HB 372 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Hospitals - Emergency Pregnancy-Related Medical Conditions - Procedures

HB 372 requires hospitals with emergency departments to screen patients for emergency pregnancy-related medical conditions (defined as acute conditions posing serious health risks if untreated). If such a condition is identified, hospitals must provide treatment to stabilize the patient - including allowing pregnancy termination when medically necessary - or transfer the patient to another facility. The bill prohibits hospitals from penalizing healthcare providers who refuse to transfer unstable patients or from taking adverse action against staff who report violations. It directly affects hospitals, patients with emergency pregnancy conditions, and healthcare providers treating these cases, with fines up to $50,000 for non-compliance.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Jan 19, 2026 Signed May 26, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Hospitals - Emergency Pregnancy-Related Medical Conditions - Procedures Third - Hospitals - Emergency Pregnancy-Related Medical Conditions - Procedures · 3 edits
MINOR
This bill adds administrative status updates (Committee Report and House action) and reorganizes the text of the emergency pregnancy-related medical conditions law. The core legal definitions and requirements remain substantively unchanged, though the text was reformatted to align with a new chapter structure.
Scope change
The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; it applies to hospitals with emergency departments in Maryland.
TECHNICAL

Added administrative metadata including a favorable committee report and adoption date, indicating the bill has passed the House.

Reformatted the bill text to replace the 'A BILL ENTITLED' header with a 'CHAPTER' placeholder and renumbered sections to fit a new chapter structure.

Added an explanation note clarifying that underlining indicates amendments to the bill text.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 20, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 20, 2026

How they voted

3312
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 49
Mar 20, 2026
D Democratic36
32 Yea 4
88% Yea
R Republican13
1 Yea 12 Nay
92% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
Key actions
10
Committee
6
May 26, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 789
executive
Apr 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Returned Passed
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Apr 7, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable Adopted
upper
Apr 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable Report by Finance
upper
Mar 20, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (33-12-4)
senate
Feb 27, 2026
Committee
Referred Finance
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable Adopted
lower
Feb 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable Report by Health
lower
Feb 20, 2026
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (97-37-8)
house of delegates
Jan 19, 2026
Committee
First Reading Health
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Lesley Lopez
Lesley Lopez
DDemocratic
MD
39