HB 1389 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Public Health - Female Genital Mutilation

HB 1389 updates Maryland law to explicitly include female genital mutilation (FGM) under the legal definition of "abuse" for child protection purposes. This requires healthcare workers, educators, and others to report suspected FGM cases - just like other forms of child abuse - and increases penalties for violations. The bill also allows victims to file civil lawsuits and mandates the Maryland Department of Health to create educational materials about FGM. These changes directly affect mandated reporters, medical professionals, and individuals at risk of FGM.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Feb 13, 2026 Signed Apr 14, 2026

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What changed between versions

First - Public Health - Female Genital Mutilation → Third - Public Health - Female Genital Mutilation · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was advanced to a favorable committee report and adopted by the House, moving it closer to becoming law. Substantively, the bill adds Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) to the legal definition of child abuse under Maryland's Family Law, ensuring it is treated with the same severity as other forms of physical or sexual abuse. Additionally, the bill repeals and reenacts existing health-related statutes regarding FGM to update the statutory citation references to the current version of the Health-General Article.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded by explicitly including Female Genital Mutilation within the legal definition of child abuse under the Family Law article, thereby triggering mandatory reporting requirements for suspected cases.

DEFINITION

Added a specific provision stating that 'ABUSE' includes Female Genital Mutilation as defined in the Health-General Article.

REQUIREMENT

Repealed and reenacted sections of the Family Law and Health-General Article to update statutory citations and ensure consistency with current legal volumes.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill metadata to reflect the House's adoption of the measure and the committee's favorable recommendation.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 5, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 14, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 29

executive

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

Returned Passed

lower

Apr 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 31, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Finance

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Committee

Referred Finance

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable Report by Judiciary

lower

Mar 5, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (134-0-8)

house of delegates

Feb 13, 2026

Committee

First Reading Judiciary

lower

29 primary · 0 co-sponsors