HB 1534 establishes new operational and siting standards for data centers in Maryland, directly affecting data center owners and operators. It requires data centers within 2,500 feet of schools to maintain 1,000-foot setbacks from high-voltage power lines, fund school air filtration systems, and install public air quality sensors monitoring pollutants like particulate matter. The Department of the Environment must create regulations limiting sound levels (to 45 DBA or 55 DBC near schools), requiring backup generators to meet strict emissions standards, and banning non-emergency testing during school hours. Violations incur a $10,000 civil penalty per offense, with repeated violations risking permit revocation for the data center.
HB 1231 expands eligibility for two Maryland higher education grant programs to include Washington County homeschool students and students at nonpublic secondary schools. The bill amends definitions in Maryland law to explicitly include these students in the terms "dually enrolled student" and "full-time equivalent enrollment." This change allows them to qualify for the Part-Time Grant Program and the Early College Access Grant, which previously only covered students from public schools. The legislation updates specific sections of the Education Article (5-201(g), 15-127, 18-1401, and 18-14A-01) to reflect these eligibility changes.
This bill requires Baltimore City public middle schools (grades 6-8) to teach students about the legal consequences of a felony murder conviction. The Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners must develop age-appropriate curriculum resources by 2027, defining these consequences as loss of freedom, rights, and access to programs/services after conviction. Starting in the 2027-2028 school year, schools must incorporate this instruction at least once during grades 6-8. The law applies exclusively to Baltimore City public schools and does not alter criminal law.
HB 856 requires Maryland's local school systems to use a national Educator Identification Clearinghouse to screen job candidates for licensed educator positions starting October 1, 2026. The State Department of Education must register all school systems as members of the clearinghouse and pay associated membership fees. School systems must ensure candidates apply for and obtain the required teaching license before starting work and before interacting with students. This bill directly affects all Maryland public school systems and individuals seeking licensed teaching roles.
HB 1310 allows high school students in Maryland who experience the death of a parent due to reproductive cancer (breast, cervical, or uterine cancer) to request a standardized notation on their official transcript. This notation, which must use privacy-protective language like "Documented Compelling Personal Circumstance" or "Exceptional Hardship Acknowledgement," explains potential impacts on academic performance, achievement, or attendance. Schools must add the notation upon receiving a written request with proof of the parent’s death (via death certificate or healthcare provider letter), and counselors must inform eligible students and surviving parents about this option. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not require schools to disclose the specific nature of the loss.
HB 742 requires the Governor to include $450,000 annually in Maryland's budget for the Growing Family Child Care Opportunities Program during fiscal years 2023, 2024, 2026, and 2028-2030. This funding supports grants to help local counties and child care resource centers establish and operate family child care programs. The program directly benefits family child care providers by providing start-up assistance for materials, curriculum, and renovations. Administered through partnerships between counties and child care resource centers, the bill mandates specific annual appropriations to expand access to licensed family child care services.
HB 972 establishes the Maryland Fair and Agricultural Education Promise Fund, a permanent fund to provide annual grants supporting agricultural fairs and education. The fund will receive lottery proceeds (before allocation to the general fund) and replace previous requirements for horse racing fund allocations. It directs specific annual grants: $825,000 to the Maryland Agricultural Fair Board, $75,000 to the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, $550,000 to the Maryland State Fair Society (for youth programs like 4-H and FFA), and $50,000 to the Maryland FFA Association. These grants aim to advance agricultural fairs, education, and youth programs across Maryland.
SB 712, the Education Funding Accuracy Act, changes how Maryland calculates state education funding by requiring the use of the average number of students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12 on September 30 and May 31 of the prior school year (instead of a 3-year moving average) to determine "full-time equivalent enrollment." This directly affects public school districts statewide, as it alters the enrollment count used to calculate their state aid. The bill also mandates that the State Department of Education publish an annual, detailed report online and submit it to key legislative committees by December 31 each year, showing enrollment data disaggregated by county and funding allocations. The changes take effect for funding calculations starting in fiscal year 2028.
HB 1457 authorizes the Circuit Administrative Judge of Maryland's Fourth Circuit to establish a Truancy Reduction Pilot Program specifically in Washington County's juvenile court. The bill directly affects Washington County juveniles who are truant and the juvenile court system there, aiming to address school absenteeism through court-led interventions rather than punitive measures. Key provisions amend existing law to explicitly include Washington County in the list of jurisdictions where such pilot programs may operate, alongside other counties already covered. The program would operate using state budget funds and requires consultation with other circuit administrative judges before implementation, effective October 1, 2026.
HB 1296 requires developers of new residential projects with at least five homes located within walking distance of a public school to submit a "Safe School Route Report" as part of their preliminary subdivision or site plan. The report must identify affected schools, assess existing pedestrian/bicycle infrastructure, propose safe routes, and detail gaps or hazards like missing sidewalks. This applies to most new housing developments but excludes projects intended as housing for older persons under federal law. Local governments cannot approve such plans without this report, aiming to improve safety for students walking or biking to school.
