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Maryland · 2026 Regular Session · Bill

HB 980: Family Law and Human Services - Guardianship Assistance Program and State Foster Youth Ombudsman - Establishment (Kanaiyah's Law)

Enacted Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

HB 980 is a bill introduced in the Maryland House on February 6, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Family Law and Human Services - Guardianship Assistance Program and State Foster Youth Ombudsman - Establishment (Kanaiyah's Law). Primary sponsor: Mike Griffith (Republican), Gabriel Acevero (Democratic), Chris Adams (Republican), Jackie Addison (Democratic), Kevin Anderson (Republican), Steve Arentz (Republican), Lauren Arikan (Republican), Terry Baker (Republican), Barry Beauchamp (Republican), Regina Boyce (Democratic), Jason Buckel (Republican), Brian Chisholm (Republican), Barrie Ciliberti (Republican), Derrick Coley (Democratic), Eric Ebersole (Democratic), Mark Edelson (Democratic), Elizabeth Embry (Democratic), Kris Fair (Democratic), Jessica Feldmark (Democratic), Jeff Ghrist (Republican), Wayne Hartman (Republican), Jim Hinebaugh (Republican), Kevin Hornberger (Republican), Tom Hutchinson (Republican), Julian Ivey (Democratic), Jay Jacobs (Republican), Nic Kipke (Republican), Bob Long (Republican), Mangione, Susan McComas (Republican), Ric Metzgar (Republican), April Miller (Republican), Bernice Mireku-North (Democratic), Todd Morgan (Republican), LaToya Nkongolo (Republican), Julie Palakovich Carr (Democratic), Cheryl Pasteur (Democratic), Edith Patterson (Democratic), Jesse Pippy (Republican), Teresa Reilly (Republican), Kent Roberson (Democratic), Mike Rogers (Democratic), April Rose (Republican), Malcolm Ruff (Democratic), Stuart Schmidt (Republican), Sean Stinnett (Democratic), Josh Stonko (Republican), Chris Tomlinson (Republican), William Valentine (Republican), Joe Vogel (Democratic), Jennifer White Holland (Democratic), Jheanelle Wilkins (Democratic), C.T. Wilson (Democratic), William Wivell (Republican), Jon Cardin (Democratic), Scott Phillips (Democratic), Gary Simmons (Democratic), Gabriel Moreno (Democratic), Kym Taylor (Democratic), Karen Simpson (Democratic), Frank Conaway (Democratic), Jamila Woods (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (April 28, 2026): Approved by the Governor - Chapter 158.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 30 · Republican 31

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Mike GriffithPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse35A
Gabriel AceveroPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse39
Chris AdamsPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse37B
Jackie AddisonPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse45
Kevin AndersonPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse38A
Steve ArentzPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse36
Lauren ArikanPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse7B
Terry BakerPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse1C
Barry BeauchampPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse38B
Regina BoycePrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse43A
Jason BuckelPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse1B
Brian ChisholmPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse31
Barrie CilibertiPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse4
Derrick ColeyPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse24
Eric EbersolePrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse44A
Mark EdelsonPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse46
Elizabeth EmbryPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse43A
Kris FairPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse3
Jessica FeldmarkPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse12A
Jeff GhristPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse36
Wayne HartmanPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse38C
Jim HinebaughPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse1A
Kevin HornbergerPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse35B
Tom HutchinsonPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse37B
Julian IveyPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse47A
Jay JacobsPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse36
Nic KipkePrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse31
Bob LongPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse6
MangionePrimary sponsorNot applicable (committee)——
Susan McComasPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse34B
Ric MetzgarPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse6
April MillerPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse4
Bernice Mireku-NorthPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse14
Todd MorganPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse29C
LaToya NkongoloPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse31
Julie Palakovich CarrPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse17
Cheryl PasteurPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse11A
Edith PattersonPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse28
Jesse PippyPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse4
Teresa ReillyPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse35A
Kent RobersonPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse25
Mike RogersPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse32
April RosePrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse5
Malcolm RuffPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse41
Stuart SchmidtPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse33B
Sean StinnettPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse41
Josh StonkoPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse42C
Chris TomlinsonPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse5
William ValentinePrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse2A
Joe VogelPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse17
Jennifer White HollandPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse10
Jheanelle WilkinsPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse20
C.T. WilsonPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse28
William WivellPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse2A
Jon CardinPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse11B
Scott PhillipsPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse10
Gary SimmonsPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse12B
Gabriel MorenoPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse13
Kym TaylorPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse23
Karen SimpsonPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse3
Frank ConawayPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse40
Jamila WoodsPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse26

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Approved by the Governor - Chapter 158
  2. Returned Passed
  3. Third Reading Passed
  4. Second Reading Passed
  5. Favorable Adopted
  6. Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings
  7. Hearing 4/02 at 1:00 p.m.
  8. Referred Judicial Proceedings
  9. Third Reading Passed
  10. Second Reading Passed with Amendments
  11. Favorable with Amendments {
  12. Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary

Showing 12 most recent of 14 actions. Full history

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source