Education

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 218: State Superintendent of Schools - Prolonged State of Emergency - Authority to Declare

SB 218 authorizes Maryland's State Superintendent of Schools to declare a "prolonged state of emergency" when in-person school attendance is disrupted for at least 14 consecutive days. It requires county school boards to create detailed virtual education plans - including staffing, instruction, technology, and return-to-school strategies - before any emergency occurs. These plans must be updated every two years and approved by the State Board of Education. The bill directly affects public school districts, students, and school staff by establishing a standardized process for transitioning to virtual learning during extended disruptions, while clarifying that public health emergency responsibilities remain with the Secretary of Health.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires virtual education plans for continuity during disruptions, protecting student access to education during emergencies.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 288: State Superintendent of Schools - Prolonged State of Emergency - Authority to Declare

HB 288 authorizes Maryland's State Superintendent of Schools to declare a prolonged state of emergency when school closures prevent in-person attendance for 14+ consecutive days. It requires county school boards to create detailed virtual education plans before emergencies occur, covering instruction, staffing, technology, student support, and return-to-school protocols. These plans must be updated every two years and approved by the State Board. The bill aims to ensure a structured transition to remote learning during extended school disruptions, taking effect July 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires virtual education plans during school closures to ensure instructional continuity and student access, strengthening educational resilience during emergencies.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates inclusion of technology in virtual education plans for school closures, ensuring infrastructure readiness85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 420: Public Institutions of Higher Education - Pregnant and Parenting Students - Plan and Reporting

SB 420 requires all public institutions of higher education in Maryland (excluding specific exceptions like University of Maryland Global Campus) to collect demographic data on students' parental status, including whether they are parents, legal guardians, or have caregiving responsibilities. It mandates these institutions to adopt a formal support plan for pregnant and parenting students, including referrals to government assistance programs like WIC, child care scholarships, Medicaid, and parenting resources. The Maryland Higher Education Commission must collect this data annually, compile it into reports, and submit summaries to legislative committees starting September 1, 2027. This bill directly affects pregnant and parenting students by requiring colleges to provide structured support services and track demographic needs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates support plans for pregnant parenting students at public colleges, including referrals to childcare and assistance programs, enhancing educational access and support for this demographic.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRefers students to Medicaid/WIC, directly improving healthcare access for pregnant/parenting students through institutional support plans.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 810: Immigration Enforcement - Expanding Sensitive Locations, Notification, and Guidance (Maryland Values Act of 2026)

SB 810 prohibits public school security personnel (including school resource officers, security employees, and certain off-duty officers providing school coverage) from engaging in federal immigration enforcement or sharing student/employee information for immigration purposes. The bill specifically bans using school staff for Section 287(g) federal immigration investigations and restricts sharing educational or personnel records related to immigration enforcement, except when presented with a valid judicial warrant, subpoena, or legal order. School security personnel must immediately contact the county superintendent and legal counsel if shown such legal documents. This law directly affects all Maryland public schools and their security staff, taking effect July 1, 2026, and aligns with existing privacy laws.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts school security (law enforcement) from immigration enforcement, protecting student civil rights and preventing law enforcement overreach in schools. Aligns with criminal justice reform by limiting misuse of security personnel.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits school staff from aiding immigration enforcement, protecting student privacy and safety in educational settings per bill's explicit language.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits school staff from aiding federal immigration enforcement and restricts sharing student data for immigration purposes, limiting state cooperation with federal immigration efforts.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1311: Higher Education – Student Financial Assistance for Incarcerated Individuals – Alterations

HB 1311 requires Maryland's Department of Public Safety to help incarcerated individuals access federal Pell Grants and state student financial aid. It mandates that correctional facilities assist eligible incarcerated people in applying for these funds and explicitly states that financial aid established under Maryland law must be available to those meeting eligibility criteria. The bill affects incarcerated individuals in state correctional facilities, directing the Department to collaborate with the Maryland Higher Education Commission and specific higher education institutions to facilitate access. This change takes effect July 1, 2026, without creating new funding but altering access procedures.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables incarcerated individuals to access education funding, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism - key criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly expands educational access by requiring correctional facilities to assist incarcerated individuals in accessing financial aid for higher education, removing barriers to post-secondary opportunities.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

