Maryland 2026 Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 27 R · 27 D cosponsors

HB0980 — Family Law and Human Services - Guardianship Assistance Program and State Foster Youth Ombudsman - Establishment (Kanaiyah's Law)

Last action — Committee Report (House of Origin) — Favorable with Amendments

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House of Delegates
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 06, 2026. Enacted.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 98% · high confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 62 sponsors

    1 primary, 61 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (27 R · 27 D) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Requiring the Secretary of Human Services to establish and maintain a Guardianship Assistance Program to promote the placement and maintenance of children in permanent guardianship homes by providing guardianship assistance to guardians of minor children; establishing the State Foster Youth Ombudsman in the Department of Human Services; requiring the Ombudsman to provide legal expertise in child welfare, custody and guardianship matters, and appeal and due process; etc.

Bill Text

We don't have the full text on file for this bill yet.

Read HB0980 on the official Maryland source →

Action History

  1. Committee Report (House of Origin) — Favorable with Amendments

  2. Third Reading (House of Origin) — Passed

  3. First Reading (Opposite House)

  4. Second Reading (House of Origin) — Passed with Amendments

  5. Hearing (Primary, House of Origin)

  6. First Reading (House of Origin)

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 61 co-sponsors · 126 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (61)

Not signed on (126)

126 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 126 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

On Third Reading

Passed 45 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 28001
Unaffiliated 5001
Republican 12000
Total 45002
% of votes cast 96%0%0%4%
How each member voted (47)
Member Party Vote
Mr. President — Yea
Lewis Young — Yea
Sydnor — Yea
Guzzone — Yea
Watson — Yea
Hershey — Not Voting
Delegate Stephanie Smith Democrat Yea
Senator Alonzo T. Washington Democrat Yea
Senator Antonio Hayes Democrat Yea
Senator Arthur Ellis Democrat Not Voting
Senator Benjamin Brooks Democrat Yea
Senator Benjamin F. Kramer Democrat Yea
Senator Brian J. Feldman Democrat Yea
Senator C. Anthony Muse Democrat Yea
Senator Carl Jackson Democrat Yea
Senator Cheryl C. Kagan Democrat Yea
Senator Clarence K. Lam Democrat Yea
Senator Cory V. McCray Democrat Yea
Senator Craig J. Zucker Democrat Yea
Senator Dalya Attar Democrat Yea
Senator Dawn Gile Democrat Yea
Senator Jeff Waldstreicher Democrat Yea
Senator Jim Rosapepe Democrat Yea
Senator Joanne C. Benson Democrat Yea
Senator Katie Fry Hester Democrat Yea
Senator Kevin M. Harris Democrat Yea
Senator Malcolm Augustine Democrat Yea
Senator Mary Washington Democrat Yea
Senator Mary-Dulany James Democrat Yea
Senator Nancy J. King Democrat Yea
Senator Nick Charles Democrat Yea
Senator Pamela Beidle Democrat Yea
Senator Sara Love Democrat Yea
Senator Shaneka Henson Democrat Yea
Senator Shelly Hettleman Democrat Yea
Senator Bryan W. Simonaire Republican Yea
Senator Chris West Republican Yea
Senator J.B. Jennings Republican Yea
Senator Jack Bailey Republican Yea
Senator Jason C. Gallion Republican Yea
Senator Johnny Mautz Republican Yea
Senator Johnny Ray Salling Republican Yea
Senator Justin Ready Republican Yea
Senator Mary Beth Carozza Republican Yea
Senator Mike McKay Republican Yea
Senator Paul D. Corderman Republican Yea
Senator William G. Folden Republican Yea

