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

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 526: Public Schools - Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day and Maryland School Pedestrian Awareness Day - Establishment

SB 526 designates November 14 each year as "Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day" to commemorate Ruby Bridges' 1960 integration of an all-white New Orleans school, and the second Wednesday in October as "Maryland School Pedestrian Awareness Day" to promote safe walking routes to schools. The bill requires the Maryland State Department of Education to provide public resources to local schools, including age-appropriate lesson plans, discussion guides, and safety materials. For Ruby Bridges Day, resources must cover civil rights and social justice education; for Pedestrian Awareness Day, they must include safety best practices and audit templates. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and affects all Maryland public schools through mandated resource access.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates educational resources (lesson plans, safety materials) for curriculum integration and school safety, enhancing student learning and access to historical education.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationPromotes pedestrian safety via designated awareness day and resources for safe school walking routes, aligning with transportation safety initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Pedestrian Safety

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 1011: Workgroup on Supporting Transgender and Gender Diverse Students - Established

HB 1011 establishes a workgroup to study support for transgender and gender diverse students in Maryland public schools. The workgroup includes 12 appointed members representing legislators (rural and urban), education leaders, student and parent advocates, and state officials. It will study ways to support these students and make recommendations on statewide policies by December 1, 2026, after which the workgroup expires. The bill creates a process for gathering input but does not implement new policies itself.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes workgroup to study support for transgender students in K-12 schools, aiming to improve inclusive policies and educational access through recommendations.85% confidence

Track

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 1321: Child Care Scholarship Program - Application Process and Copays - Alterations

HB 1321 modifies Maryland's Child Care Scholarship Program to protect certain low-income families from enrollment freezes. It prohibits enrollment freezes from applying to families receiving Temporary Cash Assistance, TANF, children on Social Security Income, or homeless children - ensuring these groups maintain access. If a freeze occurs, the State Department of Education must create a waitlist prioritizing these protected individuals. The bill also limits copay increases for specific participants and requires the Department to identify applicants eligible for free prekindergarten.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill prevents enrollment freezes for vulnerable families, ensuring continued state funding for child care scholarships (no defunding or cuts to essential program).85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProtects low-income families' access to child care scholarships, ensuring educational stability for vulnerable students by preventing enrollment freezes for TANF, homeless, and SSI recipients.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Student Financial Aid

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 9, 2026

HB 1275: Public Schools - Interscholastic Athletics - Academic Eligibility

HB 1275 requires Maryland public school districts to establish an appeal process for students deemed academically ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletics. The bill mandates schools provide written notice of the ineligibility decision and appeal steps, including a hearing, and creates a 10-day provisional eligibility period during which students may continue participating in sports. If a school upholds the ineligibility after the appeal, the student becomes ineligible the next school day. This directly affects public high school students in Maryland who face academic eligibility decisions for sports participation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires fair appeal process for student athletes, ensuring academic eligibility decisions are transparent and allowing provisional participation during appeals, protecting educational access within athletics.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

Track

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 805: Income Tax - Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit - Alterations

SB 805 modifies Maryland's Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit program. It changes the recapture rule so individuals only repay the *unused portion* of the credit (not the full amount) if they don't use it for student loan payments within 3 years. The bill also authorizes the Maryland Higher Education Commission to extend the repayment deadline for eligible individuals facing specific delays, such as litigation over federal student loan plans or government processing issues. This directly affects Maryland residents who claimed the credit for undergraduate or graduate student loan debt and must now use it within a flexible timeframe. The bill does not alter credit limits ($9 million for 2025, $18 million annually after) or priority rules for state employees.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesModifies tax credit recapture to reduce repayment burden, expanding access to student loan debt relief and strengthening tax relief for eligible residents.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationModifies tax credit to reduce repayment burden for student loan relief, enhancing higher education access and affordability for eligible individuals.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Higher Education Student Financial Aid

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 834: Family Law - Child Neglect Definition - Alteration

HB 834 amends Maryland's definition of child neglect to explicitly include a parent or caregiver's failure to provide a child with education required by law. This change directly affects parents or guardians responsible for a child's schooling, making educational neglect a specific form of neglect under state law. The bill alters Section 5-701(s)(2) of Maryland's Family Law code to state that "neglect" includes "the failure or refusal to provide to a child the education required by law." The updated definition takes effect October 1, 2026, and applies to all children under 18. This is a technical legal change to the existing neglect definition, not a new program or funding measure.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAmends neglect definition to include failure to provide mandated education, reinforcing legal accountability for educational compliance and protecting educational requirements.92% confidence

Track

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 882: Income Tax - Credit for Student Loan Debt of Educators Working in Public Schools

SB 882 creates a state income tax credit for educators working full-time in Maryland public primary or secondary schools who have outstanding student loan debt. Eligible individuals must participate in the state's Career Ladder teaching program and certify they will use the credit for student loan repayment. The credit is claimed annually through the Maryland Higher Education Commission, with a $5 million annual cap, and paid out over five years (one-fifth each year). Recipients must verify continued employment in public schools and use the credit for loan repayment within three years, or repay the amount to the state if they fail to comply.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates income tax credit for public school educators, providing targeted tax relief for middle-income educators in essential public services, aligning with fiscal support for workforce retention.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tax credit to reduce educators' student loan debt, directly supporting teachers financially and retaining staff in public schools per bill's intent.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides tax credit for educator student debt, reducing financial barriers for public school workers and supporting workforce retention in education.65% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Student Financial Aid Teachers

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 1277: Education - Maryland Institute for Literacy and Equity - Establishment

HB 1277 establishes the Maryland Institute for Literacy and Equity as a partnership between the University of Maryland, College Park, and Morgan State University. The bill requires the Governor to fund the Institute with $3 million in fiscal year 2028 (split between the two universities), increasing to $6 million annually starting in 2031. The Institute must conduct research, provide training for educators and literacy professionals, and offer technical assistance to school districts to improve reading instruction and outcomes - particularly for students in underserved communities. This directly affects Maryland students, school districts, and literacy professionals by creating a state-funded resource to address declining reading scores and equity gaps.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $3M (FY2028) increasing to $6M annually (2031) for a new state education institute, directly funding a public service program under state budget appropriations.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $3M-$6M annually for literacy research, educator training, and school district technical assistance, directly advancing educational access and teacher support in K-12.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Libraries

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 1043: Homeschool Students in Maryland - Right to Play

HB 1043 allows homeschool students in Maryland to participate in public high school athletic programs under specific conditions. It permits eligible homeschool students - those meeting COMAR home instruction requirements and not in deficiency correction - to join sports at the school they'd attend if enrolled publicly or a geographically nearby school, subject to space availability and priority for enrolled students. The bill requires public schools to extend their liability insurance coverage to homeschool participants and mandates they follow the same health, safety, and insurance rules as enrolled students, while homeschoolers cover their own transportation. It does not apply to students who withdrew from public school due to disciplinary action. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access for homeschool students by enabling participation in public school athletics, aligning with K-12 access policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

Track