HB 1440 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Courts - Parental Accommodations

HB 1440 requires Maryland circuit courthouses built or renovated after October 1, 2025, to provide private lactation rooms with specific amenities (lockable doors, sink, refrigerator, and electrical outlet for breast pumps). It also allows breastfeeding mothers and individuals with legal custody of children under age 4 requiring continuous care during court hours to be excused from jury service. The bill amends Maryland law to mandate these accommodations and establishes clear criteria for jury excusal, limiting excusals to twice per person unless extraordinary circumstances exist. These changes directly affect parents, nursing individuals, and court operations.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

Apr 2025

Introduced Feb 7, 2025 Signed Apr 22, 2025

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What changed between versions

First - Courts - Parental Accommodations → Third - Courts - Parental Accommodations · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand its scope by adding new definitions and reporting requirements to the Maryland Judiciary. It now requires the Judiciary to collect and report data on jury excusal requests, disaggregated by jurisdiction and excusal type. The bill also clarifies that excusing breastfeeding mothers and parents of young children is optional rather than mandatory for judges.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include new definitions for key terms and a new reporting requirement for the Maryland Judiciary, in addition to the original provisions for lactation rooms and jury excusals.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'jury commissioner', 'jury plan', 'prospective juror', and 'qualified juror' to clarify terminology used in the bill.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the requirement for excusing breastfeeding mothers and parents of young children from mandatory to discretionary, allowing judges to decide whether to grant the excusal.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a new requirement for the Maryland Judiciary to collect and report data on jury excusal requests and outcomes annually by December 31st.

SCOPE

Expanded the bill to repeal and reenact two additional sections of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article (8-101 and 8-402) rather than just one.

TECHNICAL

Added sponsors to the bill header and updated the bill's explanatory notes to reflect amendments.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 23, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 3, 2025

How they voted

45–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 46

Mar 23, 2025

D Democratic33

33 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican13

12 Yea 1

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 22, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 137

executive

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Returned Passed

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings

upper

Mar 23, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (45-0-1)

senate

Mar 17, 2025

Committee

Referred Judicial Proceedings

upper

Mar 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Introduced

Floor Amendment {

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion Special Order until Next Session (Delegate Clippinger) Adopted

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 10, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary

lower

Mar 3, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (136-0-3)

house of delegates

Feb 7, 2025

Committee

First Reading Judiciary

lower

8 primary · 0 co-sponsors