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ANNAPOLIS — Democrats defeated an attempt by House Republicans to turn a bill to force teens to get their parents' permission for a tattoo into a far-more-sweeping measure that would require parental consent for an abortion.

The chamber debated for 40 minutes whether to even allow a vote on the amendment. But in the end, it was deemed a violation of a House rule.

"Why don't they just take the vote on the merits and let people vote their consciences?" House Minority Leader Anthony J. O'Donnell said Thursday afternoon.

Del. Kathleen M. Dumais, who serves as House parliamentarian, decided that the amendment violated a House rule that amendments cannot change the purpose of the original bill. That ruling was affirmed by a party-line vote of 103-35.

She later said that the issue should have been the subject of separate legislation.

"If they want to vote on that kind of issue, they should submit a bill and go through the committee process," said Dumais (D-Dist. 15) of Rockville.

The bill — which would require parental consent for tattoos, brandings and piercings — was up for a preliminary vote in the House. That vote was postponed to today.

O'Donnell (R-Dist. 29C) of Lusby said Republicans would make another attempt at crafting an amendment that would pass House rules.

Maryland law requires doctors to notify parents when minors seek abortions. The law includes two exceptions: if the minor does not live with the parents, or if a reasonable effort to notify the parents is unsuccessful.

The bill up for a House vote today requires parents to provide written consent in front of someone who would tattoo, brand or pierce a minor.

Del. Gail Bates, who submitted the amendment, said she liked that provision of the tattoo bill.

"The parents need to be there to give their consent," said Bates (R-Dist. 9A) of West Friendship.

Republicans anticipated a fight over the amendment, seeking a ruling from Assistant Attorney General Kathryn M. Rowe that the amendment did not violate a provision in the Maryland constitution that legislation must be limited to a single subject.

But Dumais' ruling was based not on the constitution but on the House's own rulebook.

The ruling kept Democrats from casting a vote on abortion — a politically dangerous move in some districts.

But Dumais said her ruling was more about preserving the legislature's committee structure, which requires bills and amendments to be vetted by lawmakers with specialized knowledge of a topic before being presented to the full chamber.

"When you think about it, very few amendments get put on a bill on the floor," she said.

The House parliamentarian since 2007, Dumais said she had only ruled amendments out of order three or four times.