# Maryland HB 0243: Family Law - Adoption of an Adult

Maryland HB 0243, Family Law - Adoption of an Adult, is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Regina T. Boyce (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-05-13 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 501) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0243-2025RS
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland HB 0243
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Family Law - Adoption of an Adult
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2024-10-10
- Last action: 2025-05-13, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 501
- Sponsor: Regina T. Boyce (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Family Law, Adoption - see also- FamLaw; FosterCare; ParentsGuardians, Courts -see also- AppCt; Circuit; District; Orphans'; etc., Investigations and Inquiries -see also- Crim Bckgrnd Invest, Parents and Guardians, Petitions, Spouses
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (180 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Fewer hurdles for Maryland adult adoptions: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland law allows adult adoptions with fewer required steps than minor adoptions. A married person can petition to adopt an adult without their spouse joining, though the spouse may join. The specified parental consent rules do not apply to adult adoptions; other applic…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Regina T. Boyce (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-04 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 44 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-20 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 136 | 0 | 2 |

## Actions (14)

- 2025-05-13: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 501
- 2025-04-05: Returned Passed (House)
- 2025-04-04: Third Reading Passed (44-0) (Senate)
- 2025-04-04: Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2025-04-04: Favorable Adopted (Senate)
- 2025-04-04: Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2025-03-15: Hearing 3/20 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2025-02-21: Referred Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Third Reading Passed (136-0) (House)
- 2025-02-18: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2025-02-17: Favorable Report by Judiciary (House)
- 2025-01-10: Hearing 1/30 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2025-01-08: First Reading Judiciary (House)
- 2024-10-10: Pre-filed (House)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2025-05-13: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/Chapters_noln/CH_501_hb0243t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2025-02-18: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/hb/hb0243t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2025-01-08: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/hb/hb0243f.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0227: Workers' Compensation - Payment From Uninsured Employers' Fund - Revisions (vetoed)
- HB 0482: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination Review Process (vetoed)
- HB 0384: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established (vetoed)
- SB 0157: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established (vetoed)
- HB 1294: Commercial Law - Credit Regulation - Earned Wage Access and Credit Modernization (became law)
- HB 0228: Maryland Veterans Trust – Assistance to Members of the Maryland National Guard (signed)

## Sources
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/Chapters_noln/CH_501_hb0243t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/hb/hb0243t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/hb/hb0243f.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 0227: Workers' Compensation - Payment From Uninsured Employers' Fund - Revisions](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0227-2025RS)
- [HB 0482: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0482-2025RS)
- [HB 0384: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0384-2025RS)
- [SB 0157: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0157-2025RS)
- [HB 1294: Commercial Law - Credit Regulation - Earned Wage Access and Credit Modernization](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1294-2025RS)
- [HB 0228: Maryland Veterans Trust – Assistance to Members of the Maryland National Guard](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0228-2025RS)
- [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills)
- [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0243-2025RS (as of 2026-10-17).