HB 586 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

County Boards of Library Trustees - Membership - Student Member

HB 586 allows Maryland county library boards to appoint a student member to their board. The student must be a junior or senior at a local high school in good standing, selected through a process set by the board, and serve a one-year term. This student member has voting rights on all policy matters, with the board able to extend voting to non-policy issues if desired. The bill directly affects county library boards and high school students across Maryland by adding this new membership role to existing governance structures.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Jan 28, 2026 Signed May 26, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - County Boards of Library Trustees - Membership - Student Member → Third - County Boards of Library Trustees - Membership - Student Member · 1 edit

MINOR

This bill amends the qualifications for student members of county library boards to include students enrolled in home instruction programs, alongside those in public or nonpublic high schools. The change expands eligibility to ensure students in alternative education settings can serve on these boards, while maintaining existing requirements regarding character, interest in library matters, and term limits.

Scope change

The scope of eligibility for student board members was expanded to include home instruction programs.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated the definition of eligible student members to include those enrolled in home instruction programs in addition to public or nonpublic high schools.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 19, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 5, 2026

How they voted

47–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 49

Mar 19, 2026

D Democratic36

34 Yea 2

94% Yea

R Republican13

13 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 26, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 621

executive

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Returned Passed

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted

upper

Apr 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Committee

Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (47-0-2)

senate

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means

lower

Mar 5, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (122-13-7)

house of delegates

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

First Reading Appropriations

lower

7 primary · 0 co-sponsors