• To improve school construction processes and manage housing development impacts on school zones.

Key Provisions:

1. Annual Reporting:

   • County boards of education must submit a yearly student residency and school zones report to the Department of Planning and the Interagency Commission on School Construction by July 1.

   • The report includes school zone boundaries, attendance area maps, and student residence locations, excluding personal identifying information.

2. Repeal of Enrollment Deduction:

   • Eliminates the Interagency Commission on School Construction's authority to make enrollment deductions for adjacent schools when calculating state construction allocations.

3. Housing Development Restrictions:

   • Prohibits county adequate public facilities ordinances from restricting housing development for more than four years after enactment.

Effective Date:

• June 1, 2025.

• Purpose: The bill aims to authorize counties to lower the voting age for elections for members of an elected county board of education.

• Key Changes:

  • Allows the General Assembly to provide counties with the authority to lower the voting age for board of education elections.

  • Permits individuals who are at least 16 years old to vote in board of education elections if authorized by the county.

  • Requires counties to enact local laws to allow individuals who are at least 16 years old to vote in these elections.

  • Proposes an amendment to the Maryland Constitution to reflect these changes.

• Purpose: The bill aims to establish a task force to analyze challenges related to student enrollment counts and their effect on school funding.

• Key Changes:

  • Establishes the Task Force on Education Funding and Student Population Growth.

  • Specifies the composition of the Task Force, including members from the Senate, House of Delegates, and various educational organizations.

  • Requires the Task Force to analyze challenges related to student enrollment counts and their impact on school funding.

  • Mandates the Task Force to make recommendations for improvements to school funding.

  • Requires the Task Force to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by December 15, 2025.

  • The Act takes effect on July 1, 2025, and remains effective until June 30, 2026.

• Purpose: The bill aims to authorize the State Department of Education to engage in or control procurements of certain local food.

• Key Changes:

  • Authorizes the Department to procure food grown within a 200-mile radius from an elementary or secondary school for which a local school system enters into a master contract with the Department.

  • Includes food grown at a certified local farm and certified Chesapeake invasive species provided by a certified Chesapeake invasive species provider.

  • Requires the Department to coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and other relevant units to establish a centralized platform for procurement opportunities.

  • Mandates annual reporting to the General Assembly on the total number and dollar value of master contracts with local school systems, certified local farms, and certified Chesapeake invasive species providers.

• Purpose: The bill aims to require each county board of education to develop and implement a policy limiting the use of cellular phones by students during the school day, except under certain circumstances.

• Key Changes:

  • Defines "instructional time" as any time during the school day, except a student's lunch period.

  • Requires county boards to develop and implement a policy to limit student cellular phone use during instructional time.

  • Prohibits students from using cellular phones during instructional time, with exceptions for documented purposes in a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP), health issues, or when directed by an educator for educational purposes.

  • Requires students to store their cellular phones in a secure place during instructional time, such as a locker, closed backpack, or storage container provided by the school.

  • Includes appropriate disciplinary measures for violations of the policy

• Purpose: The bill aims to require that certain construction projects or major renovation projects of public school buildings be designed, engineered, and constructed in a manner so that school parking lots are equipped with the appropriate underground infrastructure necessary to support solar canopy installation.

• Key Changes:

  • Applies to construction or major renovation projects proposed after December 31, 2025.

  • Mandates that school parking lots be designed, engineered, and constructed to support solar canopy installation.

• Purpose: The bill aims to require each county board of education to collect data on energy usage in school buildings and report the data to the Interagency Commission on School Construction.

• Key Changes:

  • Requires each county board to collect data on school building energy usage.

  • Mandates the Interagency Commission to adopt regulations specifying the data to be collected and the means and frequency of reporting.

  • Requires the Interagency Commission to analyze the data collected and provide recommendations for improving school building energy efficiency and usage.

• Purpose: The bill aims to prohibit a child from in-person attendance at a public school if the child has been identified as a suspect for certain offenses until certain conditions are met.

• Key Changes:

  • Prohibits in-person attendance for children identified by law enforcement as suspects in a crime of violence until the investigation is complete and the child is no longer identified as a suspect.

  • Requires each local school system to provide alternative educational options for children prohibited from in-person attendance.

  • Aligns alternative educational options with the required policy adopted by county boards under § 11-722(E) of the Criminal Procedure Article

• Purpose: The bill aims to establish the Holocaust Education Assistance Grant Program in the State Department of Education to assist local school systems with Holocaust education in public schools.

