Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 856: Local School Systems - Educator Screening - Educator Identification Clearinghouse (School Personnel Vetting and Hiring Transparency Act)

HB 856 requires Maryland's local school systems to use a national Educator Identification Clearinghouse to screen job candidates for licensed educator positions starting October 1, 2026. The State Department of Education must register all school systems as members of the clearinghouse and pay associated membership fees. School systems must ensure candidates apply for and obtain the required teaching license before starting work and before interacting with students. This bill directly affects all Maryland public school systems and individuals seeking licensed teaching roles.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates national screening and licensing for educators to ensure qualified staff, enhancing safety and professionalism in schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 1310: Public High Schools - Student Transcripts - Traumatic Loss Notation

HB 1310 allows high school students in Maryland who experience the death of a parent due to reproductive cancer (breast, cervical, or uterine cancer) to request a standardized notation on their official transcript. This notation, which must use privacy-protective language like "Documented Compelling Personal Circumstance" or "Exceptional Hardship Acknowledgement," explains potential impacts on academic performance, achievement, or attendance. Schools must add the notation upon receiving a written request with proof of the parent’s death (via death certificate or healthcare provider letter), and counselors must inform eligible students and surviving parents about this option. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not require schools to disclose the specific nature of the loss.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows students to document trauma-related academic impacts on transcripts, supporting student well-being and educational access without penalizing performance.92% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

Track

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 742: Growing Family Child Care Opportunities Program - Funding

HB 742 requires the Governor to include $450,000 annually in Maryland's budget for the Growing Family Child Care Opportunities Program during fiscal years 2023, 2024, 2026, and 2028-2030. This funding supports grants to help local counties and child care resource centers establish and operate family child care programs. The program directly benefits family child care providers by providing start-up assistance for materials, curriculum, and renovations. Administered through partnerships between counties and child care resource centers, the bill mandates specific annual appropriations to expand access to licensed family child care services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates annual $450k budget allocation for child care program, directly funding essential services through state appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds early childhood education through $450k annual grants for family child care programs, supporting curriculum development and provider access.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds $450k annually for family child care programs, providing start-up grants to providers, directly supporting workers in the child care sector.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 972: Maryland Fair and Agricultural Education Promise Fund - Establishment ( Charles J. Otto Agricultural Education Promise Act)

HB 972 establishes the Maryland Fair and Agricultural Education Promise Fund, a permanent fund to provide annual grants supporting agricultural fairs and education. The fund will receive lottery proceeds (before allocation to the general fund) and replace previous requirements for horse racing fund allocations. It directs specific annual grants: $825,000 to the Maryland Agricultural Fair Board, $75,000 to the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, $550,000 to the Maryland State Fair Society (for youth programs like 4-H and FFA), and $50,000 to the Maryland FFA Association. These grants aim to advance agricultural fairs, education, and youth programs across Maryland.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects lottery proceeds to fund agricultural education and fairs ($825k, $75k, $550k annually), directly advancing dedicated program funding per topic indicators.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $1.45M annually to agricultural education programs via grants to foundations and fair boards, enhancing specialized student programs and curriculum access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 712: Primary and Secondary Education - Funding Accuracy and Full-Time Equivalent Enrollment Count - Alterations and Report (Education Funding Accuracy Act)

SB 712, the Education Funding Accuracy Act, changes how Maryland calculates state education funding by requiring the use of the average number of students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12 on September 30 and May 31 of the prior school year (instead of a 3-year moving average) to determine "full-time equivalent enrollment." This directly affects public school districts statewide, as it alters the enrollment count used to calculate their state aid. The bill also mandates that the State Department of Education publish an annual, detailed report online and submit it to key legislative committees by December 31 each year, showing enrollment data disaggregated by county and funding allocations. The changes take effect for funding calculations starting in fiscal year 2028.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationChanges enrollment calculation method for funding accuracy, ensuring districts receive appropriate state aid based on current enrollment.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Funding

Track

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 1457: Washington County - Juveniles - Truancy Reduction Pilot Program

HB 1457 authorizes the Circuit Administrative Judge of Maryland's Fourth Circuit to establish a Truancy Reduction Pilot Program specifically in Washington County's juvenile court. The bill directly affects Washington County juveniles who are truant and the juvenile court system there, aiming to address school absenteeism through court-led interventions rather than punitive measures. Key provisions amend existing law to explicitly include Washington County in the list of jurisdictions where such pilot programs may operate, alongside other counties already covered. The program would operate using state budget funds and requires consultation with other circuit administrative judges before implementation, effective October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates non-punitive truancy intervention in juvenile court to prevent youth from entering justice system, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of diversion over punishment.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAddresses school absenteeism through court-led interventions, promoting student attendance and educational access in K-12 settings without punitive measures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges Juvenile Justice

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

HB 1296: Preliminary Subdivision and Site Plans – Safe School Route Reports – Requirement

HB 1296 requires developers of new residential projects with at least five homes located within walking distance of a public school to submit a "Safe School Route Report" as part of their preliminary subdivision or site plan. The report must identify affected schools, assess existing pedestrian/bicycle infrastructure, propose safe routes, and detail gaps or hazards like missing sidewalks. This applies to most new housing developments but excludes projects intended as housing for older persons under federal law. Local governments cannot approve such plans without this report, aiming to improve safety for students walking or biking to school.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires safe walking routes for school access, improving student safety and physical access to schools per bill's infrastructure focus85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRequires assessment of pedestrian infrastructure and safe routes for school access, enhancing transportation safety standards for walking/biking routes.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Bicycle Infrastructure Pedestrian Safety

Track

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 711: Family Law - Child Neglect Definition - Alteration

SB 711 amends Maryland's definition of child neglect to explicitly include the failure or refusal to provide a child with education required by law. This change directly affects parents or caregivers who have legal responsibility for a child's education but do not enroll them in school as mandated. The bill alters Section 5-701(s) of Maryland's Family Law code to add that "neglect" now encompasses this educational neglect. The policy change takes effect October 1, 2026, updating how child neglect is legally defined under Maryland law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly defines educational neglect as child neglect, strengthening enforcement of school attendance laws to ensure children receive mandated education, supporting educational access.90% confidence

Track

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 833: Queen Anne's County - Authorized Uses of Revenues From Development Impact Fees - Expansion

SB 833 (introduced by Senator Hershey) amends Maryland law to allow Queen Anne’s County Commissioners to use development impact fees for capital costs related to replacing public school facilities. This expands the existing authorized uses of these fees under Section 20-706 of the Maryland Annotated Code, specifically adding school facility replacement as a permitted purpose. The bill applies only to Queen Anne’s County and takes effect July 1, 2026. It is a procedural change to the county’s fee usage rules, not a new tax or broad policy shift.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands authorized use of development fees for public school facility replacement, supporting essential program funding through fiscal management.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows use of development fees for school facility replacement, directly funding K-12 infrastructure improvements per bill's explicit purpose.95% confidence

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 1430: Maryland Public Charter School Program - School Facilities - Funding

HB 1430 requires Maryland's Interagency Commission on School Construction to distribute funds directly to public charter schools for maintaining and operating their facilities, bypassing local governments. It mandates that starting in fiscal year 2028, the state must appropriate $1,600 per enrolled student from the previous fiscal year for these facilities. The bill applies to all public charter schools occupying facilities used for K-12 education, including those that own or lease their buildings. This establishes a fixed per-student funding formula for facility costs, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates $1,600/student state funding for charter school facilities, directly increasing public school infrastructure spending through state appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates direct state funding for charter school facilities at $1,600/student annually starting 2028, directly increasing infrastructure support for K-12 public charter schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Choice School Funding