SB370 Maryland State Acupuncture Board revisions
Maryland Legislative Events
Summary
The Maryland Senate passed SB370 on April 7, 2026, amending State Acupuncture Board regulations. The bill defines manual therapies within acupuncture practice, modifies renewal procedures from certificate issuance to proof of renewal, and establishes criminal penalties for unauthorized practice including fines up to $5,000 and imprisonment up to 1 year for first offenses.
What changed
The bill amends Maryland's State Acupuncture Board regulations by explicitly defining 'manual therapies' within the scope of acupuncture practice, replacing the Board's issuance of renewal certificates with a proof-of-renewal process, and creating new employment restrictions prohibiting unlicensed practice. A violation provision establishes misdemeanor penalties for first offenses.
Acupuncturists and acupuncture facilities in Maryland must ensure compliance with updated practice definitions and licensing requirements. Employers hiring acupuncturists face new liability for unlicensed practice. The criminal penalty structure ($5,000 fine and/or 1 year imprisonment) signals increased enforcement risk for unauthorized acupuncture practice in the state.
What to do next
- Verify current acupuncture practice definitions align with new 'manual therapies' definition
- Review and update renewal procedures to comply with proof-of-renewal requirements
- Ensure no employment of unlicensed individuals for acupuncture practice
Penalties
First offense violations: misdemeanor charges with fines up to $5,000 or imprisonment up to 1 year, or both
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / Maryland / SB370 Passed SB370 Senate Bill Passed 2026-01-27
State Acupuncture Board - Revisions
Defining "manual therapies" as it relates to the practice of acupuncture; requiring the State Acupuncture Board to make available proof of renewal, rather than issuing a renewal certificate; prohibiting a person from employing an individual to practice acupuncture without a license or aiding or abetting the unauthorized practice of acupuncture; and providing that a person who violates the Act, for a first offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to a fine of up to $5,000 or imprisonment of up to 1 year or both.
Bill Details
State Maryland
Session 2026 Regular Session
Chamber Senate
Official Source mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation...
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Sponsors
Malcolm Augustine (Sen - D)
Action History
2026-04-07 S Second Reading Passed with Amendments 2026-04-07 S Favorable with Amendments {133827/1 Adopted 2026-04-06 S Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance 2026-01-27 S Hearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m. 2026-01-27 S First Reading Finance
Committee Referrals
2026-01-27 S Finance
Amendments
2026-04-07 Favorable with Amendments 133827/1 Adopted Adopted
Bill Text Versions
2026-01-27 Introduced 2026-04-07 Engrossed
Subjects
Health Occupations Acupuncturists Complementary and Alternative Medicine Crimes and Punishments Ethics Fines Licenses Medical Treatments Rules and Regulations Work, Labor, and Employment Committees and Commissions Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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