Higher Education - Religious Educational Institutions - Certificate of Approval

SB 524 exempts certain religious educational institutions from needing a certificate of approval from Maryland's Higher Education Commission to operate in the state. It applies to schools established for religious purposes that offer only religious instruction, provide programs for religious vocations, and state the religious nature of their credentials. The exemption does not apply to institutions established before January 1, 2013, or to religious schools accredited by U.S. Department of Education-recognized bodies (which still require approval). The bill revises state education law to implement these changes, effective July 1, 2025.