HB 1254 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Education - Public Schools - Service Contracts

HB 1254 requires county school boards to justify service contracts (outsourcing school services) by submitting detailed cost comparisons showing at least 20% savings over using school employees, along with plans to assist affected staff. It mandates that boards demonstrate they considered alternatives like reorganizing services before contracting. The bill also directs the State Department of Education to develop a paid, in-person professional development system for paraeducators and support staff by July 2027, including training on collaboration, student safety, crisis prevention, and job skills. This new system must be provided during school hours and will directly affect all paraeducators and support professionals in Maryland public schools.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 12, 2026 Last action Apr 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Education - Public Schools - Service Contracts and Professional Development → Third - Education - Public Schools - Service Contracts · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to establish a new policy prioritizing the use of public school employees over private contractors for school services. It adds specific exemptions where contracting is necessary due to conflicts of interest, emergency needs, or the purchase of property. The bill also reorganizes the legal structure by creating a new subtitle for service contracts and clarifies the requirements for cost comparisons and employee assistance plans.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include a new state policy preference for using public employees over private contractors, while introducing specific exemptions for emergency, conflict of interest, and incidental property-related contracts.

POLICY

Added a new policy requirement that states public school employees should be used in preference to private contractors for school functions.

ELIGIBILITY

Created four specific exemptions where a county board does not need to follow the employee-preference policy: conflict of interest, emergency procurement, incidental costs to property purchases, and the need for an unbiased opinion.

REQUIREMENT

Reorganized the bill to create a new legal subtitle for service contracts and updated the definitions and submission requirements for counties seeking contracts.

Clarified the cost comparison calculations, ensuring savings are exclusive of reductions in employee pay or benefits.

Updated the employee assistance plan requirements to include provisions for hiring displaced employees if feasible.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 30, 2026

How they voted

102–34

Passed · 6 other

Total votes 142

Mar 30, 2026

D Democratic103

100 Yea 3

97% Yea

R Republican39

2 Yea 34 Nay 3

87% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 13, 2026

Committee

Referred Rules

upper

Apr 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Apr 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means

lower

Mar 30, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (102-34-6)

house of delegates

Feb 12, 2026

Committee

First Reading Ways and Means

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors