Education

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2026

HB 562: Primary and Secondary Education - Maintenance of Effort - Inflation Adjustment (Maintenance of Effort Modernization Act)

HB 562, the "Maintenance of Effort Modernization Act," updates Maryland's method for calculating annual inflation adjustments in local school funding. It replaces the current formula with a new standard that uses the lesser of three measures: the Consumer Price Index for the Washington Metropolitan Area, a government spending index, or 5%, with 0% if neither index rises. This change requires county governments and Baltimore City to adjust their annual local school funding appropriations based on this new inflation metric, starting July 1, 2026. The bill directly affects all Maryland counties and Baltimore City, which are responsible for maintaining local school funding levels.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill modernizes inflation adjustment for school funding to maintain real value, preventing erosion of local education budgets by requiring annual adjustments based on conservative inflation measures.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 27, 2026

HB 649: Advancing Equal Educational Opportunities for All Students in Maryland

HB 649 establishes new protections against discrimination in Maryland's educational institutions by creating a dedicated enforcement mechanism under the Commission on Civil Rights. It prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, or marital status in schools and colleges. The bill requires Maryland's higher education agencies to refer discrimination complaints to the Commission and creates a private right of action, allowing individuals to directly pursue legal claims for violations. This shifts enforcement authority from the State Superintendent to the Commission while expanding the scope of protected categories in educational settings.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits discrimination in schools, establishes enforcement for equal educational opportunities, and protects students from bias in educational settings.95% confidence

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 329: Education - Certification of Scholarship Granting Organizations (Opting in on Opportunity Act)

SB 329 (Opting in on Opportunity Act) requires Maryland’s State Department of Education to certify nonprofit organizations as scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) if they meet specific criteria, such as being organized under Maryland law and providing scholarships to eligible students. It mandates the Department to annually submit a list of certified SGOs to the U.S. Treasury starting in 2027 and directs the Comptroller to provide online guidance helping taxpayers claim federal tax credits for donations to these SGOs. The bill directly affects nonprofit scholarship organizations seeking certification and Maryland taxpayers who contribute to them. Key provisions include standardized certification rules, annual reporting requirements, and public reporting of scholarship data (e.g., numbers awarded, amounts, schools attended). It aims to align Maryland’s process with the federal tax credit program under Section 25F of the Internal Revenue Code.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesDirects Comptroller to provide tax credit guidance for scholarship donors, enabling federal tax relief per bill's mandate.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes certification for scholarship-granting organizations to provide student scholarships, directly expanding educational access through private funding mechanisms.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Tax Credits School Choice Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 11, 2026

HJ 3: Elementary and Secondary Education - Curriculum - Importance of Diversity

This House Joint Resolution (HJ 3) is a policy statement, not a binding law, acknowledging Maryland's commitment to inclusive education. It resolves that elementary and secondary school curricula should include the history of communities that have experienced discrimination (based on disability, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, indigenous affiliation, or sexual orientation) to ensure all students feel represented. The resolution directs education officials to adopt this inclusive approach but does not mandate specific curriculum changes or allocate funding. It primarily affects state education leaders, school boards, and curriculum developers by setting a policy direction for curriculum content.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates inclusive curriculum including histories of marginalized groups to ensure student representation, advancing educational equity and access per its resolution directive.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

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

HB 614: Education - School Building Energy Usage - Monthly Report

HB 614 requires every county board of education in Maryland to collect monthly data on energy usage in school buildings and submit it to the Interagency Commission on School Construction. The Commission must then create rules specifying exactly what data to collect and how often to report it. After gathering this data, the Commission must analyze it and provide specific recommendations to county boards for improving school energy efficiency. This bill directly affects county school districts and the state Commission, aiming to standardize energy reporting and drive efficiency improvements in public schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates energy efficiency data collection for school infrastructure, aligning with improving educational facility maintenance per topic description.75% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates data collection and analysis to improve school energy efficiency, directly advancing energy efficiency measures without promoting fossil fuels or restricting renewables.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates energy usage data collection and efficiency recommendations for school buildings, reducing consumption and emissions85% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 375: County Boards of Education - Artificial Intelligence Training Program - Requirement

SB 375 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to create an annual artificial intelligence training program for county board of education members. The program includes foundational training (covering AI risks, policy development, student privacy, and oversight) and yearly continuing training on new AI developments. County board members must complete foundational training within one year of taking office or by June 30, 2027, and annual training thereafter. The bill mandates submission of completion certificates to county boards and the state department, with public reporting of non-completers and biennial effectiveness reports to the legislature.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates AI training for school board members on policy, privacy, and oversight, strengthening educational leadership capacity to address emerging tech challenges in schools.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates AI training for education boards on student privacy and oversight, directly strengthening data privacy protections in educational AI implementation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Jan 29, 2026

SB 343: County Boards of Education - Post College and Career Readiness Pathways - Payment of Costs

SB 343 modifies Maryland law to clarify how county school boards fund post-college and career readiness (post-CCR) pathways for students meeting college and career readiness (CCR) standards. It requires counties to provide free access to specific pathways (like International Baccalaureate, dual enrollment, or career-technical programs) for all eligible students, but allows boards to establish income-based eligibility for the college-preparatory pathway (Section 7-205.1(g)(2)). Crucially, students from families earning below 400% of the federal poverty level must receive these pathways at no cost, regardless of income guidelines. The bill directly affects public high school students meeting CCR standards and ensures equitable access to pathways without cost barriers for low-income families.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates county funding for educational pathways, ensuring public service allocation without tax changes or defunding.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates free access to college/career pathways (IB, dual enrollment, career-technical) for eligible students, expanding educational opportunities and clarifying county funding requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education K-12 Education Student Health

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Jan 16, 2026

SB 71: Education - Interjurisdictional Safe Pathways Commission - Establishment

SB 71 establishes the Interjurisdictional Safe Pathways Commission to identify and improve safe routes for students traveling to and from school across Maryland. The commission, including state education, transportation, health, and disability officials plus local school representatives, students, parents, and transportation experts, will coordinate infrastructure (like sidewalks and crosswalks), secure funding from federal grants and private sources, and develop strategic plans. It must annually report progress to the governor and legislative committees by December 1, focusing on gaps in safety infrastructure and funding opportunities. The commission will operate for seven years, ending September 30, 2033.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes commission to improve school transportation infrastructure (sidewalks/crosswalks), secure funding, and enhance student safety/access - directly advancing K-12 educational access and safety.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationEstablishes commission to improve school route infrastructure (sidewalks/crosswalks) with transportation officials and secure funding, directly advancing transportation safety and infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Transportation Bicycle Infrastructure Pedestrian Safety

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passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SB 84: State Personnel - Collective Bargaining - Graduate Assistants

SB 84 would grant graduate assistants at Maryland's public universities (including the University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, and St. Mary’s College of Maryland) the right to form a separate collective bargaining unit. The bill amends state law to explicitly include "all eligible graduate assistants" as a distinct bargaining group, meaning they would negotiate contracts separately from other university employees like faculty or staff. This change takes effect on July 1, 2026, and directly affects graduate students working as teaching, research, or administrative assistants in these institutions. The policy creates a formal structure for graduate assistants to collectively address employment terms like pay, benefits, and working conditions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationGrants graduate assistants collective bargaining rights at public universities, strengthening educator support within higher education.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentGrants graduate assistants collective bargaining rights, directly advancing workers' rights under labor policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Collective Bargaining

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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

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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