Maryland bill that would have allowed sale of condoms in public schools is defeated
BALTIMORE — A Maryland Senate committee stopped a bill that would have removed the prohibition of selling condoms in vending machines in public schools.
The Maryland Freedom Caucus, comprised of a small group of conservative House Republicans, has declared the bill’s defeat a “victory.”
“This is a huge win for Maryland families,” said Delegate Kathy Szeliga, a Baltimore County Republican and vice chair of the Maryland Freedom Caucus. “Maryland parents have spoken, and lawmakers were forced to listen.”
Sponsored by Delegate Nicole Williams, a Prince George’s County Democrat, House Bill 380 would have allowed contraceptives to be sold in nursery school, preschool, elementary and high school vending machines. It also removes the misdemeanor criminal penalty of $1,000.
The bill would not have mandated that schools sell condoms or other contraceptive devices in their vending machines. Individual school systems would be responsible for making those decisions.
Williams did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee Chair Will Smith, a Montgomery County Democrat, and Gov. Wes Moore declined to comment on why the bill did not advance.
During the bill hearing last week, Williams said that the sole intent of the bill was to remove the criminal penalty from the sale of contraceptives in schools.
“That’s it,” she said. “It’s not a policy bill. It’s not dictating what schools should and shouldn’t do. It’s not mandating anybody to do anything or suggesting that they should do something. It’s just removing a criminal penalty.”
Maryland is currently juggling a slew of bills regarding the budget, education spending and the rising cost of energy. Some Republicans questioned Democratic priorities when the Williams’ bill was debated on the House floor.
The bill gained national attention and became highly politicized by the Maryland Freedom Caucus because of the measure in the bill that would have allowed the sale of condoms in vending machines in preschools. Two of its members appeared on Fox News, railing against Democrats for advancing policy they described as going “too far.”
“Thanks to the tireless efforts of the members of the (Maryland Freedom Caucus) and the thousands of parents who took the time to advocate and send emails, HB380 has been defeated!” the Maryland Freedom Caucus posted on Twitter Friday.
U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, the lone Republican in Maryland’s congressional delegation and chair of the federal House Freedom Caucus, described the bill as “the craziness of the Democrat-controlled Maryland General Assembly.”
Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears referred to the bill in her gubernatorial campaign as she continues to push a bold message: “Don’t Maryland my Virginia.”
Williams’ legislation passed out of the House chamber Feb 21. It was heard in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee earlier this week and received a unanimous unfavorable vote Friday, destroying its chances of moving to the Senate floor.
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