Public Health - Abortion (Heartbeat Bill)
Sponsor: Ric Metzgar (District 6)Committee: HealthSubject: Public HealthStatus: Hearing 3/19 at 2:30 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)
What this bill does
Official synopsis
Requiring that an abortion be performed by a physician, rather than a qualified provider; repealing certain provisions of law related to State interference with an abortion, regulations related to abortion, and liability or criminal punishment for qualified providers who perform an abortion; prohibiting a physician from knowingly performing, inducing, or attempting to perform or induce an abortion under certain circumstances and subject to certain exceptions; etc.
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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 (40)
MGA witness listFAV 21FavorableFWA 1Favorable with amendmentsUNF 18Unfavorable
| Position | Witness | Organization | Testimony |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAV | Hoegler, Emily | Americans United for Life | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Edwards, Eileen | Eileen Edwards | Position only |
| FAV | Arias, Dianelobbyist | Maryland Catholic Conference | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Alexandre, Jonathan | Maryland Family Institute | Oral |
| FAV | Wharam, S. | Maryland Legislative Lobby for Life, Inc. | Position only |
| FAV | Bogley, Laura | Maryland Right to Life | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Faby, Dave | Moms For Liberty - Harford County | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Ballinger, Bob | National Association of Christian Lawmakers | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | HENRY, LORNA | Pacific Justice Institute | Oral |
| FAV | MULLICAN, Brigitta | Private | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Adelaide, Katherine | Individual | Oral |
| FAV | Arlinghaus, Francis | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Brocato, Deborah | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Delegate Metzgar, Delegate Metzgarlegislator | Individual | Oral |
| FAV | Graham, Lizzy | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Jaffe, Lorraine | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Lang, Alan | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Meyerovich, Mark | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Mitchell, Jennifer | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Taylor, Tom | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Tibbals, Trudy | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Murphy, JD | MD Chesapeake Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) | Position only |
| UNF | Jordan, Lisae Clobbyist | Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA) | Position only |
| UNF | Browning, Jeremy | Maryland Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Lynch, Meghan | Maryland Department of Health | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Goldstein, Mathew | Secular Maryland | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Sasaki, Janet | Women's Liberation Front | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Kaplowitz, Richard KAP | Year | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Allen, Susan | Individual | Position only |
| UNF | DiOrio, Alexandra | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Elliott, Robynlobbyist | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Jasen, Debi | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Krone, Christinelobbyist | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Lent, Michael | Individual | Position only |
| UNF | Littell, Melinda | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Mortoro, Lynn | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Torres, Tica | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Towne, Ezra | Individual | Position only |
| UNF | York, Katie | Individual | Position only |
| FWA | Reddoch, Shirley | Individual | Position only |
Organizations on record
Registered lobbyists who testified
UNFJordan, Lisae CMaryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)Registered for: Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault
UNFElliott, RobynRegistered 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…
UNFKrone, 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…