Maryland Governor Wes Moore joins Democratic lawmakers to introduce Abortion Protection Package
MARYLAND- Governor Wes Moore and Democratic lawmakers from the Maryland legislature held their first joint press conference today to announce a new bill aimed at protecting abortion rights.
As long as I am Governor, our home will be a safe haven for abortion access,” said Governor Moore adding “While some states have decided to move toward restricting reproductive rights, I can assure you, we will protect them.”
The legislative package includes four core bills, The Right to Reproductive Freedom (HB705/SB798) enables a ballot measure to constitutionally enshrine the rights of Marylanders to reproductive freedom.
The Reproductive Health Protections (HB808/SB859) protects patients, providers, and people supporting out-of-state patients seeking reproductive health care in Maryland from criminal, civil, and administrative actions from restrictive states.
Lawmakers say they want to protect those who travel to Maryland to get the procedure from repercussions in their home states.
“Those states, they are trying to intimidate providers and patients they are trying to scare away Maryland’s providers and patients from providing legal health care that is legal here we are not going to let that happen that’s what these 4 bill address together,” said House District 16th Representative Ariana Kelly.
Also in the package, the Reproductive Healthcare at Higher Education Institutions (HB477/SB341), requires Maryland’s public higher education institutions to develop reproductive health access plans to provide or refer for the full range of reproductive health and wrap-around support services.
The legislation would also require coverage to expand to college campuses, mandating they provide 24-hour access to contraceptives.
The final piece, the Privacy Protections for Reproductive Health Records (HB812/SB786 provides for additional privacy protections for medical records to reduce the risk of criminal prosecution or civil litigation for out-of-state patients seeking reproductive care in Maryland.
