Legislative Accomplishments

Vanessa Atterbeary: Standing Up for Howard County’s Families

A Proven Record of Results and Independence

Protecting Women, Children, and Survivors

  • Outlawed Child Marriage: Waged a seven-year battle to pass HB83, banning child marriage in Maryland and protecting minors from forced, abusive situations.

  • Targeting Repeat Sexual Predators: Through HB301 and HB277, she changed state law to allow courts to consider a predator’s past history during trial, making it easier to convict repeat offenders.

  • Shielding Survivors of Abuse: Under a package of safety laws (HB1303, HB248, HB250, HB544), Vanessa expanded access to permanent protective orders and gave survivors of stalking, digital extortion, and revenge porn more time to seek justice.

  • The True Freedom Act: Championed landmark legislation (HB242) that allows human trafficking survivors to clear their records of crimes they were forced to commit while being exploited, opening doors to housing and jobs.

Modernizing Archaic Divorce Laws: Overhauled Maryland's outdated system via HB14, allowing couples to legally divorce based on "irreconcilable differences" and eliminating costly, stressful hurdles that trapped spouses in destructive relationships.

Standing Up to ICE & Resisting Federal Overreach

  • Banning ICE Detention Partnerships: Led the passage of the Dignity Not Detention Act (HB16), which prohibits Maryland counties and private prisons from partnering with ICE, and stops local police from prolonging routine traffic stops just to wait for federal agents.

  • The Maryland Driver Privacy Act: Blocked federal immigration agents from secretly raiding the MVA database. Under HB23, federal agencies can no longer use personal photos and facial recognition to target Marylanders without a valid judicial warrant.

Public Safety

  • Defeating the NRA: To keep weapons out of dangerous hands, Vanessa spearheaded the push to close the private-sale loophole for rifles and shotguns, successfully overriding a governor's veto with HB4 and HB1646.

  • Historic Police Reform: As chair of the legislative workgroup, Vanessa led the historic passage of HB670 to completely overhaul Maryland’s policing laws—banning dangerous no-knock warrants, mandating body cameras, and creating local civilian oversight boards.

  • Cracking Down on Drunk Driving: Tightened state restrictions through HB105, expanding ignition interlock requirements to ensure repeat offenders cannot start a vehicle after drinking.

  • A Lifeline for Neighbors with Special Needs: Created a voluntary 9-1-1 registry (HB1176) for individuals with autism or non-apparent disabilities, giving first responders the critical context they need to handle crises safely.

Strengthening Animal Cruelty Laws: Closed legal loopholes with HB455 to ensure individuals who abuse, neglect, or mistreat vulnerable animals are held strictly accountable.

Investing in Our Schools and Families

  • Countering Classroom Extremism: Defended public schools against MAGA-aligned attacks from groups like Moms for Liberty by passing HB1386, ensuring classrooms remain welcoming and safe for every child.

  • Fully Funding the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future: As chair of the Ways and Means Committee, she blocked attempts to cut or delay education funding, successfully locking in historic raises for teachers and protecting resources for community schools.

  • Advocates for Special Education: Created a dedicated state program (HB903) that provides parents of special needs students with free access to advocates and legal aid to fight for the resources their children deserve.

  • Free, Full-Day Pre-K Expansion: Backed by HB1441 and HB770, she rewrote enrollment rules to guarantee immediate early-education access for kids with disabilities, homeless children, and English language learners.

  • School Mapping for Emergency Safety: Launched a statewide digital mapping program (HB472) to provide local law enforcement with instant blueprints of school layouts during a crisis.

  • Democratizing the Howard County School Board: Shifted power back to local communities via HB590, changing the rules so the majority of Board of Education members are directly elected by voters rather than politically appointed.

Protecting Homeowners and Building a Fair Economy

  • Reining in Big Banks and Predatory Tax Collectors: Through a sweeping legislative effort—including HB83, HB57, HB21, HB43, and HB54—she overhauled the tax foreclosure system. Banks must now provide clear notices, offer realistic payment plans, and are legally barred from pocketing extra cash when a family home is sold.

  • Keeping Cannabis Local: Positioned Maryland’s recreational market for success with HB556, building the rules to ensure local, minority, and women-owned small businesses weren't squeezed out by multi-state monopolies.

  • Defeating Corporate Liquor Lobbies: Used her role on Ways and Means to block powerful corporate liquor interests from sneaking through multi-million dollar tax breaks, holding the line to protect state funding for local public services.

  • Equitable Clean Energy Jobs: Fought for local workers by embedding strict minority business and fair labor requirements into major clean energy projects across Maryland under HB682.

  • Stopping Workplace Violence: Empowered employees and employers through HB289, providing the legal tools to secure peace orders against individuals making threats and stopping on-the-job harassment before it escalates.

Expanding Public Campaign Financing

Strengthening Local Programs: As Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, Vanessa served as the legislative champion for expanding public campaign financing options across Maryland, including Howard County’s Citizens Election Fund.

Awards:

Women Legislators of Maryland—Legislative Champion Award—2018

Baltimore Sun—25 Women to Watch—2018

Baltimore Child Abuse Center—Hero Award—2019

Daily Record—Maryland’s Top 100 Women— 2020, 2023

Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, INC.— Chairman’s Award— 2021

Champions Circle Standing Ovation Leadership Award— Maryland State Childcare Association—2024

Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault—Visionary Award—2025