Adoption, Foster Care, and Public Services - Prohibition Against Discrimination
Sponsor: Mary Washington (District 43)Committee: Judicial ProceedingsSubject: Family LawStatus: Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)
What this bill does
Official synopsis
Prohibiting a child placement agency from denying a prospective parent's application to adopt a child based on certain characteristics with certain exceptions; prohibiting the Social Services Administration of the Department of Human Services and certain agencies, institutions, and facilities from discriminating against a foster parent, a prospective foster parent, or a child in foster care based on certain characteristics; 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 (12)
MGA witness listFAV 9FavorableFWA 1Favorable with amendmentsUNF 1UnfavorableINFO 1Information only
| Position | Witness | Organization | Testimony |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAV | DeMinco, Lynne | BCRW | Position only |
| FAV | Fair, Kris | Maryland Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Bogdan, Henrylobbyist | Maryland Nonprofits | Position only |
| FAV | Othman, Ronza | National Federation of the Blind of Maryland | Position only |
| FAV | Goldstein, Mathew | Secular Maryland | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Hoffman, Charlotte | Trans Maryland | Position only |
| FAV | McNair, Lee | Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice Ministry | Position only |
| FAV | Jasen, Debi | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Senator Washington, M., Senator Washington, M.legislator | Individual | Oral |
| UNF | Kraska, Jennylobbyist | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FWA | Philip, Diana | Coalition to Protect Maryland's Children | Written (PDF) |
| INFO | Clark, Tiffany | Office of the Attorney General | Written (PDF) |