SB 491 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

General Provisions - Veterans Benefits - Honorable Discharge

SB 491 defines "honorable discharge" for Maryland state benefits to include discharges solely based on sexual orientation or gender identity, discharges related to statements/acts about orientation/identity (if prohibited at the time), or discharges tied to PTSD/TBI diagnoses or disclosed sexual trauma at VA facilities. This change directly affects veterans applying for Maryland state programs like housing, education, or employment benefits. Veterans must now submit documentation explaining their discharge basis to qualify under this expanded definition. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 23, 2025 Signed May 6, 2025

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What changed between versions

First - General Provisions - Veterans Benefits - Honorable Discharge → Third - General Provisions - Veterans Benefits - Honorable Discharge · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill expands the definition of 'honorable discharge' for Maryland veterans benefits to include discharges related to sexual orientation, gender identity, PTSD/TBI diagnoses, and sexual trauma disclosures. The changes clarify that these discharges should not disqualify veterans from receiving state benefits.

Scope change

The bill expands eligibility criteria for veterans benefits by adding specific discharge scenarios that should be treated as honorable discharges.

ELIGIBILITY

Added eligibility for veterans discharged solely due to sexual orientation or gender identity

Added eligibility for veterans discharged based on statements or consensual acts related to sexual orientation or gender identity that were prohibited by military policy at the time

Added eligibility for veterans discharged based on PTSD or TBI diagnoses made at VA facilities

Added eligibility for veterans discharged based on sexual trauma disclosures made at VA facilities

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for Department of Veterans and Military Families to determine eligibility based on 38 C.F.R. § 3.12 criteria

TECHNICAL

Added approval signatures for Governor, President of Senate, and Speaker of House of Delegates

Floor votes · Senate Feb 28, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 24, 2025

How they voted

41–0

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 46

Feb 28, 2025

D Democratic33

28 Yea 5

84% Yea

R Republican13

13 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 6, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 271

executive

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Returned Passed

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable Report by Health and Government Operations

lower

Mar 24, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (137-0-2)

house of delegates

Mar 17, 2025

Committee

Referred Health and Government Operations

lower

Mar 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Mar 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (41-0-5)

senate

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

12 primary · 0 co-sponsors