Environment
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
StateMarylandTo Governor
SB 340: Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman - Mandatory Appropriation
Shelly Hettleman
SB 340 status: To Governor — Approved by the Governor - Chapter 761 (updated May 26, 2026).
Source
OpenStates
Confidence
Low
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
01
What this bill does
Official summary alongside an AI-generated read on where it stands and why.
Overall Score
76OUT OF 100
Score:76/100 civic fit
Risk:Low Risk
Impact:Moderate Impact 60/100
Constitutionality95%
Bipartisan80%
Public opinion90%
Bill summary
The Senate is currently considering a bill to guarantee yearly funding for the **Long-Term Care Ombudsman**. This office acts as a "watchdog" to protect the rights and safety of people living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. In short: This bill would ensure the office always has the money it needs to do its job without having to ask for it every year.
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
Positive outlook
60%
Benefits
- Consistent annual funding for administrative operations
- Improved stability for government oversight agencies
- Reduced annual fiscal uncertainty for the Ombudsman office
Risks
- Reduction in discretionary legislative budgetary flexibility
- Long-term commitment of general state revenue
- Potential for static funding amid inflation
Society
Positive outlook
85%
Benefits
- Enhanced protection of nursing home resident rights
- Consistent oversight of long-term care facility standards
- Sustained advocacy presence for vulnerable populations
Risks
- Limited impact on actual facility clinical care quality
- Reactive oversight model does not prevent all neglect
- Oversight authority limited by existing legal scope
Technology Industry
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Civic Accountability
Positive outlook
80%
Benefits
- Strengthening of independent regulatory oversight
- Insulation of watchdog funding from political volatility
- Guaranteed transparency for institutional care settings
Risks
- Reduced direct legislative oversight of yearly operations
- Potential for insulation from public performance audits
- Risk of static oversight standards over time
Public Health & Safety
Positive outlook
80%
Benefits
- Continuous monitoring of resident safety standards
- Reliable response to health-related complaints
- Strengthened protection against institutional neglect
Risks
- Does not alter state health clinical delivery requirements
- Limited intervention power beyond reporting/advocacy
- Resource limitations across large facility networks
03
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Sourcing already shown above, this is what the analysis found worth flagging.
Source
OpenStates
Official bill text or data from OpenStates.
Confidence
Low
Information is limited or incomplete.
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
Source used for this bill's analysis.
Source note
Mandatory appropriations reduce legislative control over annual budget priorities.
Analysis scope
Source provided is a summary; full text analysis is unavailable.
04
Where it stands
Official record- IntroducedComplete
- CommitteeComplete
- Chamber votesComplete
- Final agreementComplete
- GovernorCurrent
- EnactedUpcoming
05
How it affects your district
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06
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