• Key Changes:

  • Establishes the Holocaust Education Assistance Grant Program.

  • Allows local school systems to apply for grants from the program.

  • Grants can be used for Holocaust-related teacher training and teaching materials.

  • The Governor must include an appropriation of $500,000 for the program in the annual budget bill.

  • No local school system can receive more than $50,000 as a grant from the program in a fiscal year.

• Purpose: The bill aims to establish the Maryland Civic Excellence Program as a voluntary program to recognize students and public schools that promote civic readiness and civic engagement.

• Key Changes:

  • Establishes the Maryland Civic Excellence Program.

  • Allows local school systems to participate voluntarily.

  • Awards a Seal of Civic Excellence to students who meet specific criteria, including taking the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment for Government, earning high grades in social studies courses, and completing at least 75 hours of student service.

  • Designates public schools as Centers of Civic Excellence if they meet certain criteria, including having at least 50% of their graduating class earn the Seal of Civic Excellence.

  • Requires participating local school systems to submit annual reports on the program

• Purpose: The bill aims to require the governing board of each institution of higher education and local school systems to designate a Title VI Coordinator to ensure compliance with Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964.

• Key Changes:

  • Requires each institution of higher education and local school system to designate a Title VI Coordinator.

  • The Title VI Coordinator must have expertise in Title VI law and regulations, promote equal access and participation, provide training and resources, document and investigate complaints, maintain records and reports, and perform other relevant duties.

  • Allows individuals alleging discrimination to file a complaint with the Title VI Coordinator of a local school system.

• Purpose: The bill aims to facilitate the mobility of teachers across member states by establishing a streamlined pathway to licensure.

• Key Changes:

  • Repeals certain provisions related to the Interstate Agreement on Qualifications of Educational Personnel.

  • Establishes the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, allowing regulated teachers with multistate licenses to teach in each member state.

  • Creates the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact Commission to oversee the implementation and administration of the compact.

  • Supports the relocation of eligible military spouses and enhances the exchange of licensure, investigative, and disciplinary information between member states.

• Purpose: The bill aims to alter the membership of the State Board of Education to include a school principal as a member.

• Key Changes:

  • Adds a certified principal who is actively leading a school as a regular member of the State Board.

  • The principal member will be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, following an election by principals in the state.

  • The principal member may attend and participate in executive sessions of the State Board but may not vote on matters related to appeals to the State Board under certain sections of the Education Articl

• Purpose: The bill aims to enhance school bus safety by requiring the inclusion of seat belts on school buses and incorporating school bus safety education into public school programs.

• Key Changes:

  • Mandates that all school buses purchased on or after July 1, 2027, and registered in the state must be equipped with 3-point seat belts for each seat.

  • Requires public school safety education programs to include instruction on school bus safety and the proper use of seat belts on school buses.

  • Prohibits civil actions for damages based on the failure of a school bus operator to ensure that an occupant was wearing a seat belt.

• Purpose: The bill aims to prohibit a child from in-person attendance at a public school if the child has been charged with a crime of violence until certain conditions are met.

• Key Changes:

  • Prohibits in-person attendance for children charged with a crime of violence until they are found not delinquent or the charge is dismissed.

  • Requires local school systems to provide alternative educational options separate from other students for children prohibited from in-person attendance.

  • Aligns alternative educational options with the required policy adopted by county boards under § 11-722(E) of the Criminal Procedure Article

• Purpose: The bill aims to rename the Board of Trustees of the Maryland Teachers and State Employees Supplemental Retirement Plans to the Board of Trustees of the Maryland State Employees Supplemental Retirement Plans.

• Key Changes:

  • Renames the Board of Trustees to reflect the new title.

  • Specifies that the new Board is the successor of the previous Board.

  • Ensures continuity of all commissions, offices, departments, agencies, and other units under the new name.

  • Maintains the validity of transactions and employment statuses affected by the change in nomenclature.

  • Requires the use of existing letterhead, business cards, and other documents until they are depleted before using new ones with the updated name

• Purpose: The bill aims to require county boards of education to develop and adopt a policy that prohibits elementary and middle school students from using cellular phones or personal electronic devices during the school day, except under certain circumstances.

• Key Changes:

  • Defines "personal electronic device" to include smartphones, tablets, laptops, and smartwatches.

