Women who become pregnant in Maryland as a result of sexual assault can now sue to terminate the parental rights of their attackers, under a law approved this month in the legislature after nine failed attempts.

“This is an important day for the state of Maryland,” said Gov. Larry Hogan (R), who signed the emergency bill Tuesday surrounded by a host of advocates and female lawmakers and with Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) and House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) by his side. “I know it’s a long time coming.”

Only five other states had no laws on the books regarding parental rights and sexual assault, said Lisae C. Jordan, executive director of the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

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