NEWS FLASH

Maryland Bill Would Classify HIV Transmission As Felony | A new bill introduced in the Maryland legislature (SB 60) would elevate the penalty for knowingly transmitting HIV from a misdemeanor to a felony. Sen. Norman Stone Jr. (D) proposed the bill, but he has no co-sponsors nor a parallel bill in the House. Numerous states similarly punish such transmission as a felony, but many others do not criminalize HIV transmission at all. There is no data to suggest that punishing HIV transmission will do anything to curb the virus’ spread, and laws that specifically target HIV can add to stigma while taking resources away from education and advocacy.