Story perspectives

Maryland House Passes Bill to Protect LGBTQ+ Students

4/7/2026

Summary

Maryland Protects LGBTQ+

The Maryland House advanced H.B. 649 to protect LGBTQ+ students from discrimination.
The bill would allow students to report discrimination.
The bill would allow withholding funding from non-compliant schools.
Advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland (ACLU of Maryland), call the bill urgent amid federal protections being dismantled under the Trump administration.
The House passed the bill 100-35.

Summary

GOP Struggles Shutdown

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They face pressure to approve a Republican-only immigration enforcement bill before considering a bipartisan Senate bill, which some Republicans oppose due to concerns about defunding law enforcement.
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Maryland Protects LGBTQ+

The Maryland House advanced H.B. 649 to protect LGBTQ+ students from discrimination.
The bill would allow students to report discrimination.
The bill would allow withholding funding from non-compliant schools.
Advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland (ACLU of Maryland), call the bill urgent amid federal protections being dismantled under the Trump administration.
The House passed the bill 100-35.

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