2025 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FINAL REPORT
BILLS THAT PASSED
HB297/SB5 – Maryland Health Benefit Exchange – State-based Young Adult Health Insurance Subsidies Pilot Program – Sunset Repeal. This legislation extends the very successful Young Adult Health Insurance Subsidy Program past 2025 so that it can keep helping young Marylanders enroll in and maintain their health insurance. Renames it as the State-Based Young Adult Health Insurance Subsidies Program and authorizes the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange to establish and implement the program.
HB334/SB156 -Workgroup on Universal Newborn Nurse Home Visiting Services – Establishment. The amended bill establishes the Workgroup on Universal Newborn Nurse Home Visiting Services, which will collect data and costs, compare data for evidence-based models, and identify service gaps and workforce needs. Requires the Workgroup to issue a report with findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 2025.
HB424/SB357 – Prescription Drug Affordability Board – Authority and Stakeholder Council Membership (Lowering Prescription Drug Costs for All Marylanders Now Act). This bill extends the authority of Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board to establish a process for setting upper payment limits for purchases and payor reimbursements of prescription drug products.
HB930/SB848 – Public Health Abortion Grant Program – Establishment. This bill establishes the Public Health Abortion Grant Program to provide grants to improve access to abortion care clinical services for individuals in the state. It addresses the emerging crisis facing Maryland abortion providers who are serving an increase in uninsured and underinsured people by creating the Public Health Abortion Grant Program Fund. The funding will come from $25 million in unspent insurance premiums, accumulated over the last 10 years, for abortion coverage.
HB933/SB679 – Nursing Homes – Cost Reports. This legislation ensures that revenue received from the Maryland Medicaid program is spent on direct care and the women-led workforce that provides it. It requires the Maryland Department of Health to review the cost reports and other data submitted by each nursing home that participates in the Maryland Medical Assistance Program and submit the findings annually between October 2025 and October 2029.
BILLS THAT DID NOT PASS
HB629/SB549 – Civil Actions – Immunity – Disclosure of Allegations of Sexually Assaultive Behavior (Stop Silencing Survivors Act). This bill would have provided additional protections from retaliatory litigation for sexual assault survivors. It would have established an immunity from liability for a person who discloses information about allegations of sexually assaultive behavior if the person acts in good faith.
HB647/SB702 – Correctional Services – Restrictive Housing. This bill would have limited the use of solitary confinement in Maryland prisons from approximately 22 hours to 17 hours in a 24-hour period and only for egregious offenses. It would also have excluded certain people, including women who are pregnant, who are postpartum, or who have recently suffered a miscarriage.
HB1050 – Family Law – Protective Orders – Surrender of Firearm/SB943 – Family and Law Enforcement Protection Act. This bill originally aimed to close gaps in the current protective order law by ensuring firearms are relinquished or removed from abusers and notifying victims if their abuser attempts to acquire firearms while under a protective order. The bill was changed to create a Task Force to Study the Use of Firearms in Domestic Violence Situations.
HB1198/SB632 – Correctional Services – Comprehensive Rehabilitative Prerelease Services – Female Incarcerated Individuals (The Monica Cooper Prerelease Act). This bill would have required the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to implement comprehensive rehabilitative services to women classified in the prerelease status in the Life Skills and Reentry Center for Women (aka the Women’s Pre-release Facility).
HB1368/SB314 – Certificates of Birth, Licenses, and Identification Cards – Sex Designation (Birth Certificate Modernization Act). This bill would have updated the process for changing one’s personal name or sex designation on their own birth certificate or their child’s birth certificate to align with other identification processes. It would also have altered the options for indicating an individual’s sex designation on a license, identification card, and moped operator’s permit.
2024 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FINAL REPORT
BILLS THAT PASSED
HB 496/SB 758 – Sexual Crimes – Definition of Consent and Repeal of Force This legislation requires certain facts to be considered when determining whether a lack of consent exists for certain sexual crimes, based on a totality of the circumstances, including the words and conduct of the victim and the defendant. It alters the elements of second-degree rape to remove the requirement of use of force or threat of force. Consent may be withdrawn and lack of consent may be communicated through words or conduct.
HB 99/SB 113 – Criminal Law – Sexual Solicitation of a Minor Through Child Pornography – Prohibition. This legislation expands sexual solicitation of a minor to include production of child pornography. It prohibits an individual from knowingly soliciting a minor or law enforcement officer posing as a minor to engage in certain prohibited sexual acts. The law will enable law enforcement to hold offenders accountable and protect female children that are being victimized online.
HJ 1/SJ 1 – Affirming the Federal Equal Rights Amendment. This joint resolution expresses the sense of the Maryland Legislature that the “Equal Rights Amendment” has met all Article V requirements for an amendment to the United States Constitution and is valid as the 28th amendment. It urges the President and Congress to affirm the validity of the Equal Rights Amendment and direct the Archivist of the United States to certify and publish it as the 28th amendment.
