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HB 1129

Constitutional Officers - Gender-Neutral Language

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jackie Addison and 24 co-sponsors

Maryland bill replaces gendered constitutional language with gender-neutral terms for state officials, modernizing legal text without altering office powers.

Hearing 3/10 at 11:30 a.m.
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Bill Summary · HB 1129

Legislative bill overview

HB 1129 would update Maryland's state constitution and statutory language to replace gendered terms (such as "he," "his," "him," and "man") with gender-neutral alternatives when referring to constitutional officers and other official positions. The bill aims to modernize legal language without changing the substantive powers or duties of these offices.

Why is this important

Constitutional and statutory language carries legal weight and sets the official tone for how government positions are understood. Updating gendered pronouns to neutral language reflects demographic reality—women and non-binary individuals hold these offices—and removes implicit assumptions about who can or should hold public positions. This type of modernization has become standard practice in many states and jurisdictions.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope and consistency: Questions about whether the bill comprehensively covers all relevant constitutional and statutory references, or whether selective updates could create confusion or legal inconsistencies
  • Implementation costs and effort: Concerns about the administrative burden and expense of updating official documents, legal databases, and government communications across multiple agencies
  • Symbolic vs. substantive debate: Disagreement over whether language changes address meaningful barriers to office-holding or are primarily symbolic gestures that don't affect actual representation or policy outcomes

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

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