This bill requires Maryland colleges and universities to provide reasonable accommodations to students with sickle cell disease and prohibits denying them access to facilities or services based on their diagnosis. It mandates the Maryland Department of Health to create an education campaign for campus staff, develop guidelines for supporting students with sickle cell disease, and compile training materials for faculty and administrators. The law directly affects students with sickle cell disease at public and private institutions of higher education in Maryland, as well as campus staff responsible for implementing these policies. The requirements take effect October 1, 2026, with institutions needing to establish clear reporting procedures for violations.
SB 420 requires all public institutions of higher education in Maryland (excluding specific exceptions like University of Maryland Global Campus) to collect demographic data on students' parental status, including whether they are parents, legal guardians, or have caregiving responsibilities. It mandates these institutions to adopt a formal support plan for pregnant and parenting students, including referrals to government assistance programs like WIC, child care scholarships, Medicaid, and parenting resources. The Maryland Higher Education Commission must collect this data annually, compile it into reports, and submit summaries to legislative committees starting September 1, 2027. This bill directly affects pregnant and parenting students by requiring colleges to provide structured support services and track demographic needs.
HB 700 establishes a direct admission program for high school students meeting Maryland's college and career readiness standard (CCR standard) at participating public universities starting in the 2027-2028 academic year. Eligible students - those who meet the CCR standard, complete required courses, and apply during 12th grade - would receive conditional admission without traditional application processes. The Maryland Higher Education Commission would administer the program using its financial aid system and the Common Application, while universities must waive application fees for participants. Participation is voluntary for institutions, which may set additional criteria but must report them annually and verify student eligibility.
HB 721, the Uniformed Services Spouses Act, extends existing Maryland benefits for military service members and veterans to include their spouses. It adds "eligible spouse" as a defined term to priority registration at public colleges (within 15 years of service member’s last active duty, max four academic years), community college resource centers with tailored support, and senatorial/Delegate scholarships for spouses of active service members. The bill also modifies hiring preferences for state public service roles to include spouses of veterans. These changes directly affect spouses of active-duty service members and veterans living in Maryland who seek education, career support, or scholarships. The law updates multiple sections of Maryland’s education and employment codes to include spouses in eligibility criteria previously limited to service members themselves.
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 243 expands existing Maryland benefits for military service members to include their spouses. It provides spouses of active-duty service members and veterans with priority enrollment at public colleges, access to community college resources (including dedicated advisors and veteran resource centers), and eligibility for senatorial and delegate scholarships. The bill also extends hiring preferences for spouses in state government roles through the Public Service Commission. These benefits apply within 15 years of the service member’s last active duty and end after the spouse’s fourth academic year. The law amends specific sections of Maryland’s education, labor, and state personnel codes to include "spouse of an eligible service member" as a qualifying status.
HB 479 establishes the Southern Maryland Early College Teacher Pathway Program to create a structured, tuition-free pathway for high school students in Southern Maryland - especially those from underrepresented groups and rural areas - to begin teacher preparation while earning college credits. The State Department of Education, in collaboration with the Maryland Higher Education Commission, will administer the program, ensuring participants are treated as dually enrolled students with no tuition or fees required. The University System of Maryland must develop the program and teacher preparation pathway, with a workgroup (including appointed members from the Governor, Senate, and House) overseeing its design. This program aims to address local teacher shortages and build a diverse educator pipeline, aligning with statewide education goals.
SB 430, the Informed Enrollment Act, requires Maryland institutions of higher education admitting first-time undergraduates to prominently display a link to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard on their public websites by July 1, 2027. Each institution must also provide a clear explanation of the Scorecard’s data on costs, graduation rates, salary outcomes, and debt. Schools must share this information during student orientation, recruitment materials, and regularly with prospective students, new students, advisors, and career counselors via websites, social media, and career center pages. The bill is contingent on the federal College Scorecard remaining active; if discontinued, the law automatically ends without further legislative action. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, with compliance beginning July 1, 2027.
SB 7 repeals the expiration date for the Douglas J. J. Peters Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship, removing the June 30, 2030 cutoff that previously prevented new awards after that date. This change allows the scholarship to be awarded indefinitely to eligible veterans, active service members, or their dependents who meet Maryland residency and educational requirements. The bill also removes restrictions on renewing scholarships for recipients who received their initial award before 2030. The scholarship covers up to 50% of tuition, fees, and room/board at Maryland public universities, requiring a 2.5 GPA and 5 years of full-time study. It takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 109 requires all Maryland public colleges, universities, and local school systems to appoint a designated Title VI Coordinator by July 1, 2026. These coordinators must ensure compliance with federal civil rights law (Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act), which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in federally funded programs. The bill establishes a direct complaint process, allowing students, parents, or others to file discrimination complaints with a school or college's Title VI Coordinator instead of (or in addition to) the State Superintendent. Coordinators must investigate complaints, maintain records, provide training, and promote equal access to programs. This law directly affects all Maryland public K-12 schools and higher education institutions.
