Urge Worldwide Long COVID Community to Submit Written Testimony Supporting Maryland HB 27 for Long COVID Innovation

Target

Maryland House Health and Government Operations Committee
Maryland General Assembly
Governor Wes Moore

Problem-Solution

Hundreds of thousands of Marylanders are living with Long COVID—many unable to work, struggling to access care, and left behind by fragmented funding and slow federal action. At the same time, Maryland investors, researchers, and entrepreneurs are ready to lead solutions—but lack a clear state-level mechanism to do so.

Maryland House Bill 27 (HB 27) creates that pathway.
And now, your voice is urgently needed.

What Is HB 27?

HB 27 establishes a Long COVID Innovation Grant and Loan Program framework administered by TEDCO, Maryland’s technology development authority. The bill would:

Establish the program structure for research, product development, commercialization, and manufacturing related to Long COVID
Use independent scientific expert review to evaluate proposals
Create administrative readiness to promote innovation, jobs, and economic impact inside Maryland to benefit patients worldwide
Support patients, researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors by enabling coordinated, real-world solutions
This is not a symbolic bill. It is a practical, execution-focused approach to one of the largest unmet health challenges of our time.

Why Written Testimony Matters

The Maryland General Assembly gives real weight to written testimony—especially when it comes from:

Patients and caregivers sharing lived experience
Clinicians and researchers describing unmet needs
Entrepreneurs translating ideas into real-world solutions
Investors and business leaders explaining why clear structure enables participation
Written testimony becomes part of the official legislative record.
It directly influences committee decisions and bill outcomes.

Timing

Critical Timing: Testimony Window Opens Friday, February 6

The window for submitting written testimony in support of HB 27 opens on Friday, February 6.

This is the moment when:

Patient voices can document real-world impact
Investors can demonstrate readiness to engage
Maryland can be positioned to act, rather than wait
Silence during this window risks the bill stalling—despite broad agreement on the need.

Ask

We urge:

Patients and caregivers to submit written testimony describing how Long COVID has affected your life, work, and health
Investors, founders, and business leaders to submit testimony explaining why HB 27 provides the structure needed for scalable innovation
Clinicians, researchers, and entrepreneurs to support the bill with professional insight
Please sign this petition and commit to submitting written testimony once the portal opens on February 6.

Maryland Can Lead—If We Act

Long COVID is already reshaping our workforce, healthcare system, and economy. HB 27 gives Maryland a way to move from agreement to execution—by putting the mechanism in place.

Patients are ready to participate.
Researchers are ready to translate science.
Entrepreneurs are ready to build.
Investors are ready to engage.

Sign and submit your written testimony in support of HB 27.

Detailed instructions are at mdlongcovid.org.