Maryland Abortion Amendment Passed

By Gisselle Guevara-Melendez

After the recent results of the 2024 election, many American citizens are left worried about the potential restrictions on abortion as states are left to make their own laws on abortion.

Maryland has maintained very protective abortion laws since the overturning of Roe v. Wade. In 2023, Gov. Wes Moore signed a reproductive freedom bill that placed protections on online health record data, defended abortion providers from prosecution in other states, and required public colleges to provide reproductive care to their students.

On Nov. 6, Maryland voters approved including a question about abortion rights on the ballot that could establish the right to an abortion as a part of the state’s constitution. Known as the “Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment” or more simply “Ballot Question 1,” it asked voters whether or not Maryland should add a section to the constitution to protect the right to reproductive freedom around pregnancy.

With the ballot winning with over 75% of respondents answering “yes,” the new amendment has now made it significantly harder for laws restricting reproductive care to be put in place without violating Maryland’s constitution.

In the words of Erin Bradley, chairman of Freedom in Reproductive-Maryland, “Maryland voters have rightly chosen to protect their health and their futures. The strong protection of reproductive rights that has existed for decades in Maryland law is now ironclad, enshrined in the state constitution.”

Current abortion policies in Maryland are:

• No restrictions based on the gestational period

• Parental notice is required when a minor seeks an abortion

• Medicaid funds can cover abortions

• Private insurance must cover an abortion

• Physicians and qualified healthcare workers can provide abortions

• Protection from harassment and harm to those entering an abortion clinic

• Shield laws protecting abortion providers, patients, and organizations from prosecution in other states