SB 715 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Washington County - Juveniles - Truancy Reduction Pilot Program

SB 715 authorizes the Circuit Administrative Judge of the Fourth Circuit to establish a Truancy Reduction Pilot Program specifically in Washington County's juvenile court. The bill amends existing Maryland law to add Washington County as a jurisdiction eligible for this pilot program, which aims to address student absenteeism through court-based interventions. The program would operate under the existing framework used in other counties (like Dorchester and Worcester) but is limited to Washington County for a defined period. It directly affects Washington County juvenile courts and students with chronic absenteeism, without creating new funding or changing current truancy enforcement procedures.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 6, 2026 Signed May 26, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Washington County - Juveniles - Truancy Reduction Pilot Program Third - Washington County - Juveniles - Truancy Reduction Pilot Program · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill text was updated to reflect its progression from the first to the third reading in the Senate, adding procedural status notes like 'Adopted' and 'Read second time.' The core legal language regarding truancy pilot programs, eligible counties, and effective dates remained unchanged.
Scope change
No change to the bill's scope or applicability; the substantive laws governing truancy reduction pilot programs are identical to the previous version.
TECHNICAL

Added Senate procedural metadata including committee report status, adoption status, and specific reading dates.

Removed draft headers and introductory text indicating the bill was being introduced for the first time.

Changed the chapter placeholder from a blank line to 'CHAPTER ______' to match standard legislative formatting for adopted bills.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 7, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2026

How they voted

431
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 49
Mar 7, 2026
D Democratic36
31 Yea 1 Nay 4
86% Yea
R Republican13
12 Yea 1
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
14
Key actions
10
Committee
6
May 26, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 812
executive
Apr 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Returned Passed
upper
Apr 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Apr 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
lower
Apr 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable Report by Judiciary
lower
Mar 24, 2026
Committee
Referred Judiciary
lower
Mar 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Mar 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable Adopted
upper
Mar 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings
upper
Mar 18, 2026
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (120-0-22)
house of delegates
Mar 7, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (43-1-5)
senate
Feb 6, 2026
Committee
First Reading Judicial Proceedings
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.