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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
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*sb0907*
SENATE BILL 907
J1, D4, D3 6lr2230
CF HB 1389
By: Senator Love Senators Love, Beidle, Gile, Hayes, Hershey, Jackson, Kramer,
Lam, Mautz, Ready, and A. Washington
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Finance
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 1, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Public Health – Female Genital Mutilation 2
FOR the purpose of altering the definition of “abuse” to include female genital mutilation 3
for the purposes of a provision of law requiring certain persons to provide notice of 4
suspected abuse or neglect of a child or make a written report of suspected abuse or 5
neglect of a child; altering the actions regarding female genital mutilation in which 6
a person is prohibited from engaging; increasing the penalties for a violation of 7
certain provisions related to female genital mutilation; req uiring, under certain 8
circumstances, a health occupations licensing board to revoke the license of an 9
individual who commits a violation of certain provisions of this Act; authorizing an 10
individual who is subject to female genital mutilation to bring a civ il action for 11
certain relief; requiring the Maryland Department of Health, in collaboration with 12
certain government agencies and public and private organizations, to develop, 13
publish, and distribute certain educational materials regarding female genital 14
mutilation; and generally relating to female genital mutilation. 15
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 16
Article – Family Law 17
Section 5–701(a) and 5–704 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 20
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 21
Article – Family Law 22
2 SENATE BILL 907
Section 5–701(b) 1
Annotated Code of Maryland 2
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 3
BY adding to 4
Article – Health – General 5
Section 20–601 and 20–605 through 20–607 6
Annotated Code of Maryland 7
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 8
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
Article – Health – General 10
Section 20–601 through 20–603 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 13
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15
Article – Family Law 16
5–701. 17
(a) Except as otherwise provided in § 5–705.1 of this subtitle, in this subtitle the 18
following words have the meanings indicated. 19
(b) (1) “Abuse” means: 20
(i) the physical or mental injury of a child under circumstances that 21
indicate that the child’s health or welfare is harmed or at substantial risk of being harmed 22
by: 23
1. a parent; 24
2. a household member or family member; 25
3. a person who has permanent or temporary care or custody 26
of the child; 27
4. a person who has responsibility for supervision of the 28
child; or 29
5. a person who, because of the person’s position or 30
occupation, exercises authority over the child; 31
(ii) sexual abuse of a child, whether physical injuries are sustained 32
or not; or 33
SENATE BILL 907 3
(iii) labor trafficking of a child by any individual. 1
(2) “ABUSE” INCLUDES FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION, AS DEFINED 2
IN § 20–601 OF THE HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE. 3
(3) “Abuse” does not include the physical injury of a child by accidental 4
means. 5
5–704. 6
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including any law on privileged 7
communications, each health practitioner, police officer, educator, or human service 8
worker, acting in a professional capacity in this State who has reason to believe that a child 9
has been subjected to abuse or neglect: 10
(1) shall notify the local department or the appropriate law enforcement 11
agency; and 12
(2) if acting as a staff member of a hospital, public health agency, child care 13
institution, juvenile detention center, school, or similar institution, shall immediately 14