Official roll call →

On Third Reading

Passed 127 Yea · 0 Nay · 14 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 12002
Democrat 86007
Republican 29005
Total 1270014
% of votes cast 90%0%0%10%
How each member voted (141)
Member Party Vote
Speaker — Yea
Mangione — Yea
Grammer — Yea
Watson — Yea
Guzzone — Yea
Schmidt — Yea
Holmes — Yea
Conaway — Yea
Young — Yea
Jones, D. — Yea
Hinebaugh — Not Voting
Jones, A. — Not Voting
Morgan, M. — Yea
Morgan, T. — Yea
Delegate Aaron M. Kaufman Democrat Yea
Delegate Adrian Boafo Democrat Not Voting
Delegate Aletheia McCaskill Democrat Yea
Delegate Andrea Fletcher Harrison Democrat Yea
Delegate Andrew C. Pruski Democrat Yea
Delegate Anne Healey Democrat Yea
Delegate Anne R. Kaiser Democrat Yea
Delegate Ashanti Martinez Democrat Yea
Delegate Ben Barnes Democrat Yea
Delegate Bernice Mireku-North Democrat Yea
Delegate Bonnie Cullison Democrat Yea
Delegate Brian M. Crosby Democrat Not Voting
Delegate C. T. Wilson Democrat Not Voting
Delegate Catherine M. Forbes Democrat Yea
Delegate Chao Wu Democrat Yea
Delegate Charlotte Crutchfield Democrat Yea
Delegate Cheryl E. Pasteur Democrat Yea
Delegate Dana Stein Democrat Yea
Delegate Darrell Odom Democrat Yea
Delegate David Fraser-Hidalgo Democrat Yea
Delegate David Moon Democrat Yea
Delegate Debra Davis Democrat Yea
Delegate Deni Taveras Democrat Yea
Delegate Denise Roberts Democrat Yea
Delegate Derrick Coley Democrat Yea
Delegate Diana M. Fennell Democrat Yea
Delegate Dylan Behler Democrat Yea
Delegate Edith J. Patterson Democrat Yea
Delegate Elizabeth Embry Democrat Not Voting
Delegate Emily Shetty Democrat Yea
Delegate Eric Ebersole Democrat Yea
Delegate Gabriel Acevero Democrat Yea
Delegate Gabriel M. Moreno Democrat Yea
Delegate Gary Simmons Democrat Yea
Delegate Greg Wims Democrat Yea
Delegate Harry Bhandari Democrat Yea
Delegate Heather Bagnall Democrat Yea
Delegate J. Sandy Bartlett Democrat Yea
Delegate Jackie Addison Democrat Not Voting
Delegate Jamila J. Woods Democrat Yea
Delegate Jared Solomon Democrat Yea
Delegate Jen Terrasa Democrat Yea
Delegate Jennifer White Holland Democrat Yea
Delegate Jessica Feldmark Democrat Yea
Delegate Jheanelle K. Wilkins Democrat Yea
Delegate Joe Vogel Democrat Yea
Delegate Jon S. Cardin Democrat Yea
Delegate Julian Ivey Democrat Yea
Delegate Julie Palakovich Carr Democrat Yea
Delegate Karen Simpson Democrat Yea
Delegate Karen Toles Democrat Yea
Delegate Kenneth Kerr Democrat Yea
Delegate Kent Roberson Democrat Yea
Delegate Kim Ross Democrat Yea
Delegate Kris Fair Democrat Not Voting
Delegate Kriselda Valderrama Democrat Yea
Delegate Kym Taylor Democrat Yea
Delegate Lesley J. Lopez Democrat Yea
Delegate Lily Qi Democrat Yea
Delegate Linda Foley Democrat Yea
Delegate Lorig Charkoudian Democrat Yea
Delegate Luke Clippinger Democrat Yea
Delegate Malcolm P. Ruff Democrat Yea
Delegate Marc Korman Democrat Yea
Delegate Mark Edelson Democrat Yea
Delegate Mark S. Chang Democrat Yea
Delegate Marlon Amprey Democrat Yea
Delegate Mary A. Lehman Democrat Yea
Delegate Matthew J. Schindler Democrat Yea
Delegate Melissa Wells Democrat Yea
Delegate Michele Guyton Democrat Yea
Delegate Mike Rogers Democrat Yea
Delegate N. Scott Phillips Democrat Yea
Delegate Natalie Ziegler Democrat Yea
Delegate Nick Allen Democrat Yea
Delegate Nicole A. Williams Democrat Yea
Delegate Pam Queen Democrat Yea
Delegate Regina T. Boyce Democrat Yea
Delegate Robbyn Lewis Democrat Yea
Delegate Ryan Spiegel Democrat Yea
Delegate Samuel I. Rosenberg Democrat Yea
Delegate Sarah Wolek Democrat Yea
Delegate Sean A. Stinnett Democrat Yea
Delegate Sheila Ruth Democrat Yea
Delegate Sheree Sample-Hughes Democrat Yea
Delegate Stephanie Smith Democrat Yea
Delegate Steve Johnson Democrat Yea
Delegate Steve Johnson Democrat Not Voting
Delegate Teresa Woorman Democrat Yea
Delegate Terri L. Hill Democrat Yea
Delegate Tiffany T. Alston Democrat Yea
Delegate Vaughn Stewart Democrat Yea
Delegate Veronica Turner Democrat Yea
Delegate April Miller Republican Yea
Delegate April Rose Republican Yea
Delegate Barrie S. Ciliberti Republican Yea
Delegate Barry Beauchamp Republican Yea
Delegate Brian Chisholm Republican Not Voting
Delegate Chris Tomlinson Republican Yea
Delegate Christopher Eric Bouchat Republican Not Voting
