HB 465

Civil Actions - Immunity - Disclosure of Allegations of Sexually Assaultive Behavior (Stop Silencing Survivors Act)

Sponsor: Elizabeth Embry (District 43A)Committee: JudiciarySubject: Civil Actions and ProceduresStatus: Hearing 2/11 at 2:00 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Establishing an immunity from liability for a person who discloses information about allegations of sexually assaultive behavior if the person acts in good faith; establishing a presumption of good faith unless it is shown by a preponderance of the evidence that the person acted with actual malice or intentionally or recklessly disclosed false information; providing for the award of attorney's fees and costs in certain circumstances; 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 (22)

MGA witness list

FAV 22Favorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Rattigan, Yuvelqui	Center For Hope	Written (PDF)
FAV	Roberson, Brooke	Erin Levitas Foundation	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Condliffe, John	Levin Gann PA	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Cavanaugh, Jodi	Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault	Oral
FAV	Jordan, Lisae Clobbyist	Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Rodriguez, Amanda	Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force/ TurnAround, Inc.	Written (PDF)
FAV	Orbe, Jr., Carlos	Maryland Latinos Unidos	Written (PDF)
FAV	Morgan, Jessica	Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women (MLAW)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ruth, Laure	Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence	Written (PDF)
FAV	Feinstein, Debbie	Maryland State’s Attorneys’ Association (MSAA)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Richards, Elizabeth	Montgomery County's Commission for Women	Written (PDF)
FAV	Tribbs, Emma Davidson	NWDL Action	Written (PDF)
FAV	Tang, Elizabeth	National Women's Law Center	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Jones, Dana	Women Legislators of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	OMalley, Catherine	Women's Law Center	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bulatowicz, Donna	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Burke, Victoria	Individual	Position only
FAV	Burke, Victoria	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Embry, Delegate Embrylegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Mauer, William	Individual	Position only
FAV	Reid, E. L.	Individual	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Center For HopeFAV 1

Erin Levitas FoundationFAV 1

Levin Gann PAFAV 1

Maryland Coalition Against Sexual AssaultFAV 1

Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)FAV 1

Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force/ TurnAround, Inc.FAV 1

Maryland Latinos UnidosFAV 1

Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women (MLAW)FAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Network Against Domestic ViolenceFAV 1

Maryland State’s Attorneys’ Association (MSAA)FAV 1

Montgomery County's Commission for WomenFAV 1

National Women's Law CenterFAV 1

NWDL ActionFAV 1

Women Legislators of MarylandFAV 1

Women's Law CenterFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVJordan, Lisae CMaryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)Registered for: Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault