Homeschool Students in Maryland - Right to Play

HB 1043 allows homeschool students in Maryland to participate in public high school athletic programs under specific conditions. It permits eligible homeschool students - those meeting COMAR home instruction requirements and not in deficiency correction - to join sports at the school they'd attend if enrolled publicly or a geographically nearby school, subject to space availability and priority for enrolled students. The bill requires public schools to extend their liability insurance coverage to homeschool participants and mandates they follow the same health, safety, and insurance rules as enrolled students, while homeschoolers cover their own transportation. It does not apply to students who withdrew from public school due to disciplinary action. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.