-law references. No opposition; approved unanimously.

- Senate Bill 299: Exempts certain cannabis agents who are security guards or security guard agencies already authorized under the Business Occupations and Professions Article from a duplicate criminal history record check when registering with the Maryland Cannabis Administration. No opposition; approved unanimously.

- Senate Bills 339 and 393: Committee accepted motions for unfavorable withdrawal of both bills; the motions carried unanimously and the bills were withdrawn from further committee consideration.

Process and discussion notes

The committee handled most bills without extended debate; presenters identified no fiscal impacts and reported no opposition at hearings. Committee members asked clarifying questions on a handful of bills: members probed whether participation in the newborn home visiting work group would be mandatory (committee staff clarified it is a work group and participation is voluntary), how appeal procedures would apply for ATCC disciplinary actions under SB214 (staff pointed to existing administrative hearings processes), and how penalties for unauthorized cannabis distribution relate to existing criminal provisions (staff distinguished the misdemeanor fine under SB214 from criminal-law provisions cited as Criminal Law Article sections 5-602 and 5-607).

Additional business

Committee staff member Lisa was recognized; the chair noted this was Lisa’s last voting session before going on leave. Two bills were withdrawn on the motion recorded by the committee clerk and carried unanimously.

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Finance Committee unanimously approves a package of departmental and regulatory bills, including pharmacy renewal notices and THC limits