SB 535 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

County Boards of Library Trustees - Membership - Student Member

SB 535 authorizes county library boards in Maryland to appoint a student member to their governing boards. This student member must be a junior or senior enrolled in a public or private high school within the county, in good academic standing, and selected by the board. The student serves a one-year term and has voting rights on all policy matters, though boards may adopt additional rules for non-policy issues. This change directly affects county library governance and provides youth representation in library decision-making across Maryland.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 4, 2026 Signed May 26, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Third - County Boards of Library Trustees - Membership - Student Member → Enrolled - County Boards of Library Trustees - Membership - Student Member · 1 edit · May 26, 2026

MINOR

The bill was formally enrolled and presented to the Governor for approval. Substantively, the law was amended to allow student members of library trustee boards to be selected from home instruction programs in addition to traditional public or nonpublic high schools. The selection process for these student members must still occur during their sophomore or junior year.

Scope change

The scope of eligibility for student members was expanded to include students enrolled in home instruction programs within the county, whereas previously only students enrolled in public or nonpublic high schools were eligible.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded eligibility criteria for student members to include those enrolled in home instruction programs in the county, alongside existing public and nonpublic high school students.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 24, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2026

How they voted

44–0

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 49

Mar 24, 2026

D Democratic36

33 Yea 3

91% Yea

R Republican13

11 Yea 2

84% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 26, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 622

executive

Apr 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Enrolled

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Introduced

Senate Concurs House Amendments

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means

lower

Mar 25, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (112-24-6)

house of delegates

Mar 24, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (44-0-5)

senate

Mar 20, 2026

Committee

Referred Ways and Means

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted

upper

Mar 16, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Committee

First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors