Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 845: Higher Education - Student Financial Assistance - Alterations to Scholarship Programs

HB 845 amends Maryland's Community College Promise Scholarship program to include residents of Delmar, Maryland who graduated from Delmar High School in Delmar, Delaware. Currently, the scholarship requires applicants to have graduated from a Maryland high school or completed a Maryland GED, but this bill adds a new eligibility pathway for students meeting both conditions: graduation from Delmar High School (Delaware) and residency in Delmar, Maryland. The change would allow these students to qualify for the scholarship without needing to meet the standard Maryland graduation requirement. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands scholarship access to Delmar, MD residents who graduated from Delmar High School (DE), increasing higher education opportunities for targeted students.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 646: Public School System Contracts - Prohibited Provisions

This bill prohibits Maryland public school systems from including 10 specific contract terms in new agreements, such as clauses requiring schools to pay for others' liabilities without funding, mandating binding arbitration, or restricting the school's choice of legal counsel. If such terms are included, they are invalid from the start, and contracts must be enforced as if those terms never existed. The law applies only to contracts signed on or after July 1, 2026, leaving existing agreements unaffected. It ensures public school contracts comply with state law and protect school systems from unfair obligations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits contract terms that could drain school funding (e.g., requiring payment for others' liabilities without funding), protecting resource stability for public schools.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 852: Higher Education - Scholarships for Correctional Officers

HB 852 expands Maryland's existing scholarship program to include correctional officers. It amends the Maryland Police Officers and Probation Agents Scholarship Program (now titled "Maryland Police Officers, Probation Agents, AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS Scholarship Program") to allow current or future correctional officers to qualify. Eligible recipients must be Maryland residents or graduates of Maryland high schools, enrolled at an eligible institution (public university or community college), and agree to work as correctional officers for at least 5 years within 8 years of graduation. The bill does not create a new program but updates the eligibility criteria of an existing scholarship.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands scholarships for correctional officers, funding education to strengthen corrections workforce within criminal justice system90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands higher education scholarships to correctional officers, increasing access and funding for a specific group within the education system.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 748: Publicly Funded Prekindergarten - Early Childhood Educator Career Ladder for Private Providers - New Pathways

HB 748 repeals specific deadline requirements for private prekindergarten providers participating in Maryland's publicly funded prekindergarten program. The bill removes time limits (like "within 3 years of hire" or "by July 1, 2027") that educators needed to meet certain educational or credentialing qualifications to advance through the state's early childhood educator career ladder. Private providers who receive public funding for prekindergarten services are directly affected, as they will no longer face strict deadlines to ensure staff meet these qualifications. The career ladder structure itself - including its three levels (teaching assistant, lead teacher, consulting teacher) and core goals of improving pay, professional development, and retention - remains unchanged. This is a procedural adjustment to the existing framework, not a substantive policy shift.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRepeals deadlines for educator career advancement, removing barriers to professional development in publicly funded prekindergarten programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 809: Walter Sondheim Jr. Public Service Internship Scholarship Program - Funding

HB 809 establishes funding requirements for Maryland's Walter Sondheim Jr. Public Service Internship Scholarship Program. The bill mandates that starting in fiscal year 2028, the Governor must include in the annual budget an appropriation for the program equal to at least 150% of the fiscal year 2026 level, with specific requirements for University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) funding. The program provides scholarships ($2,000-$5,000) to Maryland college and graduate students pursuing public service internships, prioritizing residents with demonstrated interest in careers serving low-income or underserved communities through legal, social work, nursing, or other public/nonprofit sectors. It directly affects eligible students and administers through the Shriver Center, ensuring sustained funding for three specific internship tracks: Governor’s Summer Internship, Sondheim Nonprofit Leadership, and Sondheim Public Service Law Fellowships.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates 150% budget increase for public service scholarships, advancing program funding per fiscal requirements.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates 150% funding increase for student scholarships, advancing higher education access and financial support for college students.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 668: Children's Cabinet Fund - Renaming and Funding for Grants to Local Management Boards

