Overview

• Maryland's House of Delegates passed House Bill 380, which removes criminal penalties for selling contraceptives, including condoms, in school vending machines.
• The bill does not mandate schools to install such vending machines but gives local school systems the authority to do so if desired.
• Critics, including Republican Delegate Kathy Szeliga, argue the bill could lead to inappropriate access in elementary and preschool settings, calling it a threat to traditional family values.
• Supporters, such as Democratic Delegate Nicole Williams, emphasize the bill's intent to modernize outdated laws and improve contraceptive access for teens without imposing mandates.
• The legislation now heads to the Maryland Senate for consideration, where Democrats hold a majority, continuing a broader national debate over sexual education policies in schools.