[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6361078,"mediaKeyId","2171181-951569399aae7bd71eccc6b805a99def","parentId",2171181,"title","Panel backs clarifying law to let minor parents seek child support without parental permission","audioSeconds",143,"startMs",4612000,"endMs",4755000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171181-951569399aae7bd71eccc6b805a99def&start=4612&end=4755","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171181-951569399aae7bd71eccc6b805a99def/thumbnail_4612000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6361078/Maryland/Panel-backs-clarifying-law-to-let-minor-parents-seek-child-support-without-parental-permission","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361078-ceeede31638f963ebe00f301ccc0231c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144442&Signature=VS8d~x1mCvYJ5Raw9TfQij2kWPpynUzsHAjPHfnociVBH0mUmtoHuUM4Ir5DqSOHZVOlVdw7w28blxhSsolAi0~FdfL-J6ND1IP9TqAwuUIL5Qtx~ESLKc6h~empSpp-K3Z-ktUJX1yNO3XF2ZXbNVus7IF34~LBzsTdwODCdM7WljmaDAYtvsN7Y2XO8oypo2WjO1ppzydsfJ4dnNDvw2K71e3BZHIAxZffwEYqI1HUTOYFg1YfEf1u2qoZ~oxuIbaKfz997-WaKM1jDm~IO52SgZcy6r2OxT74vC35qP-VFrjALAfr7cYSsw1OPRPLhH2eecozrtPRqSSUPjgnng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Maryland General Assembly - Judiciary","date","2025-01-30T00:00:00Z","article","The House Judiciary Committee heard testimony Jan. 30 on House Bill 120, which would amend family law to make clear that minor parents have the capacity to initiate and defend child-support actions without requiring parental or guardian permission.

Delegate Tavares presented the bill and said the change would remove barriers that delay or prevent teens from obtaining child support for their children. \"By allowing young mothers to file independently, this bill addresses a critical need and ensures these families receive the support they deserve,\" the delegate said, citing statewide disparities in teen birth rates and economic vulnerability.

Maryland Legal Aid’s Erica Lamon testified in support and said the bill would remove confusion in statute and make clear that a minor parent can obtain financial support for a child. Laurie Ruth of the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence, speaking on behalf of the Maryland State Bar Association Family Law Section Council (and noting friendly amendments under consideration), also supported the bill. Ruth and other witnesses described existing community resources — including the statewide family-law hotline, Legal Aid and the Office of Child Support Enforcement — that can assist minor parents in filing petitions.

Witnesses said the Office of Child Support Enforcement accepts petitions and can perform enforcement and collection work; one witness estimated a $25 filing fee that can be waived for low-income filers. Committee members asked about capacity and procedural barriers; witnesses said the statute is ambiguous now and the bill merely clarifies that minor parents can file and that existing filing and intake procedures would apply. The hearing ended with proponents urging a favorable report; no committee vote was recorded in the session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","JUD Committee Session, 1/30/2025 #1","oneSentenceSummary","HB 120 would make explicit in statute that minor parents can file child-support petitions on behalf of their children; legal-aid and advocates told the committee the change removes uncertainty and helps children access support.","taxTitle","Judiciary Committee, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Maryland","taxId",15063,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6361083,"Committee debates bill to limit use of deceptive interrogation tactics on children",795,1860000,2655000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171181-951569399aae7bd71eccc6b805a99def&start=1860&end=2655","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171181-951569399aae7bd71eccc6b805a99def/thumbnail_1860000.jpg","/articles/6361083/Maryland/Committee-debates-bill-to-limit-use-of-deceptive-interrogation-tactics-on-children","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361083-5e3bbdfb44f9dbc965110e3d8e7b8346/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144442&Signature=O12tfkZTXclZT1rp~ckWw~eAZTDGZGwRO0kAykrzxpDne8fh41ZTj-ZrR3feQTFk1wHeoTZkFoxnc0c~ImUbUZTMoiBpPseizkD6FujKLLHcXBPFKF5WN3vZJH0aBwfViUktg1vRES8KrtsNsmPSYfRDcYVkAWll-V1AHpI9L57wUVNXHGR-ug~UJyCKSIxIMQndRnPeP3d0tGA95mZOWyiZJBsF2Ezh-MaevW2AeKlcPEw0EEhPhG26eXssEQalRuI6UxJlkAE5swbi45gUxzt7ZYfSsBge-ILCdndhD03RR5SyZ8Yt-o-1Pys6zdeul2s0RBvjGZVXqttBYn1LbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Judiciary Committee heard competing testimony Jan. 30 on House Bill 165, which would establish a rebuttable presumption that statements by minors taken during custodial interrogations after intentional deception by law enforcement are involuntary and inadmissible in court.

