Local Public Campaign Financing - County Boards of Education

HB 962 allows Maryland counties to create public campaign financing systems specifically for elected members of county boards of education. It expands existing law by adding county board of education seats to the list of offices eligible for public financing, alongside county executive and legislative positions. Key provisions require the system to be voluntary for candidates, restrict public funds to local elections only, mandate separate campaign finance entities for financed campaigns, and require counties to provide necessary funding and oversight. The bill does not mandate implementation - counties must choose to adopt the system - and takes effect January 1, 2027.