  • Exempts county boards that already have a policy limiting the use of such devices by students in elementary and middle schools during school hours.

  • Requires county boards to develop and adopt a policy prohibiting the use of cellular phones or personal electronic devices by elementary and middle school students during school hours.

  • Allows exceptions for documented purposes in a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan, for monitoring or addressing a student's documented health issue, or when directed by an educator or administrator for educational purposes.

• Purpose: The bill aims to repeal a requirement that certain child care centers have a specific ratio of staff to children who hold a certificate in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

• Key Changes:

  • Removes the requirement for child care centers serving more than 20 children to have a certain ratio of staff with first aid and CPR certification.

  • Maintains the requirement for child care centers to have at least one individual with first aid and CPR certification in attendance at all times.

• Purpose: The bill aims to require certain interscholastic and intramural junior varsity and varsity athletic teams or sports sponsored by certain schools to be expressly designated based on biological sex.

• Key Changes:

  • Requires public and nonpublic high schools to designate athletic teams based on biological sex.

  • Prohibits male students from participating in female-designated teams.

  • Prevents adverse actions against schools for maintaining separate teams for female students.

• Purpose: The bill aims to authorize the reallocation of grants from the Safe Schools Fund to local school systems that have fully expended their grant allocation and demonstrate unmet need within the same fiscal year.

• Key Changes:

  • Allows grants to be reallocated to local school systems that have fully expended their allocation and demonstrate need within the same fiscal year.

  • Ensures that the reallocation process is based on the number of schools in each school system in proportion to the total number of public schools in the state in the prior year.

• Purpose: The bill aims to require the State Department of Education, in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Health, to develop a comprehensive health education framework.

• Key Changes:

  • Requires each county board of education to create an age-appropriate curriculum consistent with the comprehensive health education framework.

  • Mandates the inclusion of topics such as health promotion, mental and emotional health, substance abuse prevention, family life and human sexuality, gender identity and sexual orientation, safety and violence prevention, safe social media and internet use, healthy eating, and disease prevention and control.

  • Allows parents or guardians to opt their children out of the family life and human sexuality topic, with certain exceptions.

  • Requires county boards to submit annual reports on their compliance with the framework

• Purpose: The bill aims to alter the projects eligible for funding under the Community Health and Safety Works Grant Program and expand the authorized uses of the Fund.

• Key Changes:

  • Alters the projects eligible for funding to include community or business district improvement projects, community-centered crime and violence intervention and prevention projects, and other recognized crime prevention strategies.

  • Expands the authorized uses of the Fund to include administrative and operating expenses of the Department of Housing and Community Development.

  • Repeals certain requirements for projects to purchase or install camera networks.

  • Repeals minimum and maximum grant amounts under the Program.

• Purpose: The bill aims to require county boards of education to adopt a policy that prohibits students from using a cellular phone during certain school hours, except under specific circumstances.

• Key Changes:

  • Defines "instructional time" as any time during the school day, excluding a student's lunch period.

  • Defines "passing period" as the time before and between classes when students move from one class to another.

  • Requires county boards to adopt a policy prohibiting students from using a cellular phone during school hours.

  • Prohibits elementary and middle school students from using or displaying a cellular phone during instructional time, lunch periods, and passing periods.

  • Prohibits high school students from using or displaying a cellular phone during instructional time and passing periods.

  • Allows exceptions for students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP), Section 504 Plan, or documented health issue that requires the use of an electronic device.

  • Specifies disciplinary actions for violations, including warnings, confiscation of the phone, and other disciplinary measures.

  • Requires confiscated phones to be retrieved by the student's parent or guardian, with provisions for returning the phone to the student if the parent or guardian is unable to retrieve it.

- Altering the additional percentage the Uninsured Employers’ Fund Board may direct the Workers’ Compensation Commission to assess on awards and settlements if the Board determines that the reserves of the Fund are inadequate to meet anticipated losses.
- Increasing the maximum additional assessment from 1% to 2%.

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

• Purpose: The bill aims to require the State Department of Education to develop a comprehensive plan for the establishment of Restorative Practices Schools.

• Key Changes:

  • Defines "restorative practices" as a communally and culturally responsive, relationship-focused student discipline model.

  • Requires the State Department of Education to develop a comprehensive plan by July 1, 2026, for the establishment of Restorative Practices Schools.