notify and give all information required by this section to the head of the institution or the 15
designee of the head. 16
(b) (1) An individual who notifies the appropriate authorities under subsection 17
(a) of this section shall make: 18
(i) an oral report, by telephone or direct communication, as soon as 19
possible to the local department or appropriate law enforcement agency; and 20
(ii) a written report: 21
1. to the local department not later than 48 hours after the 22
contact, examination, attention, or treatment that caused the individual to believe that the 23
child had been subjected to abuse or neglect; and 24
2. with a copy to the local State’s Attorney. 25
(2) (i) An agency to which an oral report of suspected abuse or neglect 26
is made under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall immediately notify the other agency. 27
(ii) This paragraph does not prohibit a local department an d an 28
appropriate law enforcement agency from agreeing to cooperative arrangements. 29
(c) Insofar as is reasonably possible, an individual who makes a report under this 30
section shall include in the report the following information: 31
4 SENATE BILL 907
(1) the name, age, and home address of the child; 1
(2) the name and home address of the child’s parent or other person who is 2
responsible for the child’s care; 3
(3) the whereabouts of the child; 4
(4) the nature and extent of the abuse or neglect of the child, including any 5
evidence or information available to the reporter concerning possible previous instances of 6
abuse or neglect; and 7
(5) any other information that would help to determine: 8
(i) the cause of the suspected abuse or neglect; and 9
(ii) the identity of any individual responsible for the abuse or neglect. 10
Article – Health – General 11
20–601. 12
IN THIS SUBTITLE , “FEMALE GENITAL MUTIL ATION” MEANS A PROCEDURE 13
PERFORMED FOR NONMED ICAL REASONS THAT IN VOLVES PARTIAL OR TO TAL 14
REMOVAL OF OR OTHER INJURY TO THE EXTERNAL FEMALE GENITALIA, INCLUDING: 15
(1) A CLITORIDECTOMY OR THE PARTIAL OR TOTAL REMOVAL OF THE 16
CLITORIS, PREPUCE, OR CLITORAL HOOD; 17
(2) EXCISION OR THE PARTI AL OR TOTAL REMOVAL , WITH OR 18
WITHOUT EXCISION OF THE CLITORIS, OF THE LABIA MINORA , WITH OR WITHOUT 19
REMOVAL OF THE LABIA MAJORA; 20
(3) INFIBULATION OR THE N ARROWING OF THE VAGI NAL OPENING, 21
WITH OR WITHOUT EXCISION OF THE CLITORIS; OR 22
(4) ANY OTHER PROCEDURE T HAT IS HARMFUL TO TH E EXTERNAL 23
FEMALE GENITALIA , INCLUDING PRICKING , PIERCING, INCISING, SCRAPING, OR 24
CAUTERIZING THE GENITAL AREA. 25
[20–601.] 20–602. 26
(a) Except as provided in [§ 20 –602] § 20–603 of this subtitle, a person [who 27
circumcises, excises, or infibulates the whole or any part of the labia majora or labia minora 28
or clitoris of an individual who is under the age of 18 years is guilty of] MAY NOT: 29
SENATE BILL 907 5
(1) KNOWINGLY PERFORM, ATTEMPT TO PERFORM, OR CONSPIRE TO 1
PERFORM female genital mutilation ON AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 2
YEARS; OR 3
(2) TRANSPORT AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 YEARS 4
OUT OF THE STATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PERFORMING OR FAC ILITATING THE 5
PERFORMANCE OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION ON THE INDIVIDUAL. 6
(b) Except as provided in [§ 20–602] § 20–603 of this subtitle, a parent, guardian, 7
or other individual is guilty of female genital mutilation if the individual: 8
(1) Is legally responsible and charged with the care or custody of a child 9
under the age of 18 years; and 10
(2) Knowingly consents to [the circumcision, excision, or infibulation of the 11
whole or any part of the labia majora or labia minora or clitoris of ] THE PERFORMANCE 12
OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION ON the child. 13
[20–602.] 20–603. 14
(a) A surgical operation is not a violation of this sub title if the operation is 15
necessary to the health of the individual on whom it is performed and is performed by a 16
person licensed in the State as a medical practitioner. 17
