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The bill would require most "limited service pregnancy centers" — those that do not provide or refer for abortions — to post disclaimers that the information they provide to clients is not medical advice. They also would have to tell clients that the information does not establish a doctor-patient relationship.

Tuesday's crowd was so large that it filled one hearing room, and overflow seating was made available in another hearing room and in a cafeteria where people could view the session on television.

Sen. Jennie M. Forehand (D-Dist. 17) of Rockville, Del. Anne R. Kaiser (D-Dist. 14) of Burtonsville and Del. Roger Manno (D-Dist. 19) of Silver Spring — who introduced a similar bill in the General Assembly in 2008 — all testified Tuesday in favor of the bill sponsored by Councilwoman Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At large) of North Bethesda.

Manno's bill failed to generate much traction at the time.

Trachtenberg said she sponsored the bill to protect women, whom she says are being given misinformation at pregnancy centers that do not provide or refer for abortions.

The three centers that would be affected are Birthright of Montgomery County and Centro Tepeyac, both in Silver Spring, and Shady Grove Pregnancy Center in Gaithersburg. The three centers offer their services for free and operate largely on private and faith-based donations.

Representatives of all three centers attended Tuesday's public hearing, saying they are opposed to the measure.

The bill was supported by Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, the Maryland chapter of the National Organization for Women and NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland.

County Council members are seeking legal advice on whether the bill is constitutionally sound after critics questioned whether the council could legally restrict speech.

Councilman George L. Leventhal (D-At large) of Takoma Park said those concerns — raised during the public hearing on the bill — could delay a committee vote on the legislation until 2010.

Leventhal is chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee, which will take up the bill Dec. 10.