Maryland Governor Signs Bills Protecting Abortion Rights and Gender-Affirming Care, Easing Access to Healthcare for Women and Transgender Individuals.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed bills into law that protect abortion rights and gender-affirming care, enshrining abortion as a "fundamental right" and requiring Medicaid to provide coverage for gender-affirming care in a "nondiscriminatory manner" starting January 1, 2024. The measures also mandate public colleges and universities to develop and implement a reproductive health services plan and regulate the disclosure of medical information to ensure abortion procedures and care remain confidential. The move comes as some Democratic-led states have enacted similar protections, while several state legislatures with a GOP majority have moved in the opposite direction to pass near-total bans on abortion and gender-affirming care for minors.