Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 575: Public Schools - Student Attendance - Excused or Discretionary Absences for Civic Engagement

HB 575 requires Maryland public schools to treat student absences as excused when students participate in specified civic activities during the General Assembly's regular session. It directly affects public school students by allowing absences for testifying at legislative hearings or engaging in activities like meeting with legislators, advocating for policies, or other department-approved civic work. The bill mandates that school systems adopt policies authorizing at least 15 hours or 2 school days per year for these activities, ensuring such absences do not count toward chronic absenteeism. This policy change takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enables student civic engagement during school hours, expanding educational access beyond traditional curriculum through approved civic activities.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 141: State Personnel - Collective Bargaining - Graduate Assistants

HB 141 grants collective bargaining rights to graduate assistants at Maryland's public universities (including the University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, and St. Mary’s College of Maryland). It directly affects graduate students working as teaching, research, or administrative assistants in these institutions by creating a separate bargaining unit for them. The bill amends state law to explicitly include graduate assistants in eligible bargaining units, allowing them to negotiate wages, work conditions, and benefits as a distinct group. This change takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies to all graduate assistants not previously excluded under the law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationGrants collective bargaining rights to graduate assistants (educators in higher ed), strengthening their employment conditions and aligning with support for educational staff.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentGrants collective bargaining rights to graduate assistants, explicitly strengthening workers' rights in employment settings per bill's summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 402: Residential Child Care Programs - Education of Children and Training of Child and Youth Care Practitioners

SB 402 requires licensed residential child care programs in Maryland to ensure children aged 5-16 receive appropriate education, including enrolling them in local schools (unless the program has an approved educational plan), transferring academic records promptly, meeting with teachers, and providing study time and homework assistance. It also establishes new certification standards for child and youth care practitioners, mandating approved training covering child development, special needs, and diverse learning styles, along with background checks and minimum age/education requirements. The bill directly affects residential care program operators and their staff, replacing existing licensing rules in Maryland's Education and Health Occupations codes. Key changes include standardized educational support for children in care and mandatory practitioner training to improve service quality.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates residential child care programs to ensure children receive appropriate education, including school enrollment, academic record transfers, and homework assistance, expanding educational access for vulnerable students.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 6: Public Institutions of Higher Education - Pregnant and Parenting Students - Plan and Reporting

HB 6 requires Maryland's public colleges and universities to collect and report data on students' parental status, including whether they are parents, guardians, or caregivers of children. Public institutions must adopt a plan by October 2026 that provides referrals to government assistance programs (like WIC, child care scholarships, and Medicaid), campus accommodations, and health services for pregnant and parenting students. The Maryland Higher Education Commission will collect this data annually starting in 2027 and submit reports to legislative committees. This bill directly affects all students enrolled at Maryland's public higher education institutions (including University System schools, Morgan State, and St. Mary’s College) who are pregnant or parenting.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates data collection and support plans for pregnant/parenting students, including referrals to childcare, health services, and campus accommodations to enhance educational access and retention at public colleges.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates referrals to Medicaid and health services for pregnant/student parents, improving access to healthcare programs and aligning with support indicators.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 263: Education - Dependent Children of Active Service Members - Advance Enrollment Procedures

SB 263 allows dependent children of active-duty military members to enroll in Maryland public schools remotely before relocating, using official military orders as proof of eligibility. It requires counties to create a free, no-physical-attendance remote registration process and to note if a child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan from their previous school. The bill ensures children with disabilities receive appropriate education without delay and permits continued enrollment through the school year even if residency changes. Military families can use temporary housing addresses (like base housing) as proof of residence. The Secretary of Veterans and Military Families must publish clear enrollment information on these procedures.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables remote enrollment for military dependents, ensures IEP/504 continuity, preventing educational delays for vulnerable students.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 339: Maryland School for the Deaf - Membership of Board of Trustees - Alterations

SB 339 changes the composition of the Maryland School for the Deaf's Board of Trustees. It reduces the total number of trustees from 19 to 13 and increases the required number of deaf trustees from 6 to 7. The bill also adds a requirement that each geographic region of Maryland must be represented by at least one board member. These changes, effective July 1, 2026, aim to better reflect the deaf community and geographic diversity in the school's governance.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationChanges governance to better reflect deaf community and geographic diversity, enhancing educational access representation for the school.70% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 311: Education - The Blueprint for Maryland's Future - Revisions

SB 311 revises Maryland's Blueprint for Maryland's Future education plan by making several targeted adjustments to existing provisions. It repeals the annual requirement for county school boards to submit technology spending reports, extends the timeframe for calculating compensatory education enrollment (through 2027), and removes a termination date for Concentration of Poverty Grant funds. The bill also updates teacher certification qualifications, extends deadlines for National Board Certification for principals, and revises definitions for wraparound services in community schools and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. These changes primarily affect school districts, teachers, and state education agencies administering the Blueprint's funding and program requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends Concentration of Poverty Grant funding indefinitely, updates teacher certification, and removes redundant reporting requirements, strengthening ongoing educational support and access.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 292: County Boards of Education - Student Transportation - Sunset Repeal and Study

SB 292 repeals the sunset provisions (automatic expiration dates) for two 2021 laws that allow county boards of education to provide student transportation using non-standard vehicles under specific circumstances. It specifically removes the June 30, 2026, termination dates from Sections 3 of Chapter 197 and Chapter 198 of the 2021 Acts. This change makes the existing student transportation rules permanent, ensuring county boards can continue using non-standard vehicles for certain student transport without needing new legislation. The bill directly affects county school districts and their transportation policies.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRepeals sunset provisions to maintain county boards' ability to use non-standard vehicles for student transportation, ensuring continued educational access and operational stability for K-12 schools.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRepeals sunset on student transportation rules for non-standard vehicles, ensuring continuity of current policy under vehicle regulations90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 410: Public Libraries - State Library Resource Center - Funding

SB 410 adjusts Maryland's funding formula for public libraries by increasing per-resident allocations for both regional resource centers and the State Library Resource Center. It raises the regional funding rate from $9.59 per resident in 2025 to $9.79 in 2026 and $9.99 annually starting in 2027. For the State Library Resource Center, it increases funding from $1.97 per resident in 2024 to $2.07 for 2025-2027, then gradually rising to $2.64 per resident by 2032 and beyond. These changes directly affect all regional libraries receiving state funding and the statewide State Library Resource Center. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases state funding for public libraries via higher per-resident allocations, directly advancing public service funding under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases library funding, enhancing educational access and resources for K-12 communities through expanded library services and infrastructure.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 623: Education - Purple Star Schools Program and Purple Star Colleges Program

HB 623 creates Maryland's Purple Star Colleges Program to recognize colleges providing strong support for military-connected students, while updating the existing Purple Star Schools Program. The bill directly affects military-connected students (including service members, veterans, and their spouses/dependents) and colleges, including both public/private higher education institutions and private career schools. Key provisions require colleges to appoint a military liaison to assist new military-connected students with transitions, and maintain an easily accessible website with resources on relocation, enrollment, academic planning, and support services. The Maryland Higher Education Commission will administer the program and establish minimum criteria for colleges to earn Purple Star designation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates Purple Star Colleges Program to support military-connected students in higher education, expanding access and institutional support for this group.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransRecognizes colleges supporting military-connected students (including veterans) via military liaisons, strengthening educational support services for veterans and their families.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education