HB 740 requires every public school in Maryland to hire a full-time, state-licensed therapist who provides mental health services during school hours. This directly affects all public schools and their students, mandating access to licensed mental health support as part of school-based services. The bill specifies therapists must be certified by the State Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists and replaces existing language in the education code. It takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 818 requires Maryland public colleges to cover tuition, room, board, required books, course materials, supplies, and equipment for foster care recipients and homeless youth who qualify. It defines "foster care recipient" as individuals in out-of-home placements (with specific age or guardianship criteria) and "homeless youth" as those verified under federal McKinney-Vento guidelines. To qualify, students must enroll before age 25 for a vocational certificate, associate’s, or bachelor’s degree, file for federal/state financial aid, and cannot use scholarships/grants toward covered costs. The exemption lasts until the student earns their degree or 10 years after starting their program, whichever comes first.
SB 602 establishes the Algorithmic Addiction Fund in Maryland to use settlement funds from cases where social media algorithms harmed children. The fund, administered by the Maryland Department of Health, is financed by civil penalties from settlements related to social media harm and earns interest. It directly supports children by funding prevention programs (like school digital literacy campaigns), treatment services for mental health impacts (such as depression and anxiety), research, and evidence-based interventions. The fund is non-lapsing, meaning unused money rolls over annually, and all spending must align with the state budget.
SB 586 establishes Maryland's Community Eligibility Provision Expansion Program within the State Department of Education. The program provides state funding to eligible public schools participating in the federal child nutrition program, covering the difference between federal "paid" and "free" meal reimbursement rates (set annually by the USDA). This directly affects high-poverty schools (with 25%+ students qualifying for free meals) by supplementing federal funds without replacing them. The bill mandates $10 million annually starting in fiscal year 2028, requires schools to report on meal debt and participation reasons, and directs the Department to distribute funds based on poverty concentration and geographic diversity.
HB 976 changes how Maryland calculates state education funding for public schools by altering the definition of "full-time equivalent enrollment." It replaces the previous method with an average of enrollment on September 30 and May 31 of the prior school year, directly affecting all public schools receiving state aid based on this metric. The bill also requires the State Department of Education to publish annual reports online and submit detailed data to legislative committees, showing enrollment counts, student categories (including "whereabouts unknown"), and funding allocations by county. These changes aim to standardize enrollment data used for funding calculations starting in fiscal year 2028.
HB 803 increases the required classroom teaching time for certain Maryland public school teachers from 60% to 80% of their workweek. It applies specifically to teachers on career ladder levels 1-3 (entry-level and non-leadership tracks), requiring them to spend 80% of their time teaching rather than on other activities like professional development or student tutoring. The bill amends Maryland’s education code to set this new standard, effective July 1, 2026, while keeping existing allowances for non-teaching duties during the remaining 20% of work time. Teachers on level 4 (leadership/administrator tracks) are excluded from this requirement.
HB 1297 modifies Maryland's student loan debt relief tax credit by changing how unused credit amounts are recaptured. It requires taxpayers to repay only the unused portion of the credit (not the full amount) if they don't use it for student loan repayment within 3 years. The bill also authorizes the Maryland Higher Education Commission to grant extensions of this 3-year period for taxpayers unable to repay due to specific federal delays, such as litigation over the SAVE repayment plan, Department of Education understaffing, or waiting for public service loan forgiveness. This directly affects Maryland residents with qualifying student loan debt who claim the tax credit.
HB 1492 establishes the right to strike for specific public school and library employees in Maryland, including certificated and noncertificated staff like substitute teachers, nurses, and JROTC instructors in certain counties. The bill prohibits public school and library employers from taking disciplinary action against employees who participate in or support strikes. It repeals the Public Employee Relations Board’s authority to deny or revoke a union’s certification as an exclusive bargaining representative under certain circumstances. These changes apply to defined groups of employees under Maryland’s Education Article, ensuring their collective bargaining rights are protected from employer retaliation.
HB 296 revises Maryland’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) structure by repealing the CTE Skills Standards Advisory Committee and updating the CTE Committee’s composition and duties. The bill requires state agencies and workforce programs to use a state-approved list of occupations for career pathway planning, aligning CTE programs with job market needs. It modifies the CTE Committee to include seven members (adding an employer representative role) and directs it to coordinate statewide CTE systems, develop career pathway standards, and work with businesses. This affects Maryland public schools, postsecondary institutions, and workforce development programs that deliver CTE pathways to students. The changes aim to streamline CTE program alignment with industry credentials and workforce demands.
SB 410 adjusts Maryland's funding formula for public libraries by increasing per-resident allocations for both regional resource centers and the State Library Resource Center. It raises the regional funding rate from $9.59 per resident in 2025 to $9.79 in 2026 and $9.99 annually starting in 2027. For the State Library Resource Center, it increases funding from $1.97 per resident in 2024 to $2.07 for 2025-2027, then gradually rising to $2.64 per resident by 2032 and beyond. These changes directly affect all regional libraries receiving state funding and the statewide State Library Resource Center. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
