Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland HB939: Certificates of Birth - Filing - Time Period
Status: Signed into law, April 28, 2026
Authorizing the parent of a child to file a certificate of birth within 10 days after the birth occurred if the parent notified the person required to file the certificate of birth on a form provided by the Secretary of Health as soon as practicable after birth, but not later than 5 days after the birth occurred.
What the bill says
An act concerning Certificates of Birth - Filing - Time Period FOR the purpose of altering, under certain circumstances, the period of time within which a certificate of birth is to be completed and filed with the Maryland Department of Health following a birth; and generally relating to certificates of birth…
From the enrolled text, May 5, 2026:
AN ACT concerning Certificates of Birth - Filing - Time Period FOR the purpose of altering, under certain circumstances, the period of time within which a certificate of birth is to be completed and filed with the Maryland Department of Health following a birth; and generally relating to certificates of birth. BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Health - General Section 4-208(b)(1) and (2), (c)(1), and (d) Annotated Code of Maryland (2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY adding to Article - Health - General Section 4-208(g) Annotated Code of Maryland (2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: Article - Health - General 4-208. (b) (1) Within EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (G) OF THIS SECTION, WITHIN [5] 12 calendar days after a birth occurs in an institution, or en route to the institution, or outside an institution with an attending clinician, the administrative head of the institution or a designee of the administrative head, or the attending clinician or a designee of the attending clinician, shall: (i) Prepare, on the form that the Secretary provides, a certificate of birth; (ii) Secure each signature that is required on the certificate; (iii) File the certificate; and (iv) If applicable, attach a …
Sponsors
- Samuel Rosenberg (D, HD-041) · primary sponsor
- Tiffany Alston (D, HD-024)
- Heather Bagnall (D, 33C)
- Bonnie Cullison (D, 19)
- Pam Guzzone (D, HD-013)
- Terri Hill (D, HD-012)
- Tom Hutchinson (R, HD-037)
- Johnson, Steve (D, 34A)
- Aaron Kaufman (D, HD-018)
- Nicholaus Kipke (R, HD-031B)
- Lesley Lopez (D, HD-039)
- Ashanti Martinez (D, 22)
Latest actions
- : Approved by the Governor - Chapter 323
- : Passed Enrolled
- : Third Reading Passed (130-0)
- : House Concurs Senate Amendments
- : Third Reading Passed (39-0)
- : Second Reading Passed with Amendments
- : Favorable with Amendments {543928/1 Adopted
- : Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance
- : Hearing 3/26 at 1:00 p.m.
- : Referred Finance
Votes
- Third Reading Passed (130-0) (April 11, 2026): 130 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Third Reading Passed (39-0) (April 10, 2026): 39 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Third Reading Passed (132-0) (March 20, 2026): 132 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is HB939?
- HB939 is a bill in the Maryland Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Certificates of Birth - Filing - Time Period.
- What does HB939 do?
- In its own words: An act concerning Certificates of Birth - Filing - Time Period FOR the purpose of altering, under certain circumstances, the period of time within which a certificate of birth is to be completed and filed with the Maryland Department of Health following a birth; and generally relating to certificates of birth…
- What is the status of HB939?
- Signed into law as of April 28, 2026. Latest action: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 323 (April 28, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB939?
- Samuel Rosenberg (D, HD-041), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB939?
- On the Maryland Legislature website: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0939?ys=2026RS
Source: official Maryland record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.