HB 536

Did not advance

Employment Discrimination - Reasonable Accommodations - Disabilities Due to Childbirth, Menopause, and Related Medical Conditions

Sponsor: Stephanie Smith (District 45)Committee: Government, Labor, and ElectionsSubject: Human RelationsStatus: Hearing 3/25 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Expanding certain protections against employment discrimination to apply to temporary disabilities caused or contributed to by childbirth, menopause, or a related medical condition; and authorizing an employer to consider the operational impact of any staffing gap in determining an undue burden imposed by a certain transfer request by an employee.

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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 (25)

MGA witness list

FAV 21FavorableFWA 1Favorable with amendmentsUNF 3Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Abdul-Malik, Kionne	Baltimore City Women's Commission	Written (PDF)
FAV	Rodney, Ana	Doula Alliance of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Clancy, Jennifer	Friends of Jennifer Clancy	Position only
FAV	Kelly, Ariana	Maryland Commission for Women	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Jorch, Bill	Maryland Municipal League	Written (PDF)
FAV	Jorch, Bill	Maryland Municipal League	Written (PDF)
FAV	Themelis, Nina	Mayor's Office of Government Relations	Written (PDF)
FAV	Carter, Alita-Geri	Qualequity Access	Position only
FAV	Cano, Christopherlobbyist	SEIU Local 500	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	OMalley, Catherine	Women's Law Center	Position only
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Smith, Delegate Smithlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Delegate Smith, Delegate Smithlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Elliott, Robynlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Elliott, Robynlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Misra, Dionne	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Smith, Stephanie	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Smith, Stephanie	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Snyder, Rebeccalobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Blum, Danna	Carroll County Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
UNF	Blum, Danna	Carroll County Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
UNF	Bogley, Laura	Maryland Right to Life	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Dove, S. Spencer	Maryland Commission on Civil Rights	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Baltimore City Women's CommissionFAV 1

Carroll County Chamber of CommerceUNF 2

Doula Alliance of MarylandFAV 1

Friends of Jennifer ClancyFAV 1

Maryland Commission for WomenFAV 1

Maryland Commission on Civil RightsFWA 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 2

Maryland Municipal LeagueFAV 2

Maryland Right to LifeUNF 1

Mayor's Office of Government RelationsFAV 1

Qualequity AccessFAV 1

SEIU Local 500FAV 1

Women's Law CenterFAV 1

YearFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVCano, ChristopherSEIU Local 500Registered for: SEIU Local 500

FAVElliott, 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…

FAVSnyder, RebeccaRegistered for: MD/DC Press Association