Certificates of Birth - Filing - Time Period, the official text

WES MOORE, Governor                           Ch. 323

Chapter 323

                   (House Bill 939)

AN ACT concerning

                   Certificates of Birth – Filing – Time Period

FOR the purpose of altering, under certain circumstances, the period of time within which
         a certificate of birth is to be completed and filed with the Maryland Department of
         Health following a birth; and generally relating to certificates of birth.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
         Article – Health – General
         Section 4–208(b)(1) and (2), (c)(1), and (d)
         Annotated Code of Maryland
         (2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)

BY adding to
         Article – Health – General
         Section 4–208(g)
         Annotated Code of Maryland
         (2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)

         SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

                   Article – Health – General

4–208.

        (b) (1) Within EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (G) OF THIS
SECTION, WITHIN [5] 12 calendar days after a birth occurs in an institution, or en route
to the institution, or outside an institution with an attending clinician, the administrative
head of the institution or a designee of the administrative head, or the attending clinician
or a designee of the attending clinician, shall:

             (i) Prepare, on the form that the Secretary provides, a certificate of

birth;

             (ii) Secure each signature that is required on the certificate;

             (iii) File the certificate; and

             (iv) If applicable, attach a copy of the order of the court establishing

parentage.

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Ch. 323  2026 LAWS OF MARYLAND

                (2) The EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (G) OF THIS SECTION,
THE attending physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, or
attending clinician shall provide the date of birth and medical information that are required
on the certificate within [5] 12 calendar days after the birth.

        (c) (1) Within EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (G) OF THIS
SECTION, WITHIN [5] 12 calendar days after a birth occurs outside an institution without
an attending clinician, the birth shall be verified by the Secretary and a certificate of birth
shall be prepared, on the form that the Secretary provides, and filed by one of the following,
in the indicated order of priority:

         (i) The attending individual.

         (ii) In the absence of an attending individual, either parent of the

child.

                           (iii) In the absence or inability of either parent, the individual in
charge of the premises where the birth occurred.

         (d) (1) When a birth occurs on a common carrier within the United States and
the child is first removed from the carrier in this State, the birth shall be registered in this
State, and the place where the child is first removed shall be considered the place of birth.

                  (2) When a birth occurs on a common carrier while in international waters,
air space, or in a foreign country and the child is first removed from the carrier in this
State, the birth shall be registered in this State but the certificate shall show the actual
place of birth insofar as can be determined.

                (3) The EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (G) OF THIS SECTION,
THE certificate shall be filed within [5] 12 calendar days after the child is removed from
the carrier.

        (G) A CERTIFICATE OF BIRTH MAY BE FILED WITHIN 10 DAYS AFTER THE
BIRTH OCCURRED IF A PARENT OF THE CHILD NOTIFIES THE DIVISION OF VITAL
RECORDS IN A MANNER REQUIRED PERSON REQUIRED TO FILE THE CERTIFICATE OF
BIRTH ON A FORM PROVIDED BY THE SECRETARY AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER
BIRTH, BUT NOT LATER THAN 5 DAYS AFTER THE BIRTH OCCURS.

         SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2026.

Approved by the Governor, April 28, 2026.

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