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SB 604

Adoption, Foster Care, and Public Services - Prohibition Against Discrimination

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mary Washington

Maryland bill prohibiting discrimination in adoption, foster care, and public services based on unspecified protected characteristics, with hearing scheduled for February 18.

Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 604

Legislative bill overview

SB 604 prohibits discrimination in adoption, foster care, and public services based on protected characteristics. The bill appears designed to establish or reinforce non-discrimination standards across these three sectors, though the specific protected classes and enforcement mechanisms require examination of the full text.

Why is this important

These sectors directly affect vulnerable populations—children in foster care and adoption systems, and citizens accessing public services. Discrimination policies in these areas can determine who can serve as foster/adoptive parents, how services are allocated, and whether marginalized groups face barriers to participation.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of "protected characteristics": Whether the bill covers sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, marital status, or other categories will significantly affect which organizations and individuals it impacts
  • Religious exemptions: Whether faith-based adoption and foster agencies receive exemptions from non-discrimination requirements—a recurring point of debate in similar legislation
  • Implementation and enforcement: How violations are addressed, who investigates complaints, and what penalties apply remain unclear without the full text
  • Public services definition: Whether "public services" includes contractors, grant recipients, or only direct government agencies affects coverage breadth

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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