HB 3, the Maryland Fallen Heroes Tuition Benefits Act, exempts financially dependent children of state or local public safety employees who died while on duty from paying out-of-state or out-of-county tuition at Maryland public colleges. It directly affects children of firefighters, police officers, EMTs, correctional officers, and Maryland National Guard members who were residents of Maryland at the time of their death. The bill amends Maryland law to define "public safety employee" broadly and requires the Commission to create implementing regulations. The exemption applies to public higher education institutions statewide and takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 325 changes the makeup of Maryland's Professional Standards and Teacher Education Board. It removes one position for a certified nonpublic school classroom teacher and adds two positions for representatives from the Maryland Association of Nonpublic Special Education Facilities. The bill alters the board's composition by replacing the single nonpublic school teacher seat with two seats for special education facilities, while maintaining other membership categories like public school teachers and education faculty. These changes take effect July 1, 2026, and directly affect how the board is structured to represent different education sectors.
HB 396 requires operators of licensed residential child care programs (like group homes and emergency shelters) to ensure children aged 5-16 in their care receive proper education. It mandates enrolling children in local schools (or approved in-house programs), transferring academic records, meeting with teachers, and providing study time, homework help, and support for extracurricular activities or individualized education plans. The bill also sets new training standards for child care practitioners, requiring background checks, education credentials, and approved training on child development and their role. These changes directly affect residential programs receiving state funding and their staff in Maryland.
HB 575 requires Maryland public schools to treat student absences as excused when students participate in specified civic activities during the General Assembly's regular session. It directly affects public school students by allowing absences for testifying at legislative hearings or engaging in activities like meeting with legislators, advocating for policies, or other department-approved civic work. The bill mandates that school systems adopt policies authorizing at least 15 hours or 2 school days per year for these activities, ensuring such absences do not count toward chronic absenteeism. This policy change takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 141 grants collective bargaining rights to graduate assistants at Maryland's public universities (including the University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, and St. Mary’s College of Maryland). It directly affects graduate students working as teaching, research, or administrative assistants in these institutions by creating a separate bargaining unit for them. The bill amends state law to explicitly include graduate assistants in eligible bargaining units, allowing them to negotiate wages, work conditions, and benefits as a distinct group. This change takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies to all graduate assistants not previously excluded under the law.
HB 525 requires Maryland county school boards to create and implement policies limiting student use of phones and other electronic communication devices (like tablets or smartwatches) during the academic school day, effective by the 2027-2028 school year. The policy must prohibit personal device use except for specific, documented needs (such as IEP accommodations, health monitoring, emergencies, or educational purposes when school devices aren't available), and require students to store devices securely. School boards must engage parents and staff in developing the policy, publish it in multiple languages, and report annually on its implementation, including enforcement data and impacts on student focus and well-being. The bill directly affects all public school students and county school boards across Maryland.
HB 6 requires Maryland's public colleges and universities to collect and report data on students' parental status, including whether they are parents, guardians, or caregivers of children. Public institutions must adopt a plan by October 2026 that provides referrals to government assistance programs (like WIC, child care scholarships, and Medicaid), campus accommodations, and health services for pregnant and parenting students. The Maryland Higher Education Commission will collect this data annually starting in 2027 and submit reports to legislative committees. This bill directly affects all students enrolled at Maryland's public higher education institutions (including University System schools, Morgan State, and St. Mary’s College) who are pregnant or parenting.
SB 263 allows dependent children of active-duty military members to enroll in Maryland public schools remotely before relocating, using official military orders as proof of eligibility. It requires counties to create a free, no-physical-attendance remote registration process and to note if a child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan from their previous school. The bill ensures children with disabilities receive appropriate education without delay and permits continued enrollment through the school year even if residency changes. Military families can use temporary housing addresses (like base housing) as proof of residence. The Secretary of Veterans and Military Families must publish clear enrollment information on these procedures.
SB 339 changes the composition of the Maryland School for the Deaf's Board of Trustees. It reduces the total number of trustees from 19 to 13 and increases the required number of deaf trustees from 6 to 7. The bill also adds a requirement that each geographic region of Maryland must be represented by at least one board member. These changes, effective July 1, 2026, aim to better reflect the deaf community and geographic diversity in the school's governance.
SB 311 revises Maryland's Blueprint for Maryland's Future education plan by making several targeted adjustments to existing provisions. It repeals the annual requirement for county school boards to submit technology spending reports, extends the timeframe for calculating compensatory education enrollment (through 2027), and removes a termination date for Concentration of Poverty Grant funds. The bill also updates teacher certification qualifications, extends deadlines for National Board Certification for principals, and revises definitions for wraparound services in community schools and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. These changes primarily affect school districts, teachers, and state education agencies administering the Blueprint's funding and program requirements.
