Women Legislators of Maryland

Celebrating Their 52nd Anniversary

Created in February of 1972, the Women Legislators of Maryland was born out of the need to "push for the recognition of women and their abilities," to quote the late Senator Rosalie Abrams. Delegate Pauline Menes fought to have the interests of women represented in formal Standing Committee settings, and 52 years later, we are still working as a bicameral and bipartisan caucus to push agendas that represent the interests of women and children. We hope that by showing our bipartisan support for carefully chosen pieces of legislation, we can work as a unified front to tackle the growing needs of the women who reside in the great state of Maryland.

Women’s Caucus Announces 2024 Legislative Priorities: Equal Rights Amendment, Healthcare, Gender & Discrimination / Economic, Military & Veterans Families, and Child Care

The Women Legislators of Maryland is announcing its 2024 legislative priorities, which focus on policies promoting the Equal Rights Amendment, Healthcare, Gender & Discrimination / Economic, Military & Veterans Families, and Childcare.

Equal Rights Amendment

HJ001/SJ001 - Sponsored by Delegate Patterson, Delegate Lopez and Senator Kelly

Healthcare

HB522/SB492 - Public Schools - Student Telehealth Appointments - Sponsored by Delegate Jones

HB965 - Maryland Department of Health - Breast Cancer Program - Eligibility and Public Awareness Campaign - Sponsored by Delegate Queen

Maternal Health Care Act of 2024 - Sponsored by Delegate White Holland

HB191/SB71 - Correctional Services - Pregnancy and Postpartum Support - Sponsored by Senator Jill Carter and Delegate Mireku-North

Gender & Discrimination / Economics

HB649/SB525 - Wage Transparency - Sponsored by Delegate White Holland

HB39/SB197 - Homecare Worker Rights Act of 2024 - Sponsored by Delegate Lewis

Military & Veterans Families

HB431/SB411 - Department of Veterans Affairs - Renaming and Deputy Secretary of Military Family Policy and Programs - Sponsored by Senator Gile

HB598/SB413 - Discrimination - Military Status - Prohibition - Sponsored by Senator Gile

Child Care

HB662 - Large Family Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers - Sponsored by Delegate Guyton

HB377/SB419 - Therapeutic Child Care Program - Sponsored by Senator King and Delegate Mireku-North

Commission on Access to High-Quality Early Childhood Education and Child Care for Children Three Years Old and Younger - Sponsored by Delegate Guyton

446th Legislative Crossover

*SJ001 - Affirming the Federal Equal Rights Amendment - Senator Kelly*

*HB662 - Large Family Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers - Child Care Teachers - Minimum Age - Delegate Guyton*

*HB649/SB525 - Labor and Employment - Equal Pay for Equal Work - Wage Range Transparency - Delegate White Holland and Senator Kelly*

*HB598/SB413 - Discrimination - Military Status - Prohibition - Senator Gile*

*HB431/SB411 - Department of Veterans Affairs - Renaming and Deputy Secretary of Military Family Policy and Programs - Delegate Pruski and Senator Gile*

*HB39/SB197 - Residental Services Agencies Reimbursement - Personal Assistance Services (Homecare Worker Rights Act of 2024) - Delegate R. Lewis and Senator Ellis*

HB55/SB88 - Maryland Commission on Veterans and Military Families - Delegate Pruski and Senator Gile

HB331 - Election Law - Candidate Expenditures - Campaign - Related Caregiving Expenses - Delegate Guyton

HB148 - Department of Transportation - Human Trafficking Awareness, Training, and Response (See Someone, Save Someone Act) - Delegate Ebersole

HB567/SB541 - Maryland Online Data Privacy Act of 2024 - Delegate Love and Senator Gile

HB52/SB109 - State Employees - Parental Bereavement Leave - Delegate Stewart and Senator Gile

HB1171/SB944 - Nonprescription Drugs and Devices - Provision by Registered Nurses and Sale of Contraceptives Through Automatic Devices - Delegate Williams and Senator Kelly

HB544/SB391 - Criminal Law - Sexual Extortion, Stalking, and Revenge Porn - Statute of Limitations and In Banc Review - Delegate Atterbeary and Senator Kelly

HB961 - State Government - Commission on New Americans - Established - Delegate Taveras

HB620 - Education - Sexual Abuse and Assault Awareness and Prevention Program - Human and Sex Trafficking - Delegate S. Johnson

HB1127/SB950 - Sexual Assualt Forensic Examinations Conducted Through Telehealth - Reimbursement and Study - Delegate Bartlett and Senator Hettleman

*Indicates a priority bill*