HB 39/SB 197 – Residential Services Agencies – Reimbursement – Personal Assistance Services (Homecare Worker Rights Act of 2024) This legislation authorizes the Maryland Department of Health to reimburse a residential serve agency for personal assistance services only if they are provided by an employee. It ensures that home care workers (84% of Maryland’s home care workers are women) who work for agencies that receive Medicaid reimbursements are not misclassified as independent contractors and therefore are entitled to overtime, sick and safe leave, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation.
HB 1091/SB 975 – Maryland Department of Health – Reproductive Health Care Clinic Security Grant Program – Establishment (Supporting Reproductive Health Care Clinics Act. This bill was substituted for HB 1412/SB 947. It establishes the Reproductive Health Care Clinic Security Grant Program in the Maryland Department of Health to assist clinics with costs associated with security improvements and safety operational expenses. Authorizes the Governor to include $500,000 for the program in the 2026 budget.
HB 649/SB 525 – Labor and Employment – Equal Pay for Equal Work – Wage Range Transparency. This legislation creates wage transparency by requiring employers to include pay ranges and a general description of benefits and other compensation in job postings, helping Maryland businesses attract and retain talent, save time and resources, and address the gender and racial/ethnic pay gap.
HB 691/SB 119 – Legally Protected Health Care – Gender-Affirming Treatment. This legislation extends current shielding protections that protect reproductive health care (passed last year) to cover gender-affirming care. This legislation codifies and expand protections for providers, patients, and parents.
BILLS THAT DID NOT PASS
HB 869/SB 753 – Public Safety – Firearm Background Checks, Victim Notification, and the Maryland State Police Gun Center. This bill would have established a process and a requirement for law enforcement and victim notification if a prohibited person attempts to purchase a firearm and fails the background check. An individual becomes a prohibited person when they are a respondent on a final protective order in Maryland. Because a majority of domestic violence homicides are committed with firearms, this would save women’s lives.
HB 482/SB 398 – Criminal Injuries Compensation Board – Victims of Nonfatal Strangulation
This bill would have required that nonfatal strangulation forensic examination expenses be paid for through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. Strangulation is an indicator of lethality in domestic violence. Existing law does not require reimbursement for forensic examinations, emergency medical care, or other eligible expenses for survivors of nonfatal strangulation that do not result from an alleged rape, sexual offense, or sexual abuse. This bill would have removed financial barriers for seeking medical treatment in the aftermath of domestic violence and could save women’s lives.
2022 MLAW Legislative Agenda – Final Report
Click HERE to download a PDF copy.
BILLS THAT PASSED
HB 148/SB 328 ▪ Criminal Law – Stalking – Definition Alters the definition of stalking to include conduct that occurs in person, through electronic communication, or through the use of a device that can pinpoint or track the location of another without the person’s knowledge or consent. PASSED. Signed by the Governor.
HB 296/SB 280 ▪ Temporary Protective Orders – Electronic Filing and Video Conferencing Hearings Enables a petitioner receiving medical treatment at a hospital to electronically file a petition for a temporary protective order while at the hospital and requires hospitals to refer petitioners to certain programs. It also enables a petitioner to electronically file a petition for a temporary protective order from certain programs and centers. It also requires a court that receives an electronically filed petition to hold a hearing through video conferencing either the same or next business day. PASSED. Signed by the Governor.
HB 937/CH 56/SB 890 ▪ Abortion Care Access Act Establishes the Abortion Care Clinical Training Program in the Maryland Department of Health to ensure that there are a sufficient number of health professionals to provide abortion care, including physicians, nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives/certified midwives, and physician assistants. Establishes the Abortion Care Clinical Training Program Fund, including provision and coverage requirements for abortion services for the Maryland Medical Assistance Program and certain insurers (no deductible, coinsurance, copayment or other cost-sharing required). Requires the Governor to include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $3,500,000 to the Program. PASSED. Vetoed by the Governor but overridden by the General Assembly.
SB 275/CH 48/HB 8 ▪ Labor and Employment – Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program Establishment (Time to Care Act of 2022) Establishes the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program in the Maryland Department of Labor to provide benefits to individuals who take leave from employment for certain purposes (e.g., new children, family members with serious health conditions or disabilities, or themselves). Establishes the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Fund, requiring that beginning October 1, 2023 certain employees, employers (over 15 employees), and self-employed individuals to contribute to the Fund. It also requires the Secretary to establish the total rate of contribution and the percentages of the total rate of contribution to be paid by employees and employers. PASSED. Vetoed by the Governor but overridden by the General Assembly.
