HB 837

Did not advance

Task Force to Study Forced Infant Separation From Incarcerated Individuals

Sponsor: Bernice Mireku-North (District 14)Committee: JudiciarySubject: CorrectionsStatus: Hearing 2/18 at 11:00 a.m. (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Establishing the Task Force to Study Forced Infant Separation From Incarcerated Individuals to study and make recommendations regarding methods to reduce forced infant separation in the State and facilitate bonds between postpartum incarcerated individuals and their children; and requiring the Task Force to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly on or before December 1, 2025.

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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (0)

MGA witness list

FAV 18FavorableFWA 3Favorable with amendments

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Patinella, Franklobbyist	ACLU of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Elliott, Robynlobbyist	American College of Nurse Midwives -Maryland Affiliate	Written (PDF)
FAV	Philip, Diana	Coalition to Protect Maryland's Children	Written (PDF)
FAV	Dews, Christopherlobbyist	Cornerstone Government Affairs	Position only
FAV	Hudson, Lee	Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCA	Position only
FAV	Taylor, Ronnie	FreeState Justice	Written (PDF)
FAV	Braveheart, T. Shekhinahlobbyist	Justice PoIicy Institute	Position only
FAV	Miller Smith, Nora	League of Women Voters Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Murphy, JD	MD Chesapeake Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)	Position only
FAV	Arias, Dianelobbyist	Maryland Catholic Conference	Written (PDF)
FAV	Rubenstein, Cynthia	Montgomery County Women's Democratic Club	Written (PDF)
FAV	Taylor, Vanita	Office of the Public Defender	Oral
FAV	Munroe, Kecia	Women's Caucus	Written (PDF)
FAV	OMalley, Catherine	Women's Law Center	Position only
FAV	DeVaughn, Ashley	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Mireku-North, Delegate Mireku-Northlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Krone, Christinelobbyist	Individual	Position only
FAV	Mireku-North, Bernice	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Gilmore , Deniselobbyist	AFSCME Maryland	Written (PDF)
FWA	LeMon, Erica	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Perry, Richard	Individual	Oral

Organizations on record

ACLU of MarylandFAV 1

AFSCME MarylandFWA 1

American College of Nurse Midwives -Maryland AffiliateFAV 1

Coalition to Protect Maryland's ChildrenFAV 1

Cornerstone Government AffairsFAV 1

Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCAFAV 1

FreeState JusticeFAV 1

Justice PoIicy InstituteFAV 1

League of Women Voters MarylandFAV 1

Maryland Catholic ConferenceFAV 1

MD Chesapeake Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)FAV 1

Montgomery County Women's Democratic ClubFAV 1

Office of the Public DefenderFAV 1

Women's CaucusFAV 1

Women's Law CenterFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVPatinella, FrankACLU of MarylandRegistered for: ACLU of Maryland; American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland

FAVElliott, RobynAmerican College of Nurse Midwives -Maryland AffiliateRegistered for: American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists; Amica Center for Immigrant Rights; CareForth; Chase Brexton Health System; Coordinating Center, The; Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition…

FAVDews, ChristopherCornerstone Government AffairsRegistered for: Advance Maryland Education Fund; Beyond Impact; Center for Urban Families; Dews & Associates; Out for Justice, Inc.; REFORM Alliance…

FAVBraveheart, T. ShekhinahJustice PoIicy InstituteRegistered for: Justice Policy Institute

FAVArias, DianeMaryland Catholic ConferenceRegistered for: Maryland Catholic Conference

FAVKrone, ChristineRegistered for: American Coatings Association; Baltimore Gas and Electric Company; City of Rockville; Coordinating Center for Home and Community Care, The, LLC (dba The Coordinating Center); Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work, Inc.; LifeSpan Network…

FWAGilmore , DeniseAFSCME MarylandRegistered for: AFSCME Maryland Council 3; AFSCME Council 3