Maryland Senate Bill 302 makes forcing or tricking a pregnant person into taking an abortion drug a felony carrying up to 25 years in prison

Original title: Criminal Law - Causing Ingestion of an Abortion-Inducing Drug - Prohibition (Women's Freedom From Coercion Act)

Last action · January 22, 2026: Hearing 2/05 at 1:00 p.m.Sponsors: Mary Beth Carozza and 5 others

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What This Bill Would Do

Maryland Senate Bill 302 prohibits knowingly and willfully causing another person to ingest an without consent, through fraud or coercion, or by force or threat of force, effective October 1, 2026. Violating this prohibition is a felony subject to imprisonment not exceeding 25 years.

Why it matters

Creates a new felony offense with a significant prison penalty for individuals who administer s against another person's will or through deceit, force, or threats.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

pregnant individuals

Pregnant individuals gain legal protection against the nonconsensual or forced ingestion of abortion-inducing drugs.

Directly affected

individuals convicted under the statute

Offenders face felony charges and imprisonment up to 25 years for causing the nonconsensual ingestion of abortion-inducing drugs.

Key Facts

A person is prohibited from knowingly and willfully causing another person to ingest an abortion-inducing drug when the person knows or believes the other person is pregnant.
The prohibition applies when the ingestion is without consent, through fraud or coercion, or by force or threat of force.
An abortion-inducing drug is defined as any drug, medicine, or chemical preparation for internal human consumption designed to induce an abortion.
A violation of this section is classified as a felony.

Show all 6 facts

Conviction under this section carries a maximum penalty of imprisonment not exceeding 25 years.
The Act takes effect on October 1, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Senate Bill 302 make illegal?

It makes it illegal to knowingly and willfully cause a pregnant person to ingest an without their consent, through fraud or coercion, or by force or threat of force.

When does the law go into effect if passed?

The Act takes effect on October 1, 2026.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently filed. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Committee.

Procedural history

2 actions

Jan 22, 2026Senate
Hearing 2/05 at 1:00 p.m.
Jan 21, 2026SenateIntroduced
First Reading Judicial Proceedings

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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