Education

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 479: Southern Maryland Early College Teacher Pathway Program Workgroup - Establishment

HB 479 establishes the Southern Maryland Early College Teacher Pathway Program to create a structured, tuition-free pathway for high school students in Southern Maryland - especially those from underrepresented groups and rural areas - to begin teacher preparation while earning college credits. The State Department of Education, in collaboration with the Maryland Higher Education Commission, will administer the program, ensuring participants are treated as dually enrolled students with no tuition or fees required. The University System of Maryland must develop the program and teacher preparation pathway, with a workgroup (including appointed members from the Governor, Senate, and House) overseeing its design. This program aims to address local teacher shortages and build a diverse educator pipeline, aligning with statewide education goals.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates tuition-free teacher pathway for underrepresented students, expanding access to education careers and supporting teacher workforce development.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 700: Higher Education - Public Senior Higher Education Institutions - Direct Admission Program and Study

HB 700 establishes a direct admission program for high school students meeting Maryland's college and career readiness standard (CCR standard) at participating public universities starting in the 2027-2028 academic year. Eligible students - those who meet the CCR standard, complete required courses, and apply during 12th grade - would receive conditional admission without traditional application processes. The Maryland Higher Education Commission would administer the program using its financial aid system and the Common Application, while universities must waive application fees for participants. Participation is voluntary for institutions, which may set additional criteria but must report them annually and verify student eligibility.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes direct admission for CCR-qualified students, expanding higher education access without traditional applications at public universities.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Maryland · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 407: Criminal Law - Sexual Offense by a Person in a Position of Authority

SB 407 strengthens protections for minors by prohibiting individuals in positions of authority (such as teachers, coaches, or school staff) from engaging in sexual contact with minors they supervise who are at least 6 years younger. It specifically amends Maryland's criminal code to increase penalties for violations, including up to 3 years in prison for repeat offenders, and adds this offense as a basis for sex offender registry classification. The bill also refines definitions of "person in a position of authority" to include school staff and program leaders, and clarifies that these offenses cannot be treated as lesser included crimes. This directly affects school employees, youth program leaders, and minors under 18 in their care.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeStrengthens minor protections via harsher penalties and registry inclusion for authority figure offenses95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens student safety by prohibiting school staff from sexual contact with minors, directly advancing educational safety standards through criminal protections.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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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 Yes ✓ Supports Education

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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 Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 26, 2026

HB 1059: State Department of Education - Asian American History - Accurate Instruction

HB 1059 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to evaluate specific Asian American history training programs from seven approved organizations (including the Smithsonian and Asian American Education Project) for inclusion in its teacher professional development program. It creates a grant program providing up to $2,000 per teacher to cover costs for these trainings and up to $1,000 annually per school library to purchase age-appropriate books and resources on Asian American and Pacific Islander history. The bill mandates annual state funding of $500,000 starting in fiscal year 2028 to support these grants. The bill directly affects Maryland public school educators and school libraries by expanding access to culturally specific professional development and learning materials.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates grant program allocating state funds for teacher training and library resources, directly funding educational programs within budget framework.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates grants for teacher training and library resources on Asian American history, directly enhancing curriculum content and educator support in K-12 education.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 26, 2026

HB 1463: Anne Arundel County Board of Education - Constituent Services Liaison - Establishment

HB 1463 requires Anne Arundel County to hire a constituent services liaison for its school board by the start of the 2026-2027 school year. The position must have special education experience and will connect community members to school services, help access education resources, and partner with local organizations to support school goals. The county board president negotiates the liaison’s employment terms, salary (set by the board), and removal process. This directly affects Anne Arundel County Public Schools’ operations and community engagement efforts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates liaison to improve community access to education resources and services, directly enhancing educational access as defined in the topic description.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 26, 2026

HB 1438: State Board of Education - Public High School Graduation Requirements

HB 1438 requires Maryland's State Board of Education to review and update public high school graduation requirements at least every five years. After approval, the Board must implement changes for students entering high school in the school year following the review. This bill directly affects all public high school students in Maryland by establishing a regular cycle for updating graduation standards. The law amends Section 7-205.1(b) of the Maryland Annotated Code and takes effect July 1, 2026. It does not change current requirements but mandates periodic review and implementation for future student cohorts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates regular review/update of graduation requirements to maintain relevant standards, strengthening educational framework consistency and adaptability per curriculum focus.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SB 84: State Personnel - Collective Bargaining - Graduate Assistants

SB 84 would grant graduate assistants at Maryland's public universities (including the University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, and St. Mary’s College of Maryland) the right to form a separate collective bargaining unit. The bill amends state law to explicitly include "all eligible graduate assistants" as a distinct bargaining group, meaning they would negotiate contracts separately from other university employees like faculty or staff. This change takes effect on July 1, 2026, and directly affects graduate students working as teaching, research, or administrative assistants in these institutions. The policy creates a formal structure for graduate assistants to collectively address employment terms like pay, benefits, and working conditions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationGrants graduate assistants collective bargaining rights at public universities, strengthening educator support within higher education.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentGrants graduate assistants collective bargaining rights, directly advancing workers' rights under labor policy.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 26, 2026

HB 531: State Department of Education - Public Schools STEM and Robotics Program - Study

HB 531 establishes a task force to study existing STEM and robotics programs in Maryland public schools and other states. The task force, composed of state officials, school representatives, and nonprofit leaders, will collect data on program structures, funding, and impacts to assess the feasibility of creating statewide competitive robotics programs in public high schools. It must submit recommendations by December 15, 2026, including whether robotics should be established as a varsity sport in all public high schools. The bill directly affects Maryland public schools by initiating a formal review process for potential program expansion.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes task force to study and recommend statewide STEM/robotics programs, supporting expansion of student opportunities in K-12 education through program assessment and potential implementation.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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