Abhortion · State legal snapshot
Protected by constitution; no gestational limit. Maryland protects abortion through both statute (since 1992) and a constitutional amendment (effective 2025), with no gestational cut-off;…
§ I · Gestational limit
│ Legal at all stages; constitutional protection · Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. § 20-209(b)
§ II · Restriction inventory — 15 checked, 1 in force
●Gestational banNone
●In-person visitsNone
●Method-specific banNone (state)
●Physician-only lawNone
◐Parental notificationIn force
●Telehealth prescribing banNone
●Waiting periodNone
●Spousal consent or noticeNone
●Abortion trafficking lawNone
●Scripted counselingNone
●Civil bounty (SB8-style)None
●Private insurance restrictionNone
●Ultrasound requirementNone
●Pill-mailing banNone
●Self-managed abortion crimeNone
§ III · Access
Criminal exposure
Procedure
Coverage & interstate
Available now
Yes
Pregnant person
Expressly exempt
Waiting period
0 hours
Medicaid
Broader than Hyde
Medication · telehealth
Legal · telehealth allowed
Self-managed
Not a crime
Compelled visits
0 in person
Private insurance
No state restriction
Who may perform
Physicians & APCs
Provider max penalty
None
Minors
Parental notification
Shield state
Yes
Mailing pills
Not banned
Fetal homicide law
Yes · abortion carved out
Judicial bypass
Available
Major pending change
Yes · see p. 2
✓ Abolition-aligned — forbids abortion or imposes liability◐ Partial — a hurdle, an enjoined law, or a carve-out● No restriction○ Unclear or not applicable
§ IV · Why it is legal — governing authorities
Maryland Constitution, Declaration of Rights, Article 48 (Right to Reproductive Freedom), MD Const., Decl. of Rights, Art. 48 — The supreme source of abortion protection in Maryland, establishing reproductive…
■Md. Code, Health-Gen. § 20-209 (State non-interference with abortion), Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. § 20-209 — The foundational statutory protection, enacted in 1991 and voter-approved in 1992,…
■Md. Code, Health-Gen. §§ 20-207, 20-208 (Qualified provider provisions), Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. §§ 20-207, 20-208 — Defines who may perform abortions — not limited to physicians but includes NPs,…
“That every person, as a central component of an individual's rights to liberty and equality, has the fundamental right to reproductive freedom, including but not limited to the ability to make and effectuate decisions…”— Md. Const., Declaration of Rights, Art. 48
Fetal personhood — how the law treats the unborn
● Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 2-103(g)
“Nothing in this section shall be construed to confer personhood or any rights on the fetus.”
No fetal personhood language
→
● Exempt · pregnant woman
Exempt; no criminal exposure
● Carved out · abortion
Abortion is not chargeable under the homicide statutes.
✓ Reached · third parties
Viable-fetus-only; abortion excluded
Maryland's legal treatment of fetal personhood is internally consistent in its refusal to confer personhood on the fetus, but it operates with a practical tension: the state simultaneously… Wrongful death: Viable-fetus claims permitted.
§ V · Criminal exposure by actor
●
Pregnant woman
Exempt; no criminal exposure
●
Physician
No penalty; good-faith immunity
●
Non-physician prescriber
No abortion-specific exposure
●
Helpers · funds
No criminal exposure for helpers
●
Travel helpers
Protected; not criminalized
●
Civil bounty
No civil bounty law
✓ the actor faces criminal or civil exposure under state law · ● no exposure · ○ unclear or theoretical
Penalties on the books — top 4
§ VI · How the law got here ● court ■ statute ◆ executive / agency
Maryland legislature overrode Governor Larry Hogan's veto to enact the Abortion Care Access Act (HB 937), expanding…
3 May 2023■Governor Wes Moore signed the Reproductive Health Protection Act (SB 859) and other shield-law legislation,…
1 Oct 2024■The Trans Shield Act (SB 119 of 2024) took effect, expanding the definition of 'legally protected health care' to…
5 Nov 2024■Maryland voters approved Question 1, the Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment, by approximately 74%, adding…
17 Jan 2025■Governor Wes Moore signed the proclamation officially enshrining the Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment (Article…
29 May 2025■Governor Moore signed HB 930, creating the first-in-the-nation Public Health Abortion Grant Program, which directs…
2 Jun 2026■Governor Moore signed HB 750, codifying a state-level version of the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor…
§ VII · Exceptions matrix
Named in law: ◐ the exception is written into the ban · ✓ no such exception · ● no ban for an exception to operate against. Verified (neutral): ✓ quoted text confirmed at source · ◐ semi-verified · ○ verify before publication · — not applicable.