SB 668 renames Maryland's "Children's Cabinet Fund" to the "Children's Cabinet Interagency Fund" and requires the Governor to annually appropriate specific funds for grants to local management boards. It mandates $3 million more for fiscal year 2028 than 2027 and $2 million more for fiscal year 2030 than 2029. Local management boards receiving funds must develop community partnership agreements coordinating with state and local child and family service plans, and use the money for evidence-based programs addressing youth development, prevention services, and out-of-home care needs. This bill directly affects local boards, children, and families by structuring state funding to support coordinated, community-driven services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates annual appropriations with specific increases ($3M FY2028 vs 2027, $2M FY2030 vs 2029) for child services grants, directly increasing state budget allocations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates increased annual funding ($3M more FY2028, $2M more FY2030) for grants to local boards coordinating with child/family service plans, directly supporting educational access and programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 720: Education - Artificial Intelligence - Guidelines, Professional Development, and Collaborative (Artificial Intelligence Ready Schools Act)

SB 720, the "Artificial Intelligence Ready Schools Act," requires Maryland’s State Department of Education to create and maintain online guidance for schools, educators, parents, and students on the safe, ethical, and equitable use of AI in K-12 education. It mandates county school boards to adopt AI policies within 120 days of guidance release, designate AI coordinators, and procure AI tools aligned with state standards. The bill also requires Morgan State University to annually certify AI tools and establishes statewide teacher training in AI literacy by July 2027, with compensation for educators participating. Local school systems must integrate AI into workforce preparation standards by June 2027, coordinated with the Maryland Center for Computing Education. The law directly affects all Maryland public schools, educators, students, and technology vendors supplying educational AI tools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates AI guidelines, professional development, and policy adoption for K-12 schools to advance ethical AI use, strengthening educational technology integration and access.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates safe, ethical AI guidelines in schools, promoting responsible adoption and digital equity through state standards and policy requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 238: School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact

SB 238 establishes Maryland's participation in the School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact, allowing licensed school psychologists to practice across member states without duplicative licensing. The bill creates a standardized pathway for psychologists to hold "equivalent licenses" in any participating state, directly affecting school psychologists seeking cross-state work and school districts needing qualified staff. Key provisions include requiring psychologists to follow each state's scope of practice laws, preserving state authority over licensing, and specifically facilitating mobility for military families. The compact also establishes a Commission to oversee implementation and address issues like disciplinary actions. This is a substantive policy change enabling easier interstate practice while maintaining state-level professional standards.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables cross-state practice for school psychologists, strengthening staff availability and mental health support in K-12 schools without duplicative licensing barriers.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables cross-state practice for school psychologists, improving mental health service access in schools by removing licensing barriers, aligning with support for mental health services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 285: Higher Education - Scholarships for Correctional Officers

SB 285 expands Maryland's existing scholarship program to include correctional officers. The bill amends state law to add "correctional officers" to the eligibility criteria for the Maryland Police Officers, Probation Agents, and Correctional Officers Scholarship Program, which previously covered only police officers and probation agents. It defines "correctional officer" per Maryland law and allows current or future correctional officers to apply for tuition assistance if they meet residency, enrollment, and service obligation requirements. The scholarship requires recipients to work in the field for at least five years within eight years of graduation or repay funds. This change directly affects correctional officers seeking higher education in Maryland.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands tuition assistance for correctional officers, directly supporting corrections workforce development within criminal justice system.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands higher education scholarships to correctional officers, increasing funding access for a new group under existing program.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 101: Higher Education - Loan Repayment and Scholarships for Correctional Officers

SB 101 adds correctional officers to Maryland's existing loan repayment and scholarship programs for public safety workers. It expands the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program (Subtitle 37) to allow correctional officers who work in state facilities for at least two years to get help repaying higher education loans. It also creates a new scholarship program (Subtitle 38) for students or current correctional officers pursuing relevant degrees, requiring a five-year service commitment after graduation. The bill directly affects correctional officers statewide by providing financial support for education and career advancement. The changes take effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands loan repayment/scholarships for correctional officers, directly supporting workforce development in corrections, a core criminal justice component.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates scholarship program and expands loan repayment for correctional officers pursuing higher education, directly funding educational access and supporting students through financial aid.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands loan repayment/scholarships for correctional officers, providing direct financial support tied to employment in public safety, advancing worker benefits and retention.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education