  • Mandates consultation with educators, administrators, and organizations experienced in restorative practices.

  • Provides a framework for local school systems to identify personnel qualified to provide restorative practices training.

  • Establishes model training materials and standards for designating a school as a Restorative Practices School.

  • Develops intended outcomes and performance metrics for restorative practices, including improvements in student conduct, absenteeism, teacher turnover, mental health indicators, and school climate.

• Purpose: The bill aims to establish the Workgroup to Study School Bus Safety.

• Key Changes:

  • Establishes the Workgroup to Study School Bus Safety.

  • The Governor will appoint members of the Workgroup and designate the chair.

  • The Maryland Department of Transportation, in consultation with the State Department of Education, will provide staff for the Workgroup.

  • Members of the Workgroup will not receive compensation but will be reimbursed for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations.

  • The Workgroup will study and identify issues related to safety for and behavior of students and bus drivers on school buses.

  • The Workgroup will report its findings and recommendations to the governing bodies of each county and Baltimore City, each county board of education, the Governor, and the General Assembly by June 30, 2026.

• Purpose: The bill aims to require each county school system in the state to publish the contact information of each member of the county board of education prominently on its website.

• Key Changes:

  • Each county school system must publish the contact information for each member of the respective county board.

  • For non-student members, this includes an email address, a mailing address, and a direct telephone number provided by the county school system.

  • For student members, if applicable, this includes an email address.

• Purpose: The bill aims to require each member of a county board of education to complete antibias training at least once during their term.

• Key Changes:

  • Mandates that each county board member complete antibias training developed by the county board.

  • Specifies that the training must be conducted separately from the antibias training required for public school employees.

  • The training guidelines include lessons in cultural awareness, reducing implicit bias, and promoting inclusivity and tolerance.

• To integrate financial literacy courses into the high school graduation requirements by allowing them to count toward student service hours.

Key Provisions:

1. Financial Literacy Courses:

   • Defines "eligible financial literacy course" as one offered at an institution of higher education or by an approved organization.

   • Requires the course to provide instructional content on financial literacy concepts.

2. Application to Graduation Requirements:

   • Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, successful completion of an eligible financial literacy course will count towards fulfilling the high school student service hours requirement.

   • The number of hours counted is determined by the county board of education.

3. Regulations:

   • The State Board of Education is required to adopt regulations to implement this requirement.

Effective Date:

• July 1, 2025.

- Authorizing the public disclosure of certain information concerning a child by the Office of the Attorney General in relation to an independent investigation of police-involved incidents resulting in the death or injury of a child, with the express consent of the parent or guardian.
- Maintaining the confidentiality of police records concerning children, with certain exceptions for law enforcement agencies, the Department of Juvenile Services, and the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office on Criminal Justice.
- Allowing the release of photographs and identifying information of a child by law enforcement agencies under specific circumstances, such as escape from detention or being a missing child.

The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

• Purpose: The bill aims to require the Prince George’s County Board of Education to provide certain drug detection products to public middle and high school students in the county.

• Key Changes:

  • Defines "drink spiking detection product" as a product that tests beverages for gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) or ketamine.

  • Defines "drug detection strip" as a disposable test strip that tests drugs for the presence of fentanyl.

  • Requires public middle and high schools in Prince George’s County to provide these products at no charge to students.

  • Specifies that the products must be available in school-based health clinics, school libraries, and school bathrooms.

• Purpose: The bill aims to repeal the prohibition on and criminal penalty related to the sale of certain contraceptives and contraceptive devices by means of a vending machine or other automatic device at certain schools.

• Key Changes:

  • Repeals the prohibition on selling or offering for sale contraceptives or contraceptive devices by vending machine or other automatic device at kindergartens, nursery schools, or elementary or secondary schools.

• Purpose: The bill aims to require that certain members of certain county boards of education representing specific districts be elected only by the voters of that district.

• Key Changes:

  • Requires members representing specific districts to be elected only by the voters of that district.

  • Specifies that the ballot at the general election will provide voters with the choice to cast a vote for a candidate from their district.

  • Mandates that the State Board of Elections declare whether a candidate has been elected after the election results are certified.

• Purpose: The bill aims to increase the scholarship award for a student member of the Anne Arundel County Board of Education who completes a full term on the county board.

• Key Changes:

  • Increases the scholarship award from $8,000 to $15,000 for a student member who completes a full term on the county board.