Track

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1254: 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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates 20% cost savings justification for outsourcing, promoting fiscal responsibility in school budget management per bill requirements.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates paid professional development for paraeducators and requires cost justification for outsourcing to protect staff, strengthening educator support and school operations.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires cost justification and staff assistance for outsourcing, mandates professional development for support staff, protecting workers from abrupt job loss and enhancing employment standards.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

Track

passed both · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1341: Immigration Enforcement - Expanding Sensitive Locations, Notification, and Guidance (Maryland Values Act of 2026)

HB 1341 prohibits public school security personnel - including school resource officers, security employees, and certain law enforcement officers - from engaging in federal immigration enforcement or sharing student/employee records for immigration purposes. The bill requires security staff to immediately contact school officials if presented with a valid judicial warrant, subpoena, or legal order for immigration-related information. It amends Maryland's Education Code to clarify that school security cannot be used for immigration investigations under federal §287(G) and must comply with state privacy laws. This directly affects school security staff and protects students, employees, and their families from immigration enforcement activities within public schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits school security from engaging in immigration enforcement, protecting immigrant students' access to schools and creating safer educational environments.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits school staff from engaging in federal immigration enforcement and sharing student records, limiting state cooperation with federal immigration efforts per Maryland Values Act.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill prohibits sharing student records for immigration without warrant, protecting data privacy per technology topic indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

Track

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 106: State Personnel - Collective Bargaining - Nontenure Track Faculty

HB 106 grants collective bargaining rights to nontenure track faculty at Maryland's public higher education institutions, specifically at the University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, and St. Mary’s College of Maryland. It creates a separate bargaining unit for these faculty members - including full-time, part-time, and adjunct employees with academic responsibilities like teachers and researchers - who were previously excluded from collective bargaining under state law. The bill amends existing statutes to explicitly include nontenure track faculty in bargaining units, allowing them to negotiate wages, hours, and working conditions through union representation. This change takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationGrants collective bargaining rights to nontenure track faculty at public higher education institutions, strengthening educator representation and working conditions.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentGrants collective bargaining rights to excluded nontenure faculty, directly advancing workers' rights in labor negotiations per bill's explicit purpose.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

Track

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 2, 2026

HB 627: Commission on Historic, Cultural, and Civic Contributions in Education - Establishment

HB 627 establishes the Commission on History, Culture, and Civics in Education to improve how Maryland public schools teach U.S. and Maryland history, culture, and civics. The commission, composed of 16 members representing diverse groups (including Indigenous tribes, LGBTQIA+ communities, disabled individuals, teachers, and racial/ethnic communities), must examine contributions of marginalized groups and make recommendations to the State Board of Education. Key provisions require the commission to examine topics like Native American contributions, LGBTQIA+ history, and disability community impacts, while ensuring recommendations promote equitable learning for all students. The commission must publicly share meeting materials, reports, and livestream sessions online, with members serving four-year terms without pay but receiving travel reimbursements. This bill directly affects Maryland public school curricula and student learning experiences through its recommendations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes commission to enhance history/civics curriculum with diverse perspectives, requiring inclusion of marginalized groups' contributions to improve educational content.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

Track

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 27, 2026

HB 649: Advancing Equal Educational Opportunities for All Students in Maryland

HB 649 establishes new protections against discrimination in Maryland's educational institutions by creating a dedicated enforcement mechanism under the Commission on Civil Rights. It prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, or marital status in schools and colleges. The bill requires Maryland's higher education agencies to refer discrimination complaints to the Commission and creates a private right of action, allowing individuals to directly pursue legal claims for violations. This shifts enforcement authority from the State Superintendent to the Commission while expanding the scope of protected categories in educational settings.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits discrimination in schools, establishes enforcement for equal educational opportunities, and protects students from bias in educational settings.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

Track