# Lawmakers, advocates push Maryland General Assembly for more mental health funding

- URL: https://theranews.net/blog/2026-02-27-lawmakers-advocates-push-maryland-general-assembly-for-more-mental-health-fundin-e76a9e/
- Published: 2026-02-27
- Type: Archive summary (AI-assisted summary of third-party reporting)
- Original outlet: WYPR
- Original report: https://www.wypr.org/wypr-news/2026-02-25/lawmakers-advocates-push-maryland-general-assembly-for-more-mental-health-funding
- Topics: maryland
- Publisher: TheraNews, operated by AdvancedCare USA Inc.
- Notice: Educational content, not medical, legal, billing or financial advice. Cite the original outlet, not this summary.

> Maryland lawmakers and mental health advocates are requesting increased behavioral health funding for 2027, even as the governor's proposed budget reduces mental health funding and freezes…

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Maryland lawmakers and mental health advocates are requesting increased behavioral health funding for 2027, even as the governor's proposed budget reduces mental health funding and freezes reimbursement rates for providers.

## Funding Requests

The Behavioral Health System Baltimore and the Mental Health Association of Maryland are asking the General Assembly to restore $20 million for school mental health care, an amount that could fund approximately 140 behavioral health workers. The organizations are also proposing a 3% increase for reimbursement rates and a commitment to expand behavioral health clinics throughout Maryland.

## Legislative Support

Senator Katie Fry Hester (D) emphasizes the need for investment in school-based mental health services. According to Fry Hester, "One in five people experience mental illness every year and one in eight have a substance use disorder." She has long advocated for investment in school-based mental health services to ensure young people can access care early and remains committed to advancing policy and budget solutions for access to care.

## Healthcare System Challenges

Maryland is facing significant challenges in mental health care delivery. The Trump administration has made substantial cuts to health-related grants and programs. The state is also confronting a behavioral health worker shortfall that could grow as high as 38,000 by 2028. These workforce gaps compound the difficulties in expanding mental health services across the state.

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*This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: [https://www.wypr.org/wypr-news/2026-02-25/lawmakers-advocates-push-maryland-general-assembly-for-more-mental-health-funding](https://www.wypr.org/wypr-news/2026-02-25/lawmakers-advocates-push-maryland-general-assembly-for-more-mental-health-funding)*