SB 848 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Public Health Abortion Grant Program - Establishment

SB 848 establishes the Public Health Abortion Grant Program to improve access to abortion care for uninsured individuals in Maryland. It creates a special fund that receives 90% of unused premium funds from health insurers’ abortion coverage accounts (after 12 months), starting with a 2025 transfer and annually thereafter. The program provides grants to eligible organizations that offer equitable abortion care without restrictions, targeting individuals who are uninsured. Insurers must submit annual reports on these segregated accounts to the Commissioner of Insurance. This bill directly affects health insurers and expands access to clinical abortion services for low-income residents.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Feb 3, 2025 Signed May 13, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Public Health Abortion Grant Program - Establishment → Third - Public Health Abortion Grant Program - Establishment · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill was amended to change the legal citation for the repealed sections from Section 6-226(a)(2)(ii)204 and 205 to Section 6-226(a)(2)(i), and to add a new section adding to Section 6-226(a)(2)(ii)206. These changes correct the statutory references for the Public Health Abortion Grant Program provisions.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on the Public Health Abortion Grant Program, but the specific sections of law being repealed and reenacted were updated to reflect correct statutory citations.

TECHNICAL

Changed the repealed section citation from 'Section 6-226(a)(2)(ii)204 and 205' to 'Section 6-226(a)(2)(i)' to correct the legal reference.

Added a new provision to 'Section 6-226(a)(2)(ii)206' which was previously not referenced in the repeal language.

Updated the bill header to include 'Committee Report: Favorable with amendments' and 'Senate action: Adopted' to reflect the bill's progress.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 28, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 14, 2025

How they voted

28–15

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 46

Feb 28, 2025

D Democratic33

28 Yea 2 Nay 3

84% Yea

R Republican13

13 Nay

100% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 13, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 436

executive

Mar 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

Returned Passed

upper

Mar 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable Report by Health and Government Operations

lower

Mar 17, 2025

Committee

Referred Health and Government Operations

lower

Mar 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 14, 2025

Introduced

Floor Amendment {

upper

Mar 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Motion Laid Over (Senator Carozza) Adopted

upper

Mar 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Mar 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (28-15-3)

senate

Feb 3, 2025

Committee

First Reading Finance and Budget and Taxation

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors