# Maryland SB 0169: Hospitals - Emergency Pregnancy-Related Medical Conditions - Procedures Maryland SB 0169, Hospitals - Emergency Pregnancy-Related Medical Conditions - Procedures, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Clarence K. Lam (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-26 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 788) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0169-2026RS - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Maryland SB 0169 - State: Maryland - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Hospitals - Emergency Pregnancy-Related Medical Conditions - Procedures - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-09-08 - Last action: 2026-05-26, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 788 - Sponsor: Clarence K. Lam (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 4 - Subjects: Health Care Facilities and Regulation, Public Health, Abortion -see also- Reproductive Matters, Discipline, Emergency Medical Services -see also- Ambul; RescSqd, Federal Government, Fines -see also- Penalties and Sentences, Health -see also- COVID19; EnvHlth; MedCon; etc., Hospitals -see also- Clinics; State Hospitals, Investigations and Inquiries -see also- Crim Bckgrnd Invest, Medical Conditions -see also- AIDS; COVID-19; rabies, Medical Testing and Diagnosis, Medical Treatments, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Pregnancy, Reproductive Matters -see also- Abortion; BrthCntr; Preg, Transportation -see also- Aircraft; Airports; Boats; etc, Work, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc. - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (128 yes, 48 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Hospitals must stabilize pregnant patients: benefit, high. Beginning October 1, 2026, hospitals with an emergency department must examine and treat pregnant patients who have an emergency condition that risks serious harm without quick care. The hospital must stabilize the patient using its staff and facilities. This care can include ending a pregnancy whe… - Protections for emergency providers and staff: benefit, medium. Beginning October 1, 2026, hospitals cannot punish a treating provider for refusing to transfer an unstabilized patient. Hospitals also cannot punish a provider for giving stabilizing care that meets medical standards. Employees who report a violation are protected from retaliation, including firin… - Hospitals may refuse some procedures: mixed, medium. Beginning October 1, 2026, outside emergencies, a hospital and its leaders do not have to allow or refer for artificial insemination, sterilization, or abortion. Refusal cannot be the basis for lawsuits or discipline. In an emergency pregnancy-related condition, the emergency stabilization rule sti… - Fines and federal offsets for hospitals: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, hospitals that negligently violate the emergency care rules face civil penalties per violation: up to $50,000 for hospitals with 100 or more beds, and up to $25,000 for smaller hospitals. The Department pauses a state case while a federal EMTALA investigation is open. If… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Clarence K. Lam (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Pamela Beidle (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Brian J. Feldman (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Guy Guzzone (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Sara Love (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-02 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 96 | 37 | 2 | | 2026-02-12 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 32 | 11 | 2 | ## Actions (14) - 2026-05-26: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 788 - 2026-04-03: Returned Passed (Senate) - 2026-04-02: Third Reading Passed (96-37) (House) - 2026-04-01: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House) - 2026-04-01: Favorable Report by Health (House) - 2026-03-17: Hearing 3/25 at 1:00 p.m. (House) - 2026-02-13: Referred Health (House) - 2026-02-12: Third Reading Passed (32-11) (Senate) - 2026-02-10: Second Reading Passed (Senate) - 2026-02-10: Favorable Adopted (Senate) - 2026-02-09: Favorable Report by Finance (Senate) - 2026-01-21: Hearing 2/03 at 2:00 p.m. (Senate) - 2026-01-14: First Reading Finance (Senate) - 2025-09-08: Pre-filed (Senate) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2026-05-26: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_788_sb0169t.pdf) - Third Reading, 2026-02-10: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0169t.pdf) - First Reading, 2026-01-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0169f.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_788_sb0169t.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0169t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0169f.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) - [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0169-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).