- Allowing eligible taxpayers to claim a credit against the state income tax for volunteering in schools.
- Requiring the State Department of Education to develop an application and tax credit certificate.
- Issuing tax credit certificates based on volunteer hours, with a maximum credit of $500 per taxpayer per year.
- Making the credit refundable if it exceeds the state income tax for the taxable year.

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and will be applicable to all taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

- Requiring the State Department of Education to develop and offer the course by July 1, 2026.
- Making the course available to all school personnel and administrators through asynchronous instruction.
- Offering the course at a comparable rate to other continuing professional development courses for licensed personnel.
- Including instruction on the eight dimensions of well-being identified by the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, such as social, environmental, physical, emotional, spiritual, occupational, intellectual, and financial well-being.

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

- Requiring local school systems to provide written information about transition services to assist in secondary transition planning for children with IEPs.
- Providing this information at the initial evaluation meeting and annually at IEP meetings starting when the child turns 14 years old.
- Ensuring that the information is provided in the parent's native language if it is not English.

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

- Requiring the State Department of Education to disaggregate certain discipline-related data in an electronic spreadsheet format for the Department's website.
- Making the data available to the public and reporting certain discipline-related information each year.
- Maintaining a certain risk ratio and State comparison threshold used to identify a school's disproportional disciplinary practices.
- Reporting disproportionality data for high-suspending schools.

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

- Altering the definitions of target per pupil foundation amount, collaborative time per pupil amount, and special education per pupil amount for certain fiscal years.
- Including the interest earnings of the Academic Excellence Fund as a source of funds for the Blueprint for Maryland's Future Fund.
- Freezing certain increases in the Concentration of Poverty School Grant Program for certain fiscal years.
- Establishing the Collaborative Time Innovation Demonstration Grant and the Academic Excellence Program and Fund.

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

- Requiring each county board of education to investigate and identify root causes of chronic absenteeism and expulsion in the county.
- Examining factors such as a student's domestic situation, family vacations, history of alcohol or drug addiction, mental and physical health, and school environment.
- Investigating whether the student is providing care for someone in their household or language translation for a sick household member.
- Mandating quarterly reports on findings to county delegations to the General Assembly, the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee, and the House Ways and Means Committee, starting January 1, 2026, for a period of 10 years.

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

- Adding an early childhood development professional with extensive experience to the State Board of Education.
- Requiring the Governor to appoint this member from a list of three qualified individuals submitted by the Office of Child Care Advisory Council.
- Ensuring the early childhood development member can attend and participate in executive sessions of the State Board.

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

- Removing the requirement that the offense occurred off school premises and did not occur at a school-sponsored event.
- Requiring the Department of Juvenile Services to report certain decisions made during an inquiry of a juvenile offender for certain offenses to the local superintendent of schools and school principal.

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

- Requiring the Maryland Association of Environmental and Outdoor Education to update and maintain the Maryland Green Schools website by March 1, 2027.
- Conducting regular outreach activities to inform schools about the Green School Program.
- Establishing criteria for designating green schools as mentor schools.
- Requiring county boards of education to display a link to the Maryland Green Schools website and circulate information about the program.

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

- Requiring county boards of education to establish policies for disclosing student directory information or personally identifiable information to detoxification centers or hospitals for substance abuse treatment.
- Allowing disclosure of directory information with student consent, unless a parent or guardian opts out.
- Mandating disclosure of personally identifiable information in health emergencies to protect the student's health and safety.
- Providing notice to parents or guardians about the disclosure policy and opt-out process.

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

- Establishing a minimum salary of $60,000 for all public school employees starting July 1, 2026.
- Providing salary increases for qualified educators, including:
- A $10,000 salary increase for an initial award of a National Board Certification (NBC) or an alternative high-quality educator credential.
- A $7,000 salary increase for qualified educators assigned to low-performing schools.
- Ensuring that qualified educators receive all applicable salary increases and retain them even if the school ceases to be low-performing.

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

- Authorizing individuals honorably discharged from military service to obtain a high school diploma if they withdrew from a public or private high school to enlist in the armed forces during an armed conflict authorized by the President or Congress.
- Requiring individuals to apply to the county board in the county where they reside or where the school they withdrew from was located.
- Mandating county boards to establish procedures for awarding diplomas under this section.

