SB 169

Hospitals - Emergency Pregnancy-Related Medical Conditions - Procedures

Sponsor: Clarence K. Lam (District 12)Committee: FinanceSubject: Health Care Facilities and RegulationStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 788 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring a hospital to conduct screening on a patient presenting at an emergency department of the hospital to determine whether the patient has an emergency pregnancy-related medical condition; establishing requirements and prohibitions related to the treatment and transfer of a patient who has an emergency pregnancy-related medical condition; requiring a hospital to allow the termination of a pregnancy 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 (42)

MGA witness list

FAV 31FavorableUNF 9UnfavorableINFO 2Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Rodney, Ana	Doula Alliance of Maryland	Written (PDF)
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	Lynch, Meghan	Maryland Department of Health	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lynch, Meghan	Maryland Department of Health	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Themelis, Nina	Mayor's Office of Government Relations	Written (PDF)
FAV	Williams, Irnise	OAG	Written (PDF)
FAV	Williams, Irnise	OAG	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mercer, Jenniferlobbyist	Reproductive Justice Maryland Action	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mercer, Jenniferlobbyist	Reproductive Justice Maryland Action	Written (PDF)
FAV	Goldstein, Mathew	Secular Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	SWASC, UM	Social Work Advocates for Social Change	Written (PDF)
FAV	Phelps Jr, Ken	The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schneider, Glennlobbyist	The Horizon Foundation	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schneider, Glennlobbyist	The Horizon Foundation	Written (PDF)
FAV	McGarvie Crowley, Betty	UULM-MD	Position only
FAV	McNair, Lee	Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice Ministry	Position only
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bode, Claire	Individual	Position only
FAV	Brown, Lucy	Individual	Oral
FAV	Elliott, Robynlobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Elliott, Robynlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Harris, Mrs.	Individual	Position only
FAV	Jasen, Debi	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kauffman, Dannalobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Mortoro, Lynn	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator Lam, Senator Lamlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator Lam, Senator Lamlegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	Sisney, Ben	ACLJ	Written (PDF)
UNF	Arias, Dianelobbyist	Maryland Catholic Conference	Written (PDF)
UNF	Arias, Dianelobbyist	Maryland Catholic Conference	Written (PDF)
UNF	Alexandre, Jonathan	Maryland Family Institute	Oral
UNF	Bogley, Laura	Maryland Right to Life	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Bogley, Laura	Maryland Right to Life	Written (PDF)
UNF	MULLICAN, Brigitta	Private	Written (PDF)
UNF	Sharpless, Bradford	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Sybert, Christine	Individual	Position only
INFO	Mehu, Natashalobbyist	Maryland Hospital Association	Written (PDF)
INFO	Mehu, Natashalobbyist	Maryland Hospital Association	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

ACLJUNF 1

Doula Alliance of MarylandFAV 1

League of Women Voters MarylandFAV 1

Maryland Catholic ConferenceUNF 2

Maryland Department of HealthFAV 2

Maryland Family InstituteUNF 1

Maryland Hospital AssociationINFO 2

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 2

Maryland Right to LifeUNF 2

Mayor's Office of Government RelationsFAV 1

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

OAGFAV 2

PrivateUNF 1

Reproductive Justice Maryland ActionFAV 2

Secular MarylandFAV 1

Social Work Advocates for Social ChangeFAV 1

The Episcopal Diocese of MarylandFAV 1

The Horizon FoundationFAV 2

Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice MinistryFAV 1

UULM-MDFAV 1

YearFAV 2

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVMercer, JenniferReproductive Justice Maryland ActionRegistered for: Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence

FAVSchneider, GlennThe Horizon FoundationRegistered for: Horizon Foundation of Howard County, Inc., The

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…

FAVKauffman, DannaRegistered for: Amazon.com Services, LLC; American Association of Dental Boards c/o Commission on Dental Competency Assessments; Baltimore Gas and Electric Company; Behavioral Health System Baltimore; City of Rockville; Community Behavioral Health Association of Maryland…

UNFArias, DianeMaryland Catholic ConferenceRegistered for: Maryland Catholic Conference

INFOMehu, NatashaMaryland Hospital AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Hospital Association; Maryland Patient Care and Access Coalition; Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants; Maryland Academy of Advanced Practice Clinicians; Baltimore Washington Rapid Rail, LLC; Maryland Works, Inc.…