HB 809 establishes funding requirements for Maryland's Walter Sondheim Jr. Public Service Internship Scholarship Program. The bill mandates that starting in fiscal year 2028, the Governor must include in the annual budget an appropriation for the program equal to at least 150% of the fiscal year 2026 level, with specific requirements for University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) funding. The program provides scholarships ($2,000-$5,000) to Maryland college and graduate students pursuing public service internships, prioritizing residents with demonstrated interest in careers serving low-income or underserved communities through legal, social work, nursing, or other public/nonprofit sectors. It directly affects eligible students and administers through the Shriver Center, ensuring sustained funding for three specific internship tracks: Governor’s Summer Internship, Sondheim Nonprofit Leadership, and Sondheim Public Service Law Fellowships.
SB 715 authorizes the Circuit Administrative Judge of the Fourth Circuit to establish a Truancy Reduction Pilot Program specifically in Washington County's juvenile court. The bill amends existing Maryland law to add Washington County as a jurisdiction eligible for this pilot program, which aims to address student absenteeism through court-based interventions. The program would operate under the existing framework used in other counties (like Dorchester and Worcester) but is limited to Washington County for a defined period. It directly affects Washington County juvenile courts and students with chronic absenteeism, without creating new funding or changing current truancy enforcement procedures.
SB 720, the "Artificial Intelligence Ready Schools Act," requires Maryland’s State Department of Education to create and maintain online guidance for schools, educators, parents, and students on the safe, ethical, and equitable use of AI in K-12 education. It mandates county school boards to adopt AI policies within 120 days of guidance release, designate AI coordinators, and procure AI tools aligned with state standards. The bill also requires Morgan State University to annually certify AI tools and establishes statewide teacher training in AI literacy by July 2027, with compensation for educators participating. Local school systems must integrate AI into workforce preparation standards by June 2027, coordinated with the Maryland Center for Computing Education. The law directly affects all Maryland public schools, educators, students, and technology vendors supplying educational AI tools.
HB 168 allows Maryland school districts to use state housing funds for developing housing specifically for teachers and school staff (called "educator workforce housing"). It explicitly states that such housing qualifies as an eligible use of state financial assistance under housing programs and ensures teachers are recognized as a "specified group" for federal low-income housing tax credits. The bill modifies existing laws to clarify that school districts can repurpose unused school properties for this housing and that state housing agencies must inform applicants about this eligibility. This directly affects school districts seeking to address housing needs for educators and teachers applying for federal housing tax credits.
SB 238 establishes Maryland's participation in the School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact, allowing licensed school psychologists to practice across member states without duplicative licensing. The bill creates a standardized pathway for psychologists to hold "equivalent licenses" in any participating state, directly affecting school psychologists seeking cross-state work and school districts needing qualified staff. Key provisions include requiring psychologists to follow each state's scope of practice laws, preserving state authority over licensing, and specifically facilitating mobility for military families. The compact also establishes a Commission to oversee implementation and address issues like disciplinary actions. This is a substantive policy change enabling easier interstate practice while maintaining state-level professional standards.
SB 6 would extend collective bargaining rights to nontenure track faculty at Maryland's public universities, including the University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, and St. Mary’s College of Maryland. The bill creates a separate bargaining unit for these faculty members - defined as full-time, part-time, or adjunct employees with academic responsibilities like teaching or research - removing them from the previous exclusion under "faculty" in collective bargaining rules. It amends state law to require each institution to establish this distinct unit alongside other employee groups, ensuring nontenure track faculty can negotiate wages, hours, and working conditions. The law would take effect on July 1, 2026.
SB 285 expands Maryland's existing scholarship program to include correctional officers. The bill amends state law to add "correctional officers" to the eligibility criteria for the Maryland Police Officers, Probation Agents, and Correctional Officers Scholarship Program, which previously covered only police officers and probation agents. It defines "correctional officer" per Maryland law and allows current or future correctional officers to apply for tuition assistance if they meet residency, enrollment, and service obligation requirements. The scholarship requires recipients to work in the field for at least five years within eight years of graduation or repay funds. This change directly affects correctional officers seeking higher education in Maryland.
SB 101 adds correctional officers to Maryland's existing loan repayment and scholarship programs for public safety workers. It expands the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program (Subtitle 37) to allow correctional officers who work in state facilities for at least two years to get help repaying higher education loans. It also creates a new scholarship program (Subtitle 38) for students or current correctional officers pursuing relevant degrees, requiring a five-year service commitment after graduation. The bill directly affects correctional officers statewide by providing financial support for education and career advancement. The changes take effect July 1, 2026.
SB 198 requires Prince George’s Community College to establish an Aerospace Technology Studies Program by December 2026, in collaboration with Maryland’s Higher Education Commission, Department of Commerce, and local economic development groups. The program must include training in aerospace systems, avionics, advanced manufacturing, and AI applications, with industry internships and a clear high school-to-college career pathway. It mandates formal partnerships with local aerospace employers and requires annual reports on progress and student outcomes to state and county officials. The bill directly affects students seeking aerospace careers and local employers needing skilled workers, focusing on workforce development without specifying funding or cost.
HB 14 requires Maryland county school boards to collect and report detailed data on bullying, harassment, or intimidation incidents involving students. It mandates a standardized report form that specifically identifies if incidents were motivated by characteristics like race, gender identity, or sexual orientation, and requires schools to post annual summaries of such incidents on their websites, broken down by the motivating characteristic. County boards must submit these summaries to the State Board by January 31 each year, while maintaining confidentiality under federal privacy laws. The bill directly affects public schools, students experiencing bullying, and school staff responsible for handling reports.