The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

- Requiring the Department of Juvenile Services to notify the local superintendent and school principal of a student's arrest for a reportable offense or an offense related to the student's membership in a criminal organization.
- Providing information about educational programming and related services to the student.
- Ensuring the confidentiality of the information obtained and restricting its redisclosure.
- Allowing the transmission of information to other schools if the student is transferred.
- Mandating the destruction of the information when the student graduates, leaves school, or turns 22 years old.

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

- Requiring libraries to place an AED in a prominent area accessible to employees and library users.
- Maintaining the functionality of the AED and ensuring a trained individual is present during library hours.
- Granting certain immunities to libraries and individuals for acts or omissions related to the provision of AED services.
- Excluding certain libraries from the Public Access Automated External Defibrillator Program.
- Requiring the Maryland Department of Health and the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems to adopt regulations for the program.

The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

- Prohibiting recovery by a plaintiff from being barred due to the plaintiff’s negligence, except under certain circumstances.
- Requiring any damages awarded to be diminished in proportion to the amount of negligence attributed to the plaintiff.
- Ensuring the rule of joint and several liability and the doctrine of last clear chance are not affected.

The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

- Allowing dependent children of service members to advance enroll in a public school in the county where they will be stationed.
- Requiring a remote registration process for advance enrollment without fees or physical appearance requirements.
- Ensuring coordination with the sending state to prevent delays in transferring children with disabilities.
- Allowing dependent children to remain enrolled until completing the highest grade level available at the school.
- Publishing information on advance enrollment procedures and available assistance for service members.

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

- Requiring the State Board of Trustees to implement an automatic enrollment arrangement for all state employees hired on or after January 1, 2026.
- Mandating eligible employers to deduct wages for contributions to a supplemental retirement plan unless the employee opts out or chooses a different contribution amount.
- Providing employees with a notice explaining the terms of enrollment, their rights to adjust contributions, and options for discontinuing participation.
- Investing contributions in a designated default investment option if no other choice is made by the employee.

The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

- Requiring each county board of education to grant temporary admission to students if their parent or guardian is unable to provide proof of immunization within the required time frame.
- Allowing temporary admission if the parent or guardian presents evidence of an appointment with a health professional or local health department to receive the required immunization, reconstruct a lost record, or acquire evidence of age-appropriate immunity.
- Limiting the date of the appointment to within 60 calendar days from the date of temporary admission.
- Requiring the parent or guardian to provide evidence of the student's required immunizations on the next school day following the appointment.

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

- Recognizing public schools that provide health and safety training to students and school personnel.
- Offering evidence-based training on first aid, mental health wellness programs, and peer mentoring programs to students.
- Providing service hours to students for participating in health and safety activities.
- Offering professional development on mental health wellness or first aid training to school personnel.
- Establishing a webpage with resources for mental health wellness or first aid training.
- Allowing the use of certified therapy dogs in schools for emotional support.

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

- Altering the definition of a reportable offense to include only references to offenses defined as crimes of violence.
- Maintaining the requirement that the offense occurred off school premises and did not occur at a school-sponsored event.
- Ensuring that the information obtained about a student's arrest for a reportable offense is confidential and not made part of the student's permanent educational record.

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

- Specifying that the prohibitions and penalties do not apply to students who commit offenses at the institution they attend or while participating in or attending a sporting event or extracurricular program at another institution.
- Prohibiting willful disturbance or prevention of the orderly conduct of activities, administration, or classes at any educational institution.
- Prohibiting threats of bodily harm to students, employees, administrators, agents, or individuals on school grounds, school vehicles, school-sponsored activities, or property owned by a county board.
- Requiring county boards to report school disruptions annually, disaggregated by various categories and demographics.

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

- Requiring each county board of education to develop and implement a policy limiting the use of cellular phones by students during instructional time by the 2026-2027 school year.
- Prohibiting students from using cellular phones during instructional time, except for specific purposes such as those documented in an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan, monitoring health issues, during emergencies, or when directed by an educator for educational purposes.
- Requiring students to store their cellular phones in a secure place during instructional time.
- Prohibiting the use of social media applications and websites determined by the county board during school hours.
- Including appropriate disciplinary measures for policy violations, enforced by an administrator.

