Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 396: Residential Child Care Programs - Education of Children and Training of Child and Youth Care Practitioners

HB 396 requires operators of licensed residential child care programs (like group homes and emergency shelters) to ensure children aged 5-16 in their care receive proper education. It mandates enrolling children in local schools (or approved in-house programs), transferring academic records, meeting with teachers, and providing study time, homework help, and support for extracurricular activities or individualized education plans. The bill also sets new training standards for child care practitioners, requiring background checks, education credentials, and approved training on child development and their role. These changes directly affect residential programs receiving state funding and their staff in Maryland.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates educational access and support for children in residential care, requiring school enrollment, academic records transfer, and homework help per IEPs.95% confidence

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 403: Sales and Use Tax - Elementary or Secondary School Book Fairs - Exemption

SB 403 exempts sales tax on in-person book fairs held at Maryland elementary and secondary schools. It applies to sales by schools, parent-teacher organizations (PTOs), or other nonprofit groups operating these events on school premises. The exemption covers sales where students, staff, or PTO members act as agents for vendors, with all net proceeds used solely for the school's educational benefit. This bill adds a new tax exemption provision (Section 11-204(b)(9)) to Maryland’s tax code, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts sales tax on school book fairs, providing tax relief for educational programs and increasing net proceeds for schools per tax code amendment.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExempts sales tax on school book fairs, increasing net proceeds for educational programs without direct state funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Tax Incentives K-12 Education Teachers

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 6: State Personnel - Collective Bargaining - Nontenure Track Faculty

SB 6 would extend collective bargaining rights to nontenure track faculty at Maryland's public universities, including the University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, and St. Mary’s College of Maryland. The bill creates a separate bargaining unit for these faculty members - defined as full-time, part-time, or adjunct employees with academic responsibilities like teaching or research - removing them from the previous exclusion under "faculty" in collective bargaining rules. It amends state law to require each institution to establish this distinct unit alongside other employee groups, ensuring nontenure track faculty can negotiate wages, hours, and working conditions. The law would take effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends collective bargaining rights to nontenure faculty at public universities, strengthening educator support and workplace rights in higher education.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly extends collective bargaining rights to nontenure track faculty, removing prior exclusion and creating a separate bargaining unit, directly strengthening workers' collective bargaining protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Collective Bargaining

died · Maryland · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 235: Baltimore County - Property Tax Credits - Public Safety Officers and Public School System Employees

SB 235 requires Baltimore County's governing body to establish property tax credits for homes owned by public safety officers and Baltimore County public school employees. The bill mandates that the county create specific rules for the credit amount, duration, eligibility, and application process through local law. It directly affects these two groups of public employees by potentially reducing their county property tax burden. The law takes effect June 1, 2026, applying to taxable years beginning after June 30, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides property tax credits for public safety officers and school employees, reducing their tax burden - direct tax relief for public sector workers.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides property tax credits to public school employees, directly supporting educators' financial stability and retention.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides property tax credits to public safety officers and school employees, reducing living costs as a financial benefit tied to employment.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Tags Public Safety

Track

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 243: Uniformed Services Spouses Act

SB 243 expands existing Maryland benefits for military service members to include their spouses. It provides spouses of active-duty service members and veterans with priority enrollment at public colleges, access to community college resources (including dedicated advisors and veteran resource centers), and eligibility for senatorial and delegate scholarships. The bill also extends hiring preferences for spouses in state government roles through the Public Service Commission. These benefits apply within 15 years of the service member’s last active duty and end after the spouse’s fourth academic year. The law amends specific sections of Maryland’s education, labor, and state personnel codes to include "spouse of an eligible service member" as a qualifying status.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides priority enrollment, scholarships, and resources for military spouses at public colleges, directly expanding higher education access and support.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends hiring preferences for military spouses in state government roles, enhancing employment opportunities and benefits for a specific workforce group.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands benefits to spouses of veterans (priority college enrollment, resources, scholarships, state hiring) strengthening veteran support system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Military Families Veteran Education

in committee · Maryland · Senate Jan 16, 2026

SB 103: Public Middle, High, and Charter Schools - Start Time for Instruction

SB 103 requires Maryland public middle schools to begin instruction no earlier than 8:00 a.m. and high schools no earlier than 8:30 a.m., starting in the 2028-2029 school year. It directly affects all public middle, high, and charter schools in Maryland, with limited waivers allowed only for emergencies like natural disasters. The bill also mandates that county school boards and charter schools implement a public awareness campaign starting in 2027-2028 to educate communities about sleep deprivation impacts and the benefits of later start times. These provisions aim to align school schedules with adolescent sleep health needs through concrete policy changes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationLater start times aim to improve student sleep and academic performance, aligning with educational effectiveness and student well-being policies.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareLater school start times address adolescent sleep deprivation, a public health concern linked to mental health and well-being, aligning with healthcare support indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

Track

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 81: Criminal Law - School Resource Officers - Prohibition on Sexual Activity with Students

SB 81 prohibits law enforcement officers assigned as school resource officers (SROs) from engaging in sexual contact, vaginal intercourse, or sexual acts with students enrolled at their assigned school. It amends Maryland's criminal law (Section 3-314(e)(iv)) to explicitly include SROs in the ban, defining "school resource officer" under the Education Article (Section 7-1501(j)). Violations are misdemeanors punishable by up to 3 years in jail or a $3,000 fine. The law directly affects SROs in Maryland public schools, targeting conduct specific to their role as law enforcement officers within educational settings. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits SRO misconduct, enhancing police accountability and protecting students - directly strengthens oversight of law enforcement conduct within schools.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits SROs from sexual misconduct with students, enhancing school safety and student protection within K-12 education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement School Safety

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

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 4, 2026

HB 541: Public Schools - Restocking Menstrual Hygiene Products - Requirement

HB 541 requires all Maryland public schools to provide free menstrual hygiene products (tampons or sanitary napkins) in women’s restrooms at no cost to students. Each county board of education must install dispensers in at least two women’s restrooms at middle/high schools by October 2022 (and all by August 2025) and in at least one restroom at elementary schools by October 2022. Schools must regularly restock these dispensers to ensure availability, with the state reimbursing counties for installation and product costs through a $500,000 fiscal year 2023 appropriation. The law applies directly to public school students and county education boards, taking effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesState reimburses counties for menstrual product costs, increasing public service funding via state budget appropriation.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires free menstrual products in school restrooms, enhancing student access to basic needs and well-being in educational settings.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates free menstrual products in schools, improving access to essential health services for students, aligning with public health initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Student Health

Track

in committee · Maryland · Senate Jan 22, 2026

SB 289: Concentration of Poverty School Grant Program - Personnel and Per Pupil Grants - Eligible Uses

SB 289 removes a fiscal year 2027 deadline that previously limited how long Maryland schools could use personnel and per-pupil grants for fine arts instructional programs under the Concentration of Poverty School Grant Program. The program provides funding to schools with high concentrations of low-income students to cover staff costs and per-pupil resources. This bill repeals the time restriction, allowing eligible schools to continue using these grants for fine arts education beyond 2027 without a set expiration. The change takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends funding continuity for fine arts programs in low-income schools by removing fiscal deadline, maintaining budget allocation for essential education services without new taxes or cuts.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRepeals 2027 deadline for fine arts grants in high-poverty schools, extending funding access to support educational programs beyond current limit.95% confidence

Track