EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0737*
HOUSE BILL 737
J1 5lr2464
CF 5lr3143
By: Delegate Bagnall
Introduced and read first time: January 27, 2025
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Public Health – Nonopioid Advance Directives 2
FOR the purpose of authorizing a competent individual to make a nonopioid advance 3
directive stating that the individual refuses the offer or administration of opioid 4
medication including during an emergency; requiring the Maryland Department of 5
Health to develop a model nonopioid advance directive form and make the form 6
available on the Department’s website; and generally relating to nonopioid advance 7
directives. 8
BY adding to 9
Article – Health – General 10
Section 5–602.2 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15
Article – Health – General 16
5–602.2. 17
(A) A COMPETENT INDIVIDUAL MAY MAKE A NONOPIOID ADVANCE 18
DIRECTIVE STATING THAT THE INDIVIDUAL REFUS ES THE OFFER OR 19
ADMINISTRATION OF ANY OPIOID MEDICATION IN CLUDING DURING AN EM ERGENCY 20
WHERE THE INDIV IDUAL IS UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE THE INDIVIDUAL’S 21
PREFERENCE REGARDING THE USE OF OPIOIDS . 22
2 HOUSE BILL 737
(B) (1) AN INDIVIDUAL MAKING A NONOPIOID ADVANCE DIRECTIVE 1
SHALL FOLLOW THE PRO CEDURES FOR MAKING A N ADVANCE DIRECTIVE PROVIDED 2
UNDER § 5–602 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 3
(2) THE PROCEDURES PROVID ED UNDER § 5–604 OF THIS SUBTITLE 4
FOR THE REVOCATION OF AN ADVANCE DIRECT IVE SHALL APPLY TO T HE 5
REVOCATION OF A NONOPIOID ADVANCE DIRECTIVE . 6
(C) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVE LOP A MODEL NONOPIOI D ADVANCE 7
DIRECTIVE FORM AND M AKE THE FORM AVAILAB LE ON THE DEPARTMENT ’S 8
WEBSITE. 9
(D) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOP T REGULATIONS TO CARRY OUT THIS 10
SECTION. 11
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 12
October 1, 2025. 13