HB 628 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Human Services - Foster Care Transition Grant Program - Establishment

HB 628 establishes a program providing $1,000 monthly payments for three years to young adults who were in out-of-home care (like foster care) on their 18th birthday, with birthdays on or after October 1, 2026. Payments cannot be counted as income for Medicaid, the Maryland Earned Income Tax Credit, or state/federal financial aid for education. The Department of Human Services must report annually on participants' income, location, employment, and housing status starting October 2027. The program will run from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2031, with automatic termination after that date.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 30, 2026 Last action Mar 20, 2026

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What changed between versions

First - Human Services - Universal Basic Income for Transition-Age Youth Program - Establishment → Third - Human Services - Foster Care Transition Grant Program - Establishment · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to change its title and purpose from a 'Universal Basic Income' program to a 'Foster Care Transition Grant Program.' The changes clarify that the program is specifically for youth aging out of foster care rather than a universal cash benefit for all youth. Several text edits were made throughout the bill to reflect this new focus on foster care transition services.

Scope change

The program scope was narrowed from a universal basic income for all transition-age youth to specifically target foster care youth transitioning out of the system.

SCOPE

Bill title and subtitle changed from 'Universal Basic Income for Transition-Age Youth Program' to 'Universal Basic Income for Transition-Age Youth Foster Care Transition Grant Program' to clarify the specific target population.

DEFINITION

Definition of 'PROGRAM' was updated to reflect the new foster care transition grant program name instead of the universal basic income program.

Definition of 'UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME' was retained but now appears within the context of the foster care transition grant program, creating some terminology confusion.

REQUIREMENT

The annual reporting requirements were updated to reference 'foster care transition grant' payments instead of 'universal basic income payments' in the report descriptions.

TECHNICAL

Added committee report status showing the bill was favorably amended and adopted by the House.

Added explanatory notes about capitalization, brackets, underlining, and strike-through conventions used in the amended bill text.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 5, 2026

How they voted

129–5

Passed · 8 other

Total votes 142

Mar 5, 2026

D Democratic103

98 Yea 5

95% Yea

R Republican39

31 Yea 5 Nay 3

79% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 19, 2026

Committee

Referred Finance Budget and Taxation

upper

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 Appropriations

lower

Mar 5, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (129-5-8)

house of delegates

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

First Reading Appropriations

lower

29 primary · 0 co-sponsors