In March 2023, the Maryland General Assembly passed the “Right to Reproductive Freedom Act” in response to the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade. This legislation proposed adding a ‘Declaration of Rights’ to Article 48 of the Maryland consti- tution, enshrining the right to reproductive freedom in the state of Maryland. Before this right can be added to the state constitution, it must be approved by Maryland voters, which is a requirement for all constitutional amend- ments. The measure will appear on the ballot in November 2024 — make sure you vote FOR Question 1 this election!

Maryland currently has strong reproductive freedom laws. However, without an estab- lished right in the state constitution, the laws are vulnerable to future changes by legislators or state courts that could change current legal precedent, similar to what happened with the Dobbs decision.

A constitutional amendment is the stron- gest possible protection of the right to reproductive freedom and would be very difficult to repeal!

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