§ VIII · Shield law & interstate
● Shield state
Comprehensive shield protections
● Travel unrestricted
Fully protected; no restriction
● Telehealth prescribing allowed
Fully permitted
● Pill mailing not banned
Not banned; shield protection
● Funding help protected
Not criminalized; state funds access
● Providing information
Protected; no restriction
Interstate postureMaryland has enacted robust shield laws protecting providers, patients, and helpers from out-of-state investigations, extradition, subpoenas, professional discipline, and civil judgments related to…
§ IX · Who pays
Broader than Hyde; all abortions covered
Life
Hyde · federal
Rape
Hyde · federal
Incest
Hyde · federal
Medically necessary
State-only funds
Required to cover; no cost-sharing
Must cover abortion
●State actively funds providers
§ X · Pending changes status and effect as recorded — no forecast
Louisiana v. FDA (federal; affects Maryland)U.S. Supreme Court has extended a stay preserving nationwide telehealth mifepristone access pending further…
If the Supreme Court ultimately upholds the Fifth Circuit decision, telehealth prescribing and mailing of mifepristone would be restricted nationwide, including in…
LegislationHB 49 / 'Heartbeat Bill' (2026 session)Introduced in the 2026 session. Would restrict abortion after detection of a fetal heartbeat. Given…
Would, if enacted and upheld, prohibit abortion after approximately six weeks' gestation. Near-certain to be struck down under the Maryland Constitution's Article 48…
LegislationHB 1131 / 'Pregnancy Outcome Protection Act' (2026 session)Introduced in the 2026 session. Would prohibit investigation, civil liability, or criminal prosecution of…
Would further codify protection against criminalization of pregnancy outcomes, including self-managed abortion. Consistent with existing statutory and constitutional…
§ XI · Key authorities ● case ■ statute ◆ agency
■Maryland Constitution, Declaration of Rights, Article… MD Const., Decl. of Rights, Art. 48
■Md. Code, Health-Gen. § 20-209 (State… Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. § 20-209
■Md. Code, Health-Gen. §§ 20-207, 20-208 (Qualified… Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. §§ 20-207, 20-208
■Md. Code, Health-Gen. § 20-103 (Parental notification) Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. § 20-103
■Md. Code, Crim. Law § 2-103 (Fetal homicide — viable… Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 2-103
■Md. Code, Ins. § 15-857 (Insurance coverage mandate) Md. Code Ann., Ins. § 15-857
■Reproductive Health Protection Act (SB 859 of 2023) —… Md. Code Ann., State Pers. & Pens. § 2-312; Crim. Proc. §…
■Abortion Care Access Act (HB 937 of 2022) Chapter 56, Acts of 2022
■Md. Code, Health-Gen. § 4-302.5 (Mifepristone data… Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. § 4-302.5
■Md. Code, Health-Gen. § 20-214 (Conscience clause) Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. § 20-214
●Kandel v. White (1995) Kandel v. White, 339 Md. 432, 663 A.2d 1264 (1995)
●Moira E. Akers v. State of Maryland (2025) Moira E. Akers v. State, No. 7, Sept. Term 2024 (Md. 2025)