Delegate Christopher T. Adams Republican Yea
Delegate H. Kevin Anderson Republican Yea
Delegate Jason C. Buckel Republican Yea
Delegate Jay A. Jacobs Republican Yea
Delegate Jefferson L. Ghrist Republican Yea
Delegate Jesse T. Pippy Republican Yea
Delegate Joshua J. Stonko Republican Yea
Delegate Kathy Szeliga Republican Yea
Delegate Kevin B. Hornberger Republican Yea
Delegate LaToya Nkongolo Republican Not Voting
Delegate Lauren Arikan Republican Yea
Delegate Mark N. Fisher Republican Yea
Delegate Mike Griffith Republican Yea
Delegate Nicholaus R. Kipke Republican Yea
Delegate Ric Metzgar Republican Yea
Delegate Robert B. Long Republican Not Voting
Delegate Robert B. Long Republican Yea
Delegate Ryan Nawrocki Republican Yea
Delegate Seth A. Howard Republican Yea
Delegate Steven J. Arentz Republican Yea
Delegate Susan K. McComas Republican Yea
Delegate Teresa E. Reilly Republican Yea
Delegate Terry L. Baker Republican Not Voting
Delegate Thomas S. Hutchinson Republican Yea
Delegate Wayne A. Hartman Republican Yea
Delegate William J. Wivell Republican Yea
Delegate William Valentine Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety housing healthcare labor education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB0980 do?
Requiring the Secretary of Human Services to establish and maintain a Guardianship Assistance Program to promote the placement and maintenance of children in permanent guardianship homes by providing guardianship assistance to guardians of minor children; establishing the State Foster Youth Ombudsman in the Department of Human Services; requiring the Ombudsman to provide legal expertise in child welfare, custody and guardianship matters, and appeal and due process; etc.
Who sponsors HB0980?
HB0980 is sponsored by Delegate Hinebaugh, Delegate Mangione, Delegate Schmidt, Long, R., Delegate Susan K. McComas (Republican), Delegate Ric Metzgar (Republican), Delegate April Miller (Republican), Delegate Bernice Mireku-North (Democrat), Morgan, T., Delegate LaToya Nkongolo (Republican), Palakovich Carr, Delegate Cheryl E. Pasteur (Democrat), Delegate Edith J. Patterson (Democrat), Delegate Jesse T. Pippy (Republican), Delegate Teresa E. Reilly (Republican), Delegate Conaway, Delegate Mike Griffith (Republican), Delegate Gabriel Acevero (Democrat), Delegate Christopher T. Adams (Republican), Delegate Jackie Addison (Democrat), Delegate H. Kevin Anderson (Republican), Delegate Steven J. Arentz (Republican), Delegate Lauren Arikan (Republican), Delegate Terry L. Baker (Republican), Delegate Barry Beauchamp (Republican), Delegate Regina T. Boyce (Democrat), Delegate Jason C. Buckel (Republican), Delegate Brian Chisholm (Republican), Delegate Barrie S. Ciliberti (Republican), Delegate Derrick Coley (Democrat), Delegate Eric Ebersole (Democrat), Delegate Mark Edelson (Democrat), Delegate Elizabeth Embry (Democrat), Delegate Kris Fair (Democrat), Delegate Jessica Feldmark (Democrat), Delegate Jefferson L. Ghrist (Republican), Delegate Wayne A. Hartman (Republican), Delegate Kevin B. Hornberger (Republican), Delegate Thomas S. Hutchinson (Republican), Delegate Julian Ivey (Democrat), Delegate Jay A. Jacobs (Republican), Delegate Nicholaus R. Kipke (Republican), Delegate Kent Roberson (Democrat), Delegate Mike Rogers (Democrat), Delegate April Rose (Republican), Delegate Malcolm P. Ruff (Democrat), Delegate Sean A. Stinnett (Democrat), Delegate Joshua J. Stonko (Republican), Delegate Chris Tomlinson (Republican), Delegate William Valentine (Republican), Delegate Joe Vogel (Democrat), White Holland, Delegate Jheanelle K. Wilkins (Democrat), Delegate Gary Simmons (Democrat), Delegate Gabriel M. Moreno (Democrat), Delegate Kym Taylor (Democrat), Delegate Karen Simpson (Democrat), Delegate Jamila J. Woods (Democrat), Delegate C. T. Wilson (Democrat), Delegate William J. Wivell (Republican), Delegate Jon S. Cardin (Democrat), and Delegate N. Scott Phillips (Democrat).
What is the current status of HB0980?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 06, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB0980?
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Last checked for changes about 23 hours ago · updated continuously

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