Education

Maryland Dems Push Condom Vending Machines in Schools—Even Kindergartens!

Published

February 26, 2025

A bill advancing in the Maryland State House is generating widespread controversy as it seeks to repeal criminal penalties on selling contraceptives through vending machines on public school campuses—including kindergartens and preschools. Republican lawmakers, led by Maryland State Delegate Kathy Szeliga, are sounding the alarm and urging parents to take action against what they see as a radical overreach.

“What Is This?”—Szeliga and GOP Object to Bill

“All of us on the House floor said exactly that—what is this?” Szeliga remarked, expressing disbelief at the bill’s broad language. While supporters argue the legislation merely removes outdated restrictions, Szeliga and her Republican colleagues believe the scope of the bill goes too far.

During a recent legislative session, Szeliga and fellow Republicans proposed an amendment to restrict condom vending machines to high schools, arguing that even that would be contentious. However, the amendment was rejected, confirming fears that the bill could allow vending machines selling condoms and other contraceptives in schools as early as preschool.

“The intent may have been high schools,” Szeliga noted, “but when they rejected our amendment, it became clear that this could open the door for much younger children to be exposed to this.”

“Mom, What’s a Condom?”

Szeliga, a grandmother herself, voiced concerns about young children encountering condom vending machines in their schools and the difficult conversations that could arise. “I have two beautiful granddaughters, ages ten and seven. I can’t imagine them walking down a school hallway and seeing a colorful condom vending machine,” she said. “Then having to answer, ‘Mom, what’s a condom?’ That is not a conversation parents should be forced to have because of a vending machine in a kindergarten.”

Supporters Downplay Concerns

Maryland Delegate Nicole Williams defended the legislation, insisting that it does not mandate the placement of condom vending machines but simply removes the criminal penalty associated with them.

“It’s not dictating what schools should or shouldn’t do,” Williams stated. “It’s just removing a criminal penalty. The sky is not going to fall if we pass this bill.”

However, Szeliga pushed back on that argument, warning that this is just the beginning of a broader agenda. “That’s how they start,” she said. “First, they remove the penalty so they can get vending machines in high schools and younger schools. Then next year, they’ll come back and push for Plan B, birth control pills, and other contraceptives in vending machines, too.”

Broader Parental Rights Concerns

The debate over the bill comes amid other controversial education policies in Maryland, including the removal of parental opt-out provisions for gender identity education.

“This is all happening at the same time they’re taking away parental rights in education,” Szeliga pointed out. “Parents need to wake up and pay attention.”

As the bill continues to advance, opposition remains strong, with conservatives vowing to fight what they see as an unprecedented intrusion into public education. The outcome will likely have lasting implications for parental rights and education policies in Maryland and beyond.