For Immediate Release

April 14, 2026

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Today the Maryland General Assembly passed and the Governor signed the Longevity Ready Maryland (LRM) Act (House Bill 278, Senate Bill 113). This landmark law will change the way the State approaches aging by focusing on how we prepare for aging as individuals and communities to maximize the benefits of an aging society.

“Our administration is committed to giving every Marylander a shot at a long, healthy life, and the LRM Act gives us the map to get there,” said Governor Wes Moore. “By committing to a strategy that breaks down silos between agencies and invests in people at every age, we are building a more resilient state where every resident as they age has the tools to navigate life’s changes with dignity and security, leaving no one behind.”

The LRM Act moves Maryland beyond temporary fixes. By requiring collaboration across sectors—including transportation, housing, health, and commerce—the LRM Act establishes a permanent, sustainable framework. Key pillars of the LRM Act include:

• System-Wide Advocacy: The Maryland Department of Aging is now a lead advocate across all state units, guiding policy to align with the needs of an aging population.
• A Modernized Commission on Aging: The Commission now includes experts in technology, health care, consumer protection, and innovation, alongside representatives from veteran and immigrant communities and Area Agencies on Aging, to advise the Secretary on the state’s evolving needs.
• Public Accountability: To maintain transparency, the Department will track progress via a public digital resource and issue annual reports, with comprehensive updates every four years.

“With the LRM Act we are building a future where we thrive at every age,” said Secretary of Aging Carmel Roques. “We have positioned the state to make longer lives better by focusing on the essentials of health, housing, and financial security. We are leading the nation in preparing for a major demographic shift, with one in four Marylanders projected to be 60 or older in less than four years.”

Maryland has officially cemented its position as a national leader by becoming the first state to enact legislation addressing the impact of longevity and the sixth state to transition a multisector plan for aging into permanent law.

The move represents the culmination of a dedicated three-year effort to modernize Maryland’s approach to aging policy and programs. The journey began in 2024 with Governor Moore’s executive order laying the groundwork to create the state’s first multisector plan for aging. Following a period of extensive stakeholder collaboration, the LRM plan was formally signed and adopted in 2025. The 2026 LRM Act now establishes the plans four epic goals into state statute:

1. Build a longevity ecosystem
2. Promote economic opportunity
3. Prepare residents to afford longevity
4. Optimize health, wellness, and mobility

As Maryland moves into this new era of longevity, the LRM Act serves as a commitment to every resident that the state is both anticipating the future and actively shaping it. By fostering a culture that values the contributions of older adults and strengthens the systems we rely on, Maryland is setting a national standard for what it means to be a state for all ages.

The Department released LRM's first Annual Report in January 2026. For more information on LRM, visit LRM.Maryland.gov.

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About the Maryland Department of Aging: The Maryland Department of Aging helps Marylanders navigate the aging experience by providing leadership, planning, advocacy, and a coordinated system of services through its network of Area Agencies on Aging and Maryland Access Point. Visit aging.maryland.gov to learn more.

Media Contact: Barbara Sigler, MDOA Communications Director, barbara.sigler@maryland.gov