ANNAPOLIS -- With less than an hour before the end of the 2007 General Assembly session, House Bill 1057, sponsored by Del. Heather Mizeur (D-Montgomery County) at the request of Equality Maryland, sailed to passage, marking one of the only health care reform bills passed in Annapolis this year. When enacted into law in January 2008, the Equity in Family Coverage Expansion Act will require health insurance companies to write policies inclusive of domestic partners and children up to the age of 25, at the request of an employer.

"Equality Maryland applauds Del. Mizeur and her colleagues from both parties who came together to support increasing health care coverage for Maryland families," said Director of Policy Carrie Evans. "This is an incredible victory, and we hope to extend this law in the future to include the small group insurance market as well."

The legislation passed the House of Delegates with an impressive bipartisan vote of 122-18. The Senate vote was 28-17. Equality Maryland proposed the legislation after hearing numerous stories from our organization's members that their employers would offer domestic partner benefits but were unable to purchase a policy from their insurance companies. The bill is the first step in reforming health care access for fair-minded employers who want to offer extended family coverage.

Republican Delegate A. Wade Kach of Baltimore County, who enthusiastically supported the bill, commented that, "While I may not agree with equality Maryland on every issue, I am happy that the vital topic of health care access was one which we could find common ground. This is a measure that will help all Maryland families and that is something legislators from both parties should support."

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Equality Maryland is Maryland's largest LGBT civil rights organization, focused on making life better for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens of Maryland. Equality Maryland works to secure and protect the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Marylanders by promoting legislative initiatives on the state, county and municipal levels and educating the public about the issues faced by our diverse community.

Equality Maryland can be found online at www.equalitymaryland.org.