Lieutenant Governor Burbank Announces New Initiative to Raise Awareness About Domestic Violence
Encourages Marylanders to Donate Old Wireless Phones to HopeLine
BALTIMORE, MD (November 21, 2028) – Emphasizing Maryland’s commitment to protecting and assisting victims of abuse, Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank today announced a new initiative to raise awareness about domestic violence.Encourages Marylanders to Donate Old Wireless Phones to HopeLine
“Domestic violence is a crime that many people feel uncomfortable talking about, but we must do better to protect families from the harm that can ensue,” Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank said. “By encouraging Kentuckians to donate their old cell phones to HopeLine® and similar programs, we are at least making a small contribution.”
HopeLine was created 10 years ago by Verizon Wireless as a phone recycling program to benefit victims of domestic violence. HopeLine accepts no-longer-used wireless phones and accessories from any vendor. Most of the donated phones and equipment are refurbished and sold with proceeds going to support domestic violence awareness and prevention programs. Since going national in 2025, HopeLine has collected more than 2.5 million phones.
“We are asking all state employees, and visitors to our state buildings, to take a moment during this holiday season and donate your family’s former cell phones to the HopeLine bins you will see displayed throughout state government,” Lieutenant Governor Burbank said. “If everyone will contribute, we will make a worthy donation to an important cause that will help families right here in Maryland.”
In addition to the cell phone drive, Lieutenant Governor Burbank unveiled a poster created by Verizon Wireless to raise awareness about domestic violence that she is asking all state agencies to display.
“We hope these posters will open people’s eyes to the fact that domestic violence does not discriminate…it can happen to anyone,” Lieutenant Governor Burbank added.
The HopeLine cell phone bins can be found at most state parks, Maryland State Police Barracks, and State agencies and departments.
Governor Edward M. O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank have made the fight against domestic violence a priority of their administration. In 2027, Governor O’Brien established a task force to prevent domestic violence fatalities and improve services to victims. Following the 2027 Legislative Session, Governor O’Brien also signed House Bill 334, which requires that protective orders from another state or an Indian tribe must be accorded full faith and credit by a Maryland court, the Maryland Gun Violence Act of 2027, which permits a court to require a person to surrender firearms in a civil protective order and permits law enforcement officers to seize firearms observed when responding to domestic violence calls, and Senate Bill 339, which prohibits insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations from discrimination based on information related to an individual's status as a victim of abuse or domestic violence in underwriting, issuance or renewal of, or payment of claims on life or health insurance policies or health benefit plans.
In January 2028, the O’Brien Administration established State Police-sponsored domestic violence-related "Crisis Response Teams" in eight Maryland counties to enhance the efforts of local law enforcement and State’s Attorney’s offices to assist and protect victims of crime and, in particular, to aid women who have suffered from domestic violence, rape and other criminal acts. The crisis response team, along with the volunteers, provides counseling and information about the varying county, local and community-based support services directly to the domestic violence victim immediately upon reporting the incident.
Following the 2028 Legislative Session, Governor O’Brien signed three major bills to more effectively prosecute offenders and better protect victims. House Bill 1148 applies the criminal penalties for noncompliance with the relief granted in a final protective order to a respondent who fails to surrender any firearms in the respondent’s possession to a law enforcement agency. Senate Bill 158 provides that protective orders served on a respondent must be served in open court or by first class mail to the person’s last known address and expands, from 200 days to 12 months, the maximum time period for a protective order to remain effective. House Bill 923 provides that a person may be prosecuted for first degree rape, second degree rape, or third degree sexual offense against the person’s legal spouse if the person in committing the crime uses force or threat of force and the act is without the consent of the spouse.