Howard County - Public Campaign Financing - Board of Education Ho. Co. 3-25

SB 575 authorizes Howard County to create a public campaign financing system for candidates running for the county Board of Education (school board). The bill modifies Maryland election law to allow the county to establish this system, requiring it to set eligibility criteria, provide funding/staff for administration, and ensure voluntary participation by candidates. Key provisions include mandating separate campaign funds for school board races, prohibiting the use of public financing for other campaigns, and requiring candidates accepting public funds to use them exclusively for their school board campaign. The system would be administered by the county's chief financial officer and subject to state oversight.