# Maryland HB 0980: Family Law and Human Services - Guardianship Assistance Program and State Foster Youth Ombudsman - Establishment (Kanaiyah's Law)

Maryland HB 0980, Family Law and Human Services - Guardianship Assistance Program and State Foster Youth Ombudsman - Establishment (Kanaiyah's Law), is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Mike Griffith (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-28 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 158); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0980-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland HB 0980
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Family Law and Human Services - Guardianship Assistance Program and State Foster Youth Ombudsman - Establishment (Kanaiyah's Law)
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-06
- Last action: 2026-04-28, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 158
- Sponsor: Mike Griffith (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 61
- Subjects: Family Law, Children, State Government - Agencies, Offices, and Officials, Administrative Agencies, Age of Majority, Attorneys, Attorney General, Budget and Management, Department of, Budgets -see also- Capital Budgets, Child Custody -see also- Visitation, Circuit Courts, Commercial Property, Complaints, Crimes and Punishments -see also- Penalties and Sentnc; etc., Criminal Background Investigations, Disabilities, Disclosure, Discrimination, Education -see also- ContEd; DrvEd; HigherEd; etc., Electronic Government, Ex-Offenders, Foster Care, Group Homes -see also- Foster Care; JuvFacil; SubsAbTrt, Health -see also- COVID19; EnvHlth; MedCon; etc., Hearings, Hotels and Motels, Housing -see also- Apartments; Condos; Mobile & Manuf Homes, Human Services, Department of, Inspections -see also- Motor Vehicle Inspection, Investigations and Inquiries -see also- Crim Bckgrnd Invest, Judges, Judicial Review -see also- Appeals, Juvenile Justice and Delinquency, Law Enforcement -see also- SRO; Sheriffs; State Police, Legislation -see also- Correct Leg; Cur Leg; Emerg Bills, Licenses -see also- AB Lic; Certifications; DrLic; Permits, Minors -see also- Age of Majority; Youth, Notices, Oaths, Ombudsmen, Parents and Guardians, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Petitions, Privacy, Public Information, Records -see also- Land Records; Vital Records, Recruitment and Hiring, Registration -see also- Motor Vehicle Registration, Reports, Rules and Regulations, Safety -see also- Occupational Safety, Salaries and Compensation -see also- Overtime; Reimb. Rates, Social Services -see also- Public Benefits, Social Workers, Standards and Best Practices, State Aid -see also- Public Benefits, State Employees, State Police, Department of, Subpoenas, Telephones, Testimony -see also- Witnesses, Time, Trials, Witnesses, Work, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc.
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 2 (172 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- New complaint advocate for foster youth: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2027, Maryland creates a State Foster Youth Ombudsman within the Department of Human Services. Youth in out-of-home care can bring complaints about services and rights to this office. The ombudsman investigates complaints, advocates for youth, and provides expertise on child we…
- New guardian aid with eligibility limits: mixed, high. Beginning October 1, 2027, Maryland creates a Guardianship Assistance Program providing money and medical help for permanent guardianship homes. Guardians must be appointed under Family Law § 5-326 or Courts Article § 3-819.2. The child must have lived in their home in foster care for at least six…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Mike Griffith (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Gabriel Acevero (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Christopher T. Adams (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jackie Addison (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: H. Kevin Anderson (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Steven J. Arentz (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Lauren Arikan (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Terry L. Baker (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Barry Beauchamp (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Regina T. Boyce (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jason C. Buckel (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jon S. Cardin (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Brian Chisholm (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Barrie S. Ciliberti (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Derrick Coley (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Frank M. Conaway (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Eric Ebersole (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Mark Edelson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Elizabeth Embry (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kris Fair (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jessica Feldmark (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jefferson L. Ghrist (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Wayne A. Hartman (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jim Hinebaugh (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Kevin B. Hornberger (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Thomas S. Hutchinson (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Julian Ivey (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jay A. Jacobs (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Nicholaus R. Kipke (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Mangione
- Cosponsor: Susan K. McComas (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Ric Metzgar (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: April Miller (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Bernice Mireku-North (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Gabriel M. Moreno (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: LaToya Nkongolo (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Julie Palakovich Carr (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Cheryl E. Pasteur (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Edith J. Patterson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: N. Scott Phillips (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jesse T. Pippy (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Robert B. Long (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Teresa E. Reilly (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Kent Roberson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Mike Rogers (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: April Rose (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Malcolm P. Ruff (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Stuart Michael Schmidt (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Gary Simmons (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Karen Simpson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Sean A. Stinnett (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Joshua J. Stonko (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Todd B. Morgan (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Kym Taylor (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Chris Tomlinson (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: William Valentine (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Joe Vogel (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jennifer White Holland (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jheanelle K. Wilkins (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: C. T. Wilson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: William J. Wivell (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jamila J. Woods (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 45 | 0 | 2 |
| 2026-03-21 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 127 | 0 | 6 |

## Actions (14)

- 2026-04-28: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 158
- 2026-04-13: Returned Passed (House)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (45-0) (Senate)
- 2026-04-09: Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-09: Favorable Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-04-09: Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-03-25: Hearing 4/02 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-03-23: Referred Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-03-21: Third Reading Passed (127-0) (House)
- 2026-03-20: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-03-20: Favorable with Amendments {843124/1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-03-20: Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary (House)
- 2026-02-09: Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-02-06: First Reading Judiciary (House)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-04-28: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_158_hb0980t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-20: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0980t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-06: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0980f.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law)
- SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law)
- SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)
- SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law)
- SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law)
- HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)

## Sources
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_158_hb0980t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0980t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0980f.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS)
- [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS)
- [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS)
- [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS)
- [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS)
- [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS)
- [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0980-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).