Bill > HB48

This bill, known as the "Right to Fight Act," modifies Maryland law concerning children in need of assistance and the termination of parental rights. It expands the circumstances under which a local department can request that reunification efforts with a parent or guardian not be required, specifically if the parent or guardian has subjected the child to aggravated circumstances such as severe physical abuse, life-threatening neglect, sexual abuse, torture, or abandonment, or if the parent has been convicted of a violent crime against a minor. The bill also revises the factors a juvenile court must consider when ruling on a petition for guardianship, emphasizing the child's health and safety and outlining specific conditions, like a parent's drug use during pregnancy or conviction for certain crimes, that could lead to waiving reunification services and prioritizing the termination of parental rights if it's in the child's best interest.

Justice

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0048?ys=2026RS