1995 Legislative Session
HOUSE BILL 1068 Modifies birth certificate policies offering an amended birth certificate upon reciept of a court order indicating sex has been changed by surgical procedure and verification of whether an individual has changed their name. This bill passed and was signed into law. It was further refenced in In the Matter of Robert Wright Heilig/Janet Heilig Wright a case from 2003 which reinforces current birth certificate policy by the Maryland's Vital Statistics Administration.
1996 Legislative Session
HOUSE BILL 325 - Employment Discrimination - Gender Identity - Compensatory Damages
(it should be noted this session House Bill 413 sought to add sexual orientation only. There was a two bill strategy in place.)
HOUSE BILL 323 sought to clarify provisions from HB 1068 passed the prior session with regard to birth certificates.
1997 Legislative Session
No action taken (it should be noted House Bill 431 sought to add sexual orientation only)
1998 Legislative Session
No action taken (it should be noted House Bill 68 sought to add sexual orientation only)
1999 Legislative Session
HOUSE BILL 315 / SENATE BILL 138 both introduce definitions for "sexual orientation" which states: "the term sexual orientation" means: (1) the identification of an individual as to male or female homosexuality, heterosexuality, bisexuality; or (2) having or being perceived as having an identity, expression, or physical characteristics not traditionally associated with one's biological sex or sex at birth" was removed and replaced with "sexual orientation" means the identification of an individual as to male or female homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality. "
SENATE BILL 139 / HOUSE BILL 969 - Crimes - Gender and Sexual Orientation Crimes - Prohibitions Both bills include the same definition of sexual orientation as above.
2000 Legislative Session
see 1999 Several bills as with in 1999, seeking the same objectives.(All prior legislation reintroduced).
2001 Legislaitve Session
SENATE BILL 205 / HOUSE BILL 307 No action taken(for transgender Marylanders). This is where the fight over removing intent to provide protections for gender identity comes into play. Hate Crimes legislation is NOT reintroduced in 2001. The definition used in the last two sessions : "the term sexual orientation" means: (1) the identification of an individual as to male or female homosexuality, heterosexuality, bisexuality; or (2) having or being perceived as having an identity, expression, or physical characteristics not traditionally associated with one's biological sex or sex at birth" was removed and replaced with "sexual orientation" means the identification of an individual as to male or female homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality.
2002 Legislative Session
No action taken.
2003 Legislative Session
No action taken
2004 Legislative Session
HOUSE BILL 365 / SENATE BILL 698 Hate crimes reintroduced. Bill see action in the House where gender identity is stricken from language on 3rd reader.
2005 Legislative Session
HOUSE BILL 692 Hate crimes passes as a slew of civil marriage/domestic partnership benefit rights bills are intoduced, yet not gender identity non-discrimination bill was introduced. Definition as follows: "sexual orientation" means the identification of an individual as to male orfemale homosexuality, heterosexuality, bisexuality, or gender-related identity.2006 Legislative Session
No actions taken
2007 Legislative Session
Senator Madaleno and Senator Gladden introduce SENATE BILL 516 The House introduced HOUSE BILL 945 with 25 co-sponsors. These bills use the definition: "gender identity and expression” means a gender–related identity, appearance, expression, or behavior of an individual regardless of the individual’s assigned sex at birth." This will remain the definition all future bills are introduced with until 2012. These bill all include public accommodations until 2011, when HOUSE BILL 235 omits it.
Senator Madaleno and Senator Gladden welcome the addition of Senator Raskin to reintroduce a trans bill as SENATE BILL 976 The House reintroduced legislation as HOUSE BILL 1598 with only 2 sponsors.
2009 Legislative Session
The Senate bill increases its co-sponsors to 14 with the introduction of SENATE BILL 566. The House co-filed bill, HOUSE BILL 474 collects 67 cosponsors (Only 71 votes needed for passage through the House of Delegates).
2010 Legislative Session
The Senate introduces SENATE BILL 583, again with 14 co-sponsors. The house introduces HOUSE BILL 1022 with 62 co-sponsors, a decrease of 5 from 2009.
2011 Legislative Session
Controversial change of strategy. Only the House of Delegates introduces a transgender bill in the form of HOUSE BILL 235. There are only 56 co-sponsors, yet the provisions for public accommodations (Sections 20-302 and 20-304) have been removed. Senator Madaleno called for HB 235 to be amended and public accommodations be added back in. HB235 passed the House by a vote of 86-52. After a short exile in the Senate Rules Committee(where bills are sent to expire quitely) it was given a Senate committee hearing and favorable report. The Senate floor voted to recommit to committee, effectively killing the bill.2012 Legislative Session
The Senate sponsorship changed from Senator Madaleno to Senator Raskin. There were only 7 co-sponsor. While SENATE BILL 212 had a committee hearing, it never received a committee report, favorable or unfavorable. This is the lowest number of sponsor/co-sponsors total for both chambers a transgender non-discrimination bill has ever received.2013 Legislative Session
The Fairness for All Marylanders Act is introduce as SENATE BILL 449. Co-sponsorship explodes to 23. Only 24 votes are needed for sucessful passage in the Senate. No co-filed House bill is introduced. Based on the obstacles faced in the Senate, it is determined to secure passage there first, and then move the bill to the House of Delegates. This is the first time a transgender bill is being requested by, and legislative field action directed by, a large broad based coaltion of transgender and allied organizations. The bill is stalled in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee by a 6-5 vote for an unfavorable report.
2014 Legislative Session
The Fairness for All Marylander Act is again reintroduced by the Maryland Coaltion for Trans Equality, now over 50 organization strong,this time as SENATE BILL 212, and HOUSE BILL 1265. Leadership in Annapolis lined up in support behind the assurance of a community capable of bring legislative pressure to bear to sway passage. The two bills combined have 25 and 61 cosponsors in the senate and House respectively. This time Senator Madaleno returned to lead sponsor. The bill passed both Senate and House votes and as of April 2, 2014 awaits the Governors signature.
