HB 966 sets a 90-day maximum timeframe for appeals regarding county board decisions to remove a county superintendent or county board member. It directly affects county school boards, superintendents, and the State Board of Education by requiring their established appeals process to resolve such cases within 90 days. Exceptions allow extensions if due process demands it or if the State Board determines an extension is necessary for public health or safety. The bill amends Maryland’s education code to add this specific deadline to the State Board’s enforcement procedures.
HB 1043 allows homeschool students in Maryland to participate in public high school athletic programs under specific conditions. It permits eligible homeschool students - those meeting COMAR home instruction requirements and not in deficiency correction - to join sports at the school they'd attend if enrolled publicly or a geographically nearby school, subject to space availability and priority for enrolled students. The bill requires public schools to extend their liability insurance coverage to homeschool participants and mandates they follow the same health, safety, and insurance rules as enrolled students, while homeschoolers cover their own transportation. It does not apply to students who withdrew from public school due to disciplinary action. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 1032 requires all public and nonpublic primary and secondary schools in Maryland to adopt written policies protecting student privacy, including procedures for parents to access records, limits on sharing personal information without consent, and documentation of record reviews. It also mandates that nonpublic prekindergarten programs and schools report annually (starting September 1, 2027) the number of alleged discrimination incidents based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics. These provisions directly affect all K-12 schools, with specific exemptions for religiously affiliated schools that meet existing legal standards under federal law. The bill updates privacy requirements and adds new reporting obligations without altering existing anti-discrimination protections.
HB 1046 requires schools to notify a child's parent, guardian, or caretaker within 24 hours if a mandated reporter (like a teacher) reports suspected abuse or neglect occurring at school or a school-sponsored event. This applies unless the parent, guardian, or caretaker is the suspected abuser. The bill amends Maryland law to create this specific notification requirement for school-related abuse reports, while maintaining existing protections for reporters' identities. It does not change who must report abuse but adds a new step for schools to inform families promptly.
HB 1039 requires county school boards to notify parents of students attending schools labeled "failing" (those with a 1-star rating for three consecutive years) annually by January 1, providing a list of alternative options. Students must choose by April 1 to stay at their current school or transfer to a non-failing public school, nonpublic school, or military boarding school. The bill creates a "Right to Learn" scholarship program funded by counties to cover nonpublic school costs for students in failing schools, and mandates school systems to pay for military boarding school enrollment for students with disciplinary issues. Failing schools remain designated until they earn two stars for two consecutive years.
HB 1013 requires Prince George’s County Public Schools to fund full-time salaries and benefits (including health insurance) for all one-to-one student aides starting in the 2027-2028 school year. It mandates quarterly reports to the county board and state education department on key metrics like aide vacancy rates, IEP service delivery, and compensatory services completion. The bill also requires the county superintendent to provide annual professional development for special education staff and directs the state to hire a third-party auditor to review the county’s special education department for fiscal years 2021-2025. These provisions directly affect Prince George’s County’s special education program, its staff, and students with individualized education plans (IEPs).
HB 1006 allows Talbot County public schools to operate with fewer than 180 school days per year, provided they meet the state's minimum instructional hour requirement (1,080 hours annually). This change specifically applies to Talbot County schools and requires the county board to use this schedule model uniformly across all schools in the county. The bill also mandates that hourly-paid school staff receive opportunities to make up lost wages through additional duties if school days fall below 180. Talbot County must report annually to the State Board of Education on how this scheduling model is implemented. The bill amends Maryland’s education code to create this exception for Talbot County only.
HB 973 amends Maryland's Open Meetings Act to apply enhanced transparency requirements to educational entities, including the Maryland State Department of Education, the Accountability and Implementation Board, and county school boards. The bill requires these entities to publish meeting agendas 48 hours in advance (or as soon as practicable for emergencies), provide minutes within 2 business days, and offer live video streaming of open sessions. It also mandates retaining meeting minutes for 15 years and complete video recordings for 1 year (or 5 years for Vision Zero meetings). These changes aim to increase public access to educational governance processes while specifying retention timelines for records.
HB 961 requires Maryland public schools and youth sports programs (for participants under 19) to implement updated concussion protocols. It mandates the State Department of Education to develop awareness programs for athletic officials, coaches, school staff, and parents about concussion risks and removal/return-to-play criteria. The bill requires students and parents to sign acknowledgment forms after receiving concussion information, and prohibits restricting the authority of athletic officials, coaches, school staff, or parents to immediately remove a student from play if a concussion is suspected. Students must obtain written clearance from a concussion-trained health provider before returning to play.
HB 1403 proposes adding a new Article XVI-A to the Maryland Constitution to establish a formal initiative process. It allows registered voters to bypass the legislature by gathering signatures (10% of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election) to propose changes to state laws or the constitution, with limits on signatures from single counties or Baltimore City. The bill requires petitions to be reviewed by the Attorney General for summary accuracy and the Secretary of State for signature verification before being certified for a statewide vote. If approved by voters (50% for laws, 66.7% for constitutional changes), the proposal becomes law or constitutional amendment 30 days after the governor's proclamation.
HB 1402 requires Maryland medical examiners to release the body of a deceased Muslim within 48 hours after completing an autopsy, if they receive specific notice confirming the individual's Muslim faith. It directly affects Muslim families seeking timely burial and medical examiners handling post-mortem procedures. The bill specifies five ways medical examiners can receive this notice: a deceased person's will, a document under §5-509, next of kin notification, confirmation from an imam or mosque, or proof of pre-arranged Muslim funeral arrangements. The law aims to align body release timelines with Muslim funeral traditions, which typically require burial within 24 hours of death. The requirement takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 1454 allows campaign finance entities (like candidate committees) to use campaign funds for security expenses when a verified threat arises from a candidate's or official's role or associations. It requires campaigns to document threats, track security spending, and return purchased items or reimburse the campaign within one year after a threat ends. The bill sets a $10,000 lifetime spending limit per protected individual (including candidates, officials, family members, and staff) and prohibits using funds for firearms or security payments to certain family members. Campaigns must include threat details in financial reports, and security expenses must relate to documented threats verified by law enforcement.
