The 2023 Maryland Legislative Session is underway.
The 2023 Maryland Legislative Session began earlier this month. Over the next three months, BHSB will work with our partners to advance key policy priorities:  
  • Building a stable behavioral health workforce 

  • Strengthening and expanding community-based behavioral health crisis services 

  • Investing in co-designed mental health and support services for youth and families 

  • Establishing Overdose Prevention Sites and promoting harm reduction strategies 

For updates on the legislative session, follow us on Twitter @bhsbaltimore 
The Moore-Miller Administration and the General Assembly 
As the session gets underway, the biggest change is undoubtedly the swearing-in of Governor Wes Moore, the first person of color to be elected to Maryland Governor and only the third Black governor in U.S. history. Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller is also the first woman of color to be elected to that position. The administration has listed mental health as a priority issue and BHSB looks forward to collaborating with them.

The General Assembly also welcomed 47 new senators and delegates and many new committee leaders. Many behavioral health bills are assigned to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Health and Government Operations Committee.

Learn which committees your legislators serve on:
FY 2024 Budget
On January 20 Governor Moore released his FY24 Budget Proposal: Leave No One Behind. There are several budget highlights that advance BHSB’s priorities: 
  • $5.5 million for the 988 Trust Fund 

  • Record funding for mental health and substance use programs, with $1.4 billion in direct state support  

  • $35 million in additional funding for the Maryland Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports, established under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future to oversee state framework of wraparound behavioral health services for students.  

  • More than $616 million to fund a provider rate increase in behavioral health, developmental disabilities, Medicaid, and other services. This includes $413 million to implement legislation that will speed up the planned Medicaid reimbursement rate increases to address the acceleration of the $15 minimum wage.  
Fund Maryland 988 Campaign
The Fund MD988 Campaign, a coalition of more than 70 stakeholders, advocates for additional investments in the Maryland 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline network. This year, the campaign is working to educate new lawmakers, and support SB 3/HB 271 to allocate $12 million to the 988 Trust Fund in FY25. SB 3 had a strong bill hearing on January 19 (testimony begins at the 3-hour mark) and was also spotlighted in WYPR Baltimore. To learn how community members can get involved in the campaign, visit www.fundmd988.org or email MD988@bhsbaltimore.org. 
Federal News
The year-end federal funding bill allocated record levels of mental health and substance use funding, and also included notable policy changes. Among the biggest changes is that prescribers will no longer require a waiver to prescribe buprenorphine.

The waiver requirement limited access to life-saving medication-assisted treatment for decades. Its removal is fantastic news and should increase access to effective treatment for opioid use disorders across Baltimore and the nation. 

This announcement from the Drug Enforcement Administration provides additional details.
Behavioral Health System Baltimore is the area’s leading expert and resource in advancing behavioral health and wellness. We help guide innovative approaches to prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery for those who are dealing with mental health and substance use disorders to help build healthier individuals, stronger families and safer communities.