MD HB1070

Maryland Department of Health must study the feasibility of installing and maintaining landline telephone systems in assisted living facilities, psychiatric facilities, and nursing homes

Study must examine current telephone accessibility, evaluate costs for individual room or communal telephones (labor, equipment, installation, maintenance), and assess benefits for residents including social interaction, support services access, and emergency preparedness

Study must identify barriers such as infrastructure limitations and regulatory requirements, circumstances requiring restricted telephone access (safety, medical, behavioral reasons), and potential alternatives to landline telephones

Department must conduct comparative cost analysis between public and private facilities, identify federal, state, and local funding options, and consult with facility representatives, advocacy organizations, and residents/families

Report with findings and recommendations due to Senate Finance Committee and House Health and Government Operations Committee by September 30, 2026; act takes effect October 1, 2025