Delegate Delia Severo (presenting as Delegate Osvero in the transcript) framed the bill as completing protections begun in the Child Interrogation Act by prohibiting the use of deceptive interrogation tactics on children. \"When we're talking about a child, we're talking about a developing mind,\" the sponsor said, and added that deceptive tactics can produce false confessions that change young people's lives.

Proponents included Ken Phelps of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, Aubrey Edwards Luce of the Center for Families, Children & the Courts at the University of Baltimore, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Maryland) represented by Kimberly Suarte on behalf of Zainab Chaudhry. They cited studies showing minors are more likely than adults to produce false confessions and pointed to high-profile examples, including the Central Park Five, as evidence of the risks. \"When police lied to children, prosecutors should have the burden to prove whether the child's statement was voluntary and admissible,\" Aubrey Edwards Luce said.

Opponents included Scott Schellenberger (representing prosecution perspective) and Chaz Ball of the Maryland Fraternal Order of Police. Schellenberger argued Maryland already has enhanced protections in place following recent legislation (cited in testimony as Senate Bill 53 and the codified provisions in Courts & Judicial Proceedings), including notification to parents and a requirement that minors consult with counsel prior to custodial interrogation in many cases. He said the Office of the Public Defender is on-call, and that in practice public defenders often advise minors not to speak, limiting the number of custodial interrogations. Ball warned the bill would unduly restrict investigatory tools police use to secure confessions; he described subterfuge as an accepted investigative technique and said voluntariness is a judge's determination.

Committee members asked whether other states have similar laws; proponents cited Utah, Illinois and Oregon as having passed related protections and said several other states had introduced similar measures. Law-enforcement witnesses and prosecutors warned about operational impacts including fewer interrogations and potential effects on evidence-gathering. The hearing concluded with no recorded committee vote.","HB 165 would create a rebuttable presumption that statements by minors obtained after intentional deception by law enforcement are involuntary and inadmissible; proponents cited false-confession research and opponents warned it would remove a tool for investigators.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6361088,"Panel backs streamlining adult-adoption process to remove parental-notice requirement",840,830000,1670000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171181-951569399aae7bd71eccc6b805a99def&start=830&end=1670","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171181-951569399aae7bd71eccc6b805a99def/thumbnail_830000.jpg","/articles/6361088/Maryland/Panel-backs-streamlining-adult-adoption-process-to-remove-parental-notice-requirement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361088-8e5afd71ab736087d9e1cbe2e2108a43/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144442&Signature=o9EsIypuwCbHW8RHovwuhMQsKoPisizmhi7a9dv7OTrqaVXzoY7ztxs3HX4ljURIgTi1so-9ftnud4SmPnnAZHoJ3TxLZjkK4fm9W3nvlIAbN96z8cmfB4KWxAgZQqneVtfnyrsIylgeRvmtKhLnEz3joh2sZ3yQnwE91T185RXRKcfNRUZlb~besSXpGjFMugp5MR9uluy1QqXYtmfN6HhsfODeaKHogrsMSdE9krw9qwbcUUW~vh5rmC-W9F6mNwFfzkYeAcaD-cQu29vwhjwW~KbLqW5On7gIOJVvoA8-duTlwderTrTDxEG8wV7b5iyiLT5SgKYSE53dwqp2bA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Judiciary Committee heard testimony Jan. 30 on House Bill 243, which would streamline adult adoptions by removing statutory requirements to issue and serve show-cause orders on parents and by allowing courts to order investigations only when good cause is shown.

\"Adult adoption happens for myriad of reasons,\" Delegate Regina T. Boyce said presenting the bill. She said HB 243 eliminates issuance and service of show-cause orders for adult adoptions and gives courts discretion to order investigations only where \"good cause\" exists.

Multiple witnesses, including adults who pursued step-parent adoptions, described emotional and procedural burdens under the current law. Kelly Rae, who said she adopted her son in 2022 at age 27, described a five-month process that required hiring an attorney, serving his birth mother, running a home study and criminal background check and placing advertising in a foreign country to locate a listed father. \"Adult adoptees should have the right to decide without birth parent notification,\" Rae said.