BILLS THAT DID NOT PASS
HB 153 ▪ Criminal Law – Sexual Crimes – Repeal of Spousal Defense/SB 33 ▪ Criminal Law – Sexual Crimes – Fourth-Degree Sexual Offense and Spousal Defense The original version of this bill would have repealed the law allowing marriage as a defense to sex crimes. Conference committee reached agreement but failed to make it to the floor of the Senate for a vote.
HB 454/SB 776 ▪ Correctional Services – Pregnancy and Postpartum Support (Prevention of Forced Infant Separation Act) This bill would have allowed incarcerated women in prerelease status to relocate to the prerelease unit for women throughout the duration of their pregnancy and allowed an inmate in prerelease status who recently gave birth to a child to reside in the in the prerelease unit for women up to one year following the birth. It also provided for the father or secondary caretaker of a child residing in the prerelease unit liberal visitation with the child if legally allowed. The bill established a Healthy Start Bonding Program to facilitate strong bonds between incarcerated women and their children. No vote in House Judiciary or Senate Judicial Proceedings Committees.
HB 626/SB 669 ▪ Pregnant Person’s Freedom Act of 2022 This bill would have prevented pregnant people or those who have experienced pregnancy loss or termination as well as individuals who assist or provide aid to pregnant people seeking abortion care from criminal penalties or civil liabilities. No vote in House Health and Government Operations or Senate Judicial Proceedings Committees.
HB 833/SB768 ▪ Criminal Law – Victims of Child Sex Trafficking and Human Trafficking – Safe Harbor and Service Response This bill would have provided a safe harbor for child victims of sex trafficking and prevent further victimization by connecting them to services and preventing criminal charges that are a direct result of their being a victim of sex or human trafficking. Conference committee reached agreement but failed to make it to the floor of the Senate for a vote.
2021 Legislative Agenda Final Report
Download the 2021 Legislative Agenda Final Report
BILLS THAT PASSED
SB 505/HB 277 
Criminal Law – First Degree Child Abuse – Continuing Course of Conduct
Establishes as first-degree child abuse three or more acts that constitute second-degree child abuse committed as a continuing course of conduct.
PASSED. Sent to Governor.
SB 427/HB 205 Public Schools – Provision of Menstrual Hygiene Products – Requirements
Will require each county board of education to ensure that each public middle and high school provide, at no charge to students, menstrual hygiene products via dispensers in the restrooms at the school. It will require a public middle or high school to install menstrual hygiene product dispensers in at least two women’s restrooms by October 1, 2022 and in all women’s restrooms by August 1, 2025. It will require the state to reimburse a county board for the costs of purchasing and installing menstrual hygiene product dispensers.
PASSED. Sent to Governor.
SB 172/HB 463 Maryland Health Equity Resource Act
Establishes a Pathways to Health Equity Program in the Community Health Resources Commission to provide the foundation and guidance for a permanent Health Equity Resource Community program. It requires the Program to provide grant funding to reduce health disparities, improve health outcomes, improve access to primary care, promote primary and secondary prevention services, and reduce health care costs. It requires the Commission to establish Health Equity Resource Communities to target State resources to certain areas for certain purposes.
PASSED. Sent to Governor.
SB 486/HB 581 Labor and Employment – Employment Standards During an Emergency (Maryland Essential Worker Protections Act)
Requires each essential employer to take certain actions related to occupational safety and health during an emergency. It provides that an essential worker has the right to refuse to perform a certain task as provided under certain provisions of law, and it requires essential employers to take certain steps to minimize the risk of transmission of an infectious disease. It also requires essential employers to report certain test results to the Maryland Department of Health and requires the Department to categorize and the publish the results.
PASSED. Sent to Governor.
BILLS THAT DID NOT PASS
SB 57/HB 748 Family Law – Custody and Visitation
Would codify the best interest of the child factor in child custody cases to ensure consideration of allegations of child abuse or domestic violence.
Passed both chambers with amendments but did not cross back over. Referred to Rules Committee.
SB 211/HB 375 Labor and Employment – Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program – Establishment (The Time to Care Act of 2021)
Establishes a family and medical leave insurance fund to provide partial wage replacement for employees to care for a new child, a family member’s serious health condition, their own health condition, or a family member’s military deployment.
No votes in committees.
SB 250/HB147 Criminal Law – Sexual Crimes – Repeal of Spousal Defense (Love is No Defense Act to Sexual Crimes)
Repeals allowing marriage as a defense to sex crimes.
Passed House. Amended in Judicial Proceedings Committee, which significantly weakened the bill. Conference Committee failed to produce an acceptable bill.
SUCCESSFUL VETO OVERRIDES (FROM 2020)
HB 4/SB 208 Public Safety – Rifles and Shotguns – Sales, Rentals, and Transfers
This legislation closes a loophole in Maryland law to require a background check on all gun sales (including unlicensed sellers online or at gun shows). This bill would keep rifles and shotguns out of the hands of people with dangerous histories, including domestic abusers, convicted felons, and subjects of red flag laws.
