Members of the Judiciary Committee in the Maryland House of Delegates voted 21-0 to report HB1039 favorably out of the committee. The bill now moves toward passage on the House floor and may already be on the second reading calendar.
The favorable report follows a hearing on the bill before the committee on February 20, with members of Maryland Adoptee Rights and the Capitol Coalition for Adoptee Rights testifying. In addition, dozens of Maryland constituents submitted written testimony to the committee and Adoptees United provided a letter—endorsed by more than 30 organizations and 400 individuals— expressing strong support for HB1039 and its companion bill SB0743.
The following committee members voted in favor of passage of HB1039 in committee (Judiciary Committee Chairman Luke Clippinger generally does not vote):
- Vanessa Atterbeary (Vice Chair)
- Curt Anderson
- Lauren Arikan
- J. Sandy Bartlett
- Jon Cardin
- Frank Conaway
- Dan Cox
- Charlotte Crutchfield
- Debra Davis
- Wanika Fisher
- Robin Grammer
- Jazz Lewis
- Lesley Lopez
- Michael Malone (House sponsor)
- Susan McComas
- David Moon
- Jesse Pippy
- Emily Shetty
- Ron Watson
- Nicole Williams
SB0743, the companion bill, was heard in committee on February 25 and is awaiting further action and a possible vote.
Again, we will be in touch ASAP on further actions adoptees, allies, and supporters can take.