Rachel Claremont (formerly Rachel Bennett) described longstanding verbal and emotional abuse by her biological mother and said removing parental-notice requirements would allow adult victims to formalize parentage without re-traumatizing contact with an abuser. Her father, David Bennett, and Barbara Bennett, the prospective adoptive parent, also testified about family history and the burdens adult adoptees face when the law requires parental consent for adult adoptions.

Judge Jennifer Fairfax, appearing on behalf of the judiciary, said the judiciary supports HB 243. Fairfax said in other jurisdictions such as the District of Columbia and Virginia, parental consent is not required for adult adoptions, and that requiring consent in Maryland has caused additional cost and trauma for adults seeking adoption after abuse, foster care, or other family circumstances.

Committee members asked procedural questions; proponents said the bill had been considered in prior sessions and had passed through the committee in earlier years. Committee discussion concluded with no recorded vote at the hearing.","Legislation (HB 243) would eliminate mandatory parental notice and service requirements for adult adoptions, instead allowing courts to order investigations only on good cause, proponents told the Judiciary Committee.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6361092,"Committee hears bill to allow Adult Protective Services to share records with investigative agencies",137,462000,599000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171181-951569399aae7bd71eccc6b805a99def&start=462&end=599","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171181-951569399aae7bd71eccc6b805a99def/thumbnail_462000.jpg","/articles/6361092/Maryland/Committee-hears-bill-to-allow-Adult-Protective-Services-to-share-records-with-investigative-agencies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361092-e4b5d68b785ff5532be9531d2d55a07c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144442&Signature=D8ZgxFmh~PGFhplUaC0ObgriMy0C8UEwM9wfrF-UTw~mvzfw7vB9ItHM8Y84fiOJl4ofJZZAr7Ov9VbJfwduB~c5MLJmOe5ezwvQgHO3ffN2MJWTcpjvxLI-ZKfqyd-Wxt15SsawE00s6b~l606xggY0clSBYpxJ73Pef8zmJ9nhOoHbuPOBt288pifmems~ajQlCoXQ9FnQGfC04xq3hkWHD~K8qV4wBJHTq3bjlQ41vZK0F8Cn1a~Y8gE3vteSYfvUCPboARK9BwjsX8DeaEAMPpCZL2~UN9T1gh1H0XOvf-RQT1-mY~kNezakMxzE5LQtCmCAsE3LTwwmg4vPhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Judiciary Committee heard testimony Jan. 30 on House Bill 246, which would let the Adult Protective Services (APS) office share records of alleged abuse, neglect or exploitation of adults with specified governmental investigative entities without first obtaining a court order.

The Department of Human Services urged a favorable report. \"We respectfully urge a favorable report for House Bill 246,\" said Carnitra White, Principal Deputy Secretary for the Department of Human Services. She said APS serves adults 18 and older who lack physical or mental capacity to meet daily needs and that the bill would \"increase protections against maltreatment and assist in prosecuting abusers\" by reducing delays caused by court orders.

The bill’s sponsors and agency witnesses said current law requires a court order before APS can disclose records to another governmental entity, which they described as creating unnecessary delays during active investigations. \"Under current law, sharing information with other governmental agencies can only occur by obtaining a court order which increases unnecessary delays in the investigation resolution and help for our victims,\" White said.

Greg Cessick, Director of the Office of Adult Services, told the committee HB 246 would align reporting rules between Child Protective Services and Adult Protective Services and bring health practitioners into APS reporting consistent with CPS.

Witnesses listed potential coordinating agencies that could receive records under the bill, including the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Postal Inspector, the Chief Medical Examiner, the Office of Health Care Quality, and the Securities Commissioner. Committee members asked whether particular categories of emergency responders would be included; in response White said the bill's intent is to allow sharing with governmental investigative entities conducting a related investigation and that, under the bill, information could be shared where necessary.

No formal vote was recorded during the hearing. Committee members closed the testimony after questions and thanked the witnesses.","Witnesses told the House Judiciary Committee HB 246 would let Adult Protective Services share records with federal, state and local investigative agencies without first obtaining a court order, aiming to speed investigations of alleged maltreatment of vulnerable adults.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Panel backs clarifying law to let minor parents seek child support without parental permission

Committee debates bill to limit use of deceptive interrogation tactics on children

Panel backs streamlining adult-adoption process to remove parental-notice requirement

Committee hears bill to allow Adult Protective Services to share records with investigative agencies