VETO OVERRIDEN
SB 684/HB 801 Correctional Services – Prerelease Unit for Women – Facilities and Services (Gender-Responsive Prerelease Act)
This legislation establishes a pre-release center for women with re-entry services such as family reunification, employment, housing, and addictions counseling. While there are many pre-release centers for incarcerated men, there are ZERO pre-release centers for women in Maryland.
VETO OVERRIDEN
2020 Legislative Agenda Final Report
Click here to download a PDF of the 2020 Report: MLAW 2020 Legislative Agenda Final Report
BILLS THAT PASSED
HB 4/SB 208 ▪ Public Safety – Rifles and Shotguns – Sales, Rentals, and Transfers This legislation closes a loophole in Maryland law to require a background check on all gun sales (including unlicensed sellers online or at gun shows). This bill would keep rifles and shotguns out of the hands of people with dangerous histories, including domestic abusers, convicted felons, and subjects of red flag laws. PASSED – VETOED by Governor
HB 123/SB 217 ▪ Labor and Employment – Wage History and Wage Range This legislation prohibits employers from seeking and relying on job applicants’ salary history and requiring employers to provide the salary range for a position upon the applicant’s request. It would ensure that women and people of color aren’t forced to carry lower earnings and pay discrimination with them from job to job. PASSED – sent to Governor
HB 233/SB 212 ▪ Criminal Law – Assault in the First Degree – Strangulation This legislation classifies intentional strangulation as Assault in the First Degree. Non-fatal strangulation is one of the most significant risk factors for femicide. Prior non-fatal strangulation is associated with a 6-fold increase in attempted homicide and a 7-fold increase in completed homicide. PASSED – sent to Governor
HB 242/SB 206 ▪ Criminal Procedure – Motion to Vacate Judgment – Human Trafficking (True Freedom Act of 2020) This legislation allows survivors of human trafficking to remove crimes other than prostitution from their criminal records, increasing the ability of these survivors to access employment and stable housing as well as heal from the trauma of their trafficking experience. Under current law, only prostitution convictions were eligible for vacatur, even though survivors are often forced to commit other crimes. PASSED – sent to Governor
HB 246/SB 231 ▪ Sexual Solicitation of a Minor – Solicitation Through Parent, Guardian, or Custodian – Prohibition and Penalties This legislation expands the definition of sexual solicitation of a minor to include the solicitation of the parent, legal guardian, or custodian of a minor, or a hypothetical minor. This legislation closes a loophole to deter and prosecute the attempted sexual solicitation of a minor. PASSED – sent to Governor
HB 248/SB 210 ▪ Protective Orders – Relief Eligibility – Rape and Sexual Offenses This legislation clarifies that a victim of a rape or sexual offense, or attempted rape or sexual offense is eligible for a protective order rather than a peace order. Despite a change in the law in 2015 moving dating relationships from the peace order to the protective order, some judges did not believe that a victim qualified, even though there was sexual contact, because the parties were not in a “relationship.” This legislation ensures that victims are eligible for the more extensive protections of a protective order. PASSED – sent to Governor
HB 608/SB 682 ▪ Correctional Services – Prerelease Unit for Women – Requirement to Operate
SB 684 ▪ Correctional Services – Prerelease Unit for Women – Facilities and Services (Gender-Responsive Prerelease Act) This legislation establishes a pre-release center for women with re-entry services such as family reunification, employment, housing, and addictions counseling. While there are many pre-release centers for incarcerated men, there are ZERO pre-release centers for women in Maryland. No action was taken on HB 608/SB 682. However, SB 684 ▪ Correctional Services – Prerelease Unit for Women – Facilities and Services (Gender-Responsive Prerelease Act) PASSED. It authorizes the operation of a separate prerelease facility for female inmates. VETOED BY GOVERNOR.
BILLS THAT DID NOT PASS
HB 590/SB 230 ▪ Criminal Law – Sexual Crimes – Repeal Spousal Defense This bill would have repealed the law allowing marriage as a defense to sex crimes. Currently spouses can only be prosecuted for any sex crime if they have a limited divorce, have lived separated and apart for three months or have a written separation agreement, or if rape involved actual force or threat of force. For other sex crimes, marriage is a complete defense. Passed House, sent to Senate. No action in Senate
HB 839/SB 539 ▪ Labor and Employment – Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program – Establishment This bill would have established a family and medical leave insurance fund to provide partial wage replacement for employees who take leave to care for a new child, a family member with a serious health condition, their own serious health condition, or a family member’s military deployment. It would have allowed employees to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave under certain circumstances. This program mirrors those in 8 other states and D.C. as well as building on MD law that established a parental leave benefit for state employees in 2018. No action
Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women 