Education

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 508: Somerset County Board of Education - Alterations

SB 508 modifies Somerset County Board of Education rules by adding a nonvoting student member position elected by high school students, who serves a one-year term starting July 1. It increases annual compensation for adult board members from $3,000 to $6,000 (chair) and $2,700 to $5,000 (member), and provides a $5,000 scholarship for student members completing a full term. The bill also restricts student members from attending executive sessions unless invited by a majority vote of the board. These changes directly affect Somerset County's school board members, high school students (as voters for the student seat), and the county’s budget for board compensation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds $5,000 scholarship for student board members, enhancing student engagement and access to education governance without restricting funding or curriculum.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 478: Income Tax - Subtraction Modification for Classroom Supplies Purchased by Teachers - Alteration

HB 478 modifies Maryland's income tax by expanding the existing $250 deduction for unreimbursed classroom supply expenses to include prekindergarten teachers. Previously, only K-12 classroom teachers qualified; this bill explicitly adds prekindergarten teachers employed full-time in state programs. The deduction remains limited to $250 per year for supplies used by students or for teaching preparation, excluding expenses already deducted federally. This change affects prekindergarten teachers statewide who purchase classroom supplies without reimbursement, effective for taxable years starting after December 31, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands income tax deduction for teachers, providing tax relief to prekindergarten educators without increasing government spending.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands tax deduction for preK teachers' classroom supplies, supporting educator financial relief and expanding access to teacher expense benefits.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands tax deduction for prekindergarten teachers' classroom supplies, providing financial support for work-related expenses under employment benefits.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 142: Maryland Military Department - National Guard - Tuition Assistance

SB 142 expands tuition and training assistance for Maryland National Guard members. It broadens eligible institutions to include private vocational/trade schools with 50% tuition waivers and adds covered expenses like tools, uniforms, certification fees, and digital resources. Active Guard members (enlisted or commissioned) attending approved institutions can receive 100% coverage for tuition and qualifying training costs, provided they commit to 2-4 years of continued service after course completion. The bill applies to undergraduate, graduate, vocational, and trade courses, with specific provisions if a member's unit disbands.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands tuition assistance for National Guard members at vocational/trade schools, increasing educational access and funding for higher education through 100% coverage of tuition and training costs.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands tuition assistance for National Guard members (veterans) to include private vocational schools, tools, uniforms, and certification fees, strengthening educational benefits and service support.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 207: Higher Education - Guaranteed Access Grant Program - Applicability

SB 207 delays the shift from a centralized to a decentralized administration of Maryland's Guaranteed Access Grant Program until the 2029-2030 financial aid year. The bill maintains the current system where the State Treasurer's Office ranks applicants by financial need, provides these lists to public colleges, and reimburses institutions for grants awarded. It directly affects Maryland public colleges and students seeking need-based financial aid. The bill preserves existing processes for awarding and renewing grants without changing eligibility or funding levels. This is a procedural delay, not a substantive policy change to the grant program.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationPreserves existing need-based financial aid program for Maryland public colleges, maintaining current access to higher education funding without changes to support structures.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 262: Income Tax - Subtraction Modification for Classroom Supplies Purchased by Teachers - Alteration

SB 262 expands Maryland's income tax deduction for teachers by adding prekindergarten teachers to the list of eligible educators who can deduct up to $250 annually for unreimbursed classroom supply expenses. The bill amends tax code sections to include prekindergarten classroom teachers employed full-time in state programs as "eligible teachers," alongside existing K-12 teachers. This deduction applies only to supplies used by students or for teaching preparation, and excludes expenses already deducted federally. The change takes effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax deduction for teachers, providing tax relief to middle-income educators via $250 annual classroom supply deduction.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands tax deduction for teachers to include prekindergarten educators, providing financial relief for classroom supplies. Directly supports educators through tax benefit expansion.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands tax deduction for teachers' unreimbursed classroom supplies, enhancing financial support for educators as part of employment benefits.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 7: Higher Education - Douglas J. J. Peters Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship - Repeal of Termination Date

SB 7 repeals the expiration date for the Douglas J. J. Peters Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship, removing the June 30, 2030 cutoff that previously prevented new awards after that date. This change allows the scholarship to be awarded indefinitely to eligible veterans, active service members, or their dependents who meet Maryland residency and educational requirements. The bill also removes restrictions on renewing scholarships for recipients who received their initial award before 2030. The scholarship covers up to 50% of tuition, fees, and room/board at Maryland public universities, requiring a 2.5 GPA and 5 years of full-time study. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRepeals expiration date for veterans' higher education scholarship, enabling indefinite funding and expanding access to educational financial support for eligible veterans and dependents.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransRepeals termination date for veterans' scholarship, enabling indefinite awards to eligible veterans and dependents, expanding educational benefit access.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

passed both · Maryland · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 672: Prince George's County - Expanding Access to Early Childhood Education and Child Care

SB 672 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to create a plan by December 1, 2026, to expand access to high-quality early childhood education and childcare for children from birth through age 3 in Prince George's County. The plan must analyze costs for parents, the county, and state; workforce needs for providers; current capacity to serve more children; and potential new revenue sources. It mandates consultation with Prince George's County and relevant state agencies during development. The bill directly affects infants and toddlers in Prince George's County, their families, and local childcare providers. The plan must be submitted to the Governor, state legislature, and Prince George's County delegation by the deadline, with implementation beginning July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates plan to expand early childhood education access for children birth-3 in Prince George's County, directly advancing educational access as defined in the topic description.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill requires analysis of workforce needs for childcare providers, directly addressing labor market access and supporting employment opportunities in early childhood sector.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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

HB 222: County Boards of Education - Opioid Overdose-Reversing Medications - Policy Requirements (Naloxone Access Act)

HB 222 requires Maryland public schools and colleges to update policies and education programs to address opioid overdoses. It mandates schools to store naloxone, allow authorized staff and students to possess it, and provide liability protection for good-faith use during overdoses. The bill also adds naloxone's life-saving role to K-12 drug prevention curricula (starting in third grade) and requires annual parent notifications about school naloxone policies. Additionally, schools must report overdose incidents requiring naloxone use to the State Department. This affects all public K-12 schools and state-funded colleges.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates inclusion of naloxone education in K-12 curricula (starting 3rd grade) and updates school policies, enhancing health education programs within educational framework.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates naloxone access in schools for opioid overdose response, enhancing public health access and life-saving measures95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Maryland · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 212: Higher Education - Nonresident Tuition - Exemption for Spouses and Dependents of State or Local Public Safety Employees (Maryland Fallen Heroes Tuition Benefits Act)

SB 212, the Maryland Fallen Heroes Tuition Benefits Act, exempts financially dependent children of state or local public safety employees who died while performing their duties from paying higher out-of-state or out-of-county tuition rates at Maryland public colleges and universities. It directly affects the children of qualifying employees, including firefighters, police officers, correctional officers, and Maryland National Guard members who died in the line of duty. The bill amends Maryland education code to create this tuition exemption, defining "state or local public safety employee" and requiring the Commission to adopt implementing regulations. The exemption applies regardless of where the dependent child resides and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill exempts dependents of fallen public safety employees from higher tuition rates at MD public colleges, directly expanding access to higher education for a specific group. This aligns with educational access support indicators.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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