HB 493 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Public Schools - Commemorative Day - Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day

HB 493 designates November 14 each year as "Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day" in Maryland public schools to commemorate Ruby Bridges' 1960 integration of an all-white New Orleans elementary school. It requires each county board of education to create annual educational programs for this day, including symbolic walks, civil rights history lessons, and discussions on racial equality. The State Department of Education must also develop model educational resources, like lesson plans and discussion guides, to support schools in implementing these programs. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and directly affects all Maryland public schools and their students.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 20, 2025 Last action Mar 14, 2025

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What changed between versions

First - Public Schools - Commemorative Day - Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day → Third - Public Schools - Commemorative Day - Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day · 5 edits

MODERATE

HB 493 was amended to add additional sponsors and update the legislative history, while the substantive content of the bill remained unchanged. The bill designates November 14 as 'Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day' to commemorate the 1960 integration of an all-white school by Ruby Bridges, requiring county boards to develop educational programs and the Department of Education to create model content.

TECHNICAL

Added additional sponsors to the bill including Atterbeary, Ebersole, Fair, Feldmark, Mireku-North, Palakovich Carr, Patterson, Roberson, Vogel, Wims, Wu, and Young

Added committee report status showing favorable with amendments and house action adopted

Added 'CF SB 1003' reference in the header

Changed 'A BILL ENTITLED' to 'CHAPTER ______' indicating the bill is being prepared for final enactment

Added signature lines for Governor, Speaker of the House, and President of the Senate

Floor votes · House of Delegates Feb 28, 2025

How they voted

128–8

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 139

Feb 28, 2025

D Democratic100

97 Yea 3

97% Yea

R Republican39

31 Yea 8 Nay

79% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 12, 2025

Committee

Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 10, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means

lower

Feb 28, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (128-8-3)

house of delegates

Jan 20, 2025

Committee

First Reading Ways and Means

lower

22 primary · 0 co-sponsors