(b) In determining whether an operation is necessary to the health of the 18
individual, no account may be taken of the belief on the part of any individual that the 19
operation is required as a matter of custom or ritual. 20
[20–603.] 20–604. 21
(A) A person who violates the provisions of this subtitle is guilty of a felony and 22
on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding [5] 10 years or a fine not exceeding 23
[$5,000] $10,000 or both. 24
(B) IF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HOLDS A LICENSE ISSUED UNDER THE HEALTH 25
OCCUPATIONS ARTICLE IS CONVICTED OF, ENTERS A PLEA OF GUILTY OR OF NOLO 26
CONTENDERE FOR, OR RECEIVES PROBATION BEFORE JUDGMENT FOR A VIOLATION 27
OF THIS SUBTITLE, THE APPLICABLE HEALTH OCCUPATIONS BOARD SHALL REVOKE 28
THE LICENSE OF THE INDIVIDUAL. 29
20–605. 30
(A) A VICTIM OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION PERFORMED IN VIOLATION 31
OF THIS SUBTITLE MAY FILE AN ACTION IN THE C IRCUIT COURT IN THE COUNTY IN 32
WHICH THE VIOLATION OCCURRED OR THE VICTIM RESIDES. 33
6 SENATE BILL 907
(B) IF THE COURT FINDS TH AT A PERSON VIOLATED THIS SUBTITLE, THE 1
COURT MAY AWARD THE PLAINTIFF: 2
(1) ACTUAL DAMAGES; 3
(2) COMPENSATORY DAMAGES; 4
(3) PUNITIVE DAMAGES; 5
(4) REASONABLE ATTORNEY’S FEES, COURT COSTS, AND LITIGATION 6
EXPENSES, INCLUDING EXPERT WITNESS FEES AND EXPENSES; AND 7
(5) ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE RELIEF. 8
(C) AN ACTION BROUGHT UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION SHALL 9
BE FILED THE LATER OF: 10
(1) NOT MORE THAN 10 YEARS AFTER THE DATE ON WHICH THE 11
VIOLATION OCCURRED; OR 12
(2) THE DATE ON WHICH THE VICTIM OF THE VIOLATION REACHES 28 13
YEARS OF AGE. 14
20–606. 15
(A) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1 EACH YEAR , BEGINNING IN 2027, THE 16
DEPARTMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, 17
STATE AND LOCAL LAW E NFORCEMENT AGENCIES , AND OTHER APPROPRIAT E 18
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND PUBLIC AND PRIVA TE ORGANIZATIONS , SHALL 19
SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF 20
THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, CONTAINING DE –IDENTIFIED AND 21
DISAGGREGATED DATA ON THE NUMBER OF: 22
(1) REPORTS OF FEMALE GEN ITAL MUTILATION SUBM ITTED IN 23
ACCORDANCE WITH § 5–704 OF THE FAMILY LAW ARTICLE; 24
(2) INDIVIDUALS PROSECUTED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS SUBTITLE; 25
(3) INDIVIDUALS CONVICTED OF A VIOLATION OF THIS SUBTITLE; 26
(4) CIVIL ACTIONS FILED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SUBTITLE; AND 27
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(5) CIVIL ACTIONS UNDER T HIS SUBTITLE IN WHIC H A JUDGMENT 1
WAS ENTERED, WHETHER BY SETTLEMENT OR ADJUDICATION. 2
(B) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL MAKE THE REPORT REQUIRED UNDER 3
SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. 4
20–607. 5
THE DEPARTMENT, IN COLLABORATION WIT H COMMUNITY –BASED 6
ORGANIZATIONS, SHALL: 7
(1) DEVELOP AND PUBLISH C ULTURALLY AND LINGUI STICALLY 8
APPROPRIATE EDUCATIO NAL MATERIALS ON FEM ALE GENITAL MUTILATI ON, 9
INCLUDING: 10
(I) THE SIGNS THAT AN INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO 11
FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION; 12
(II) THE PHYSICAL AND MENT AL HEALTH RISKS CAUS ED BY 13
FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION; AND 14
(III) THE CRIMINAL PENALTIE S FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS 15
SUBTITLE; AND 16
(2) DISTRIBUTE THE EDUCAT IONAL MATERIALS DESC RIBED UNDER 17
ITEM (1) OF THIS SECTION TO: 18
(I) HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS; 19
(II) LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES; 20
(III) SCHOOLS; 21
(IV) THE PUBLIC; AND 22
(V) ANY OTHER PROFESSIONA L OR COMMUNITY –BASED 23
ORGANIZATIONS THAT M AY WORK OR INTERACT WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE AT 24
RISK OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION. 25
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 26
October 1, 2026. 27