General Assembly - Fiscal Notes - Family Impact Statement
Summary
SB 558 would amend Maryland’s fiscal note law to require the Department of Legislative Services to include a new “family impact statement” in the fiscal note prepared for each bill. The statement would have to say whether a bill may or will affect families in the state, and if so, describe the basis for that conclusion and identify the type and category of impact. The bill specifically directs the analysis to consider effects on marriage and family stability, marriage promotion, family formation, and family welfare, and to explain the basis and methodology used.
The bill also changes committee voting rules by prohibiting a committee from voting on a bill unless the required family impact statement is attached to or included in the fiscal note. In addition, it adds definitions to the State Government Article for “family,” “family formation,” “family welfare,” and “marriage and family stability,” which would guide how the new statement is prepared and interpreted. The bill is set to take effect October 1, 2025.
Impact
SB 558 would amend Sections 2-1501 and 2-1505 of the State Government Article, expanding the required contents of fiscal notes prepared by the Department of Legislative Services. It would create a new statutory requirement that every fiscal note include a family impact statement, and it would make that statement a prerequisite for committee action on legislation. The bill would therefore affect the legislative process itself rather than directly regulating private conduct, while also creating new analytical duties for the Department and new procedural requirements for committees reviewing bills.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, support, or opposition in the available record. Based on the bill text, the measure appears to be framed as an informational and procedural reform intended to ensure that family-related effects are considered during the legislative process. The absence of recorded discussion or votes prevents a reliable assessment of broader legislative sentiment.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the bill’s requirement that fiscal notes include qualitative assessments of family-related effects, including marriage promotion and family stability, which may be viewed as subjective or difficult to measure. Another likely issue is the new procedural barrier that would prevent committee votes unless the family impact statement is attached, potentially slowing the legislative process or increasing the workload of the Department of Legislative Services. Supporters would likely emphasize family-centered policy review, while critics may question the methodology, scope, and enforceability of the required analysis.