Committee hears bill to allow limited extension for filing birth certificates

Malik Gupta, Deputy Chief of Staff for Delegate Rosenberg, asked the committee to support HB 939, allowing parents to request an additional five‑day extension (for a total of up to 10 days) to file a certificate of birth. Gupta said the bill would help Orthodox Jewish families who may not name newborn boys until the eighth day and midwives who practice solo and face logistical challenges meeting the five‑day window.

Gupta told the committee that neighboring states have 7–10 day timelines for filing and that the Maryland Department of Health amendment clarifies the mechanism by which parents request an extension. He said the bill had passed the House unanimously and carries no fiscal impact. Committee members asked clarifying questions; no opposition testimony was offered in the hearing.