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

- Requiring each student, beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, to complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA) as a requirement for graduation.
- Allowing students or their parents/legal guardians to decline this requirement by submitting a signed form to the county board.
- Providing waivers for students who make a good faith effort to complete the FAFSA or MSFAA or for those with extenuating circumstances.
- Mandating the Department of Education to adopt regulations to support students in completing and submitting the FAFSA or MSFAA.
- Requiring county boards to report annually on the number of students who completed, declined, or received a waiver for the FAFSA or MSFAA.

The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

- Requiring elementary and secondary schools, as well as county school systems, to use reimbursement funds to provide additional positions for providers, paid internships for students seeking to become providers, and stipends for providers.
- Addressing problems in provider recruitment and retention, especially in low-performing schools.
- Mandating the Department of Education to adopt regulations to carry out this section.

The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

- Requiring each county board of education to publish on its website and report to the General Assembly on the number of main entrances to public school buildings that are not accessible for individuals with disabilities and not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Mandating each local school system to send a copy of its emergency plan to the State Department of Education.
- Requiring the Department to analyze the emergency plans and report to the General Assembly on compliance with guidelines and regulations.
- Including specific accommodations for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 plans during emergencies.

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

- Requiring each county board of education to publish on its website a list of special education service delivery models provided for parentally-placed private school students.
- Ensuring that all decisions regarding the placement of a child with a disability in a special education service delivery model are made by an individualized education program team in consultation with the parents or guardians of the child.
- Providing a written copy of the information upon request.

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

- Increasing the required percentage of working time that a teacher on level one, two, or three of the career ladder must spend teaching in the classroom from 60% to 80%.
- Ensuring that the remaining time is spent on other teacher activities, such as improving instruction, tutoring students who need additional help, working with challenging students, and participating in professional learning.

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

• Allowing teachers to remove students from the classroom for repeated disruptive behavior or unruly, disruptive, or abusive behavior that interferes with teaching and learning.

• Requiring teachers to document the behavior and send the student to the principal or guidance counselor.

• Providing options for principals to handle the student, including returning the student to the classroom, placing the student in another classroom, in-school suspension, an alternative program, or limiting participation in school activities.

• Prohibiting disciplinary action against teachers for removing students in accordance with the act.

• Ensuring that students removed under this act are not considered removed for reporting purposes.

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

• Educational Institutions and Opioid Overdose Medications:

  • Update drug addiction and prevention education to include opioid overdose-reversing medications like naloxone.

Key Provisions:

• K-12 Education:

  • Include naloxone information in drug education programs starting before the sixth grade.

  • Establish standards for teacher training in drug addiction education.

• Health Policies in Schools:

  • Authorize school personnel to administer naloxone to students or others on school property.

  • Require schools to store naloxone and notify parents about the policy.

• Higher Education Institutions:

  • Establish heroin and opioid addiction prevention policies.

  • Require naloxone availability and related training for campus police and designated personnel.

  • Authorize individuals at higher education institutions to possess naloxone.

Effective Date: July 1, 2025.

• Promote Health Insurance Access:

  • Improve access to health insurance for child care professionals.

Key Provisions:

• Collaboration:

  • State Department of Education collaborates with the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange.

  • Partnerships with prekindergarten provider hubs, child care associations, and relevant nonprofits.

• Support for Child Care Professionals:

  • Assist with obtaining health insurance through the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange or Medicaid.

  • Provide support for child care professionals who lose Medicaid coverage.

  • Ensure health plan options meet the needs and budgets of child care professionals and employers.

  • Provide informational resources or referrals for additional support.

• Satellite Organizations:

  • Child care providers receiving substantial government funding can participate in the State Employee and Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits Program as satellite organizations.

Effective Date: October 1, 2025.

• Task Force to Improve Attendance and Reduce Chronic Absenteeism in Schools:

  • Establish a task force to study and recommend practices to identify, prevent, and eliminate chronic absenteeism among students.

Key Provisions:

• Task Force Composition:

  • Includes members from the Senate, House of Delegates, State Superintendent of Schools, county superintendent, Governor's Office, school-based administrator, public school teacher, school counselor, parent of a public school student, pupil personnel worker, teacher's union representative, higher education representative, and other experts.

• Responsibilities:

  • Collect and analyze data on chronic absenteeism.

  • Identify and evaluate local and national strategies to address absenteeism.

  • Develop comprehensive responses prioritizing prevention and intervention.

  • Set a statewide goal for reducing chronic absenteeism.

  • Develop and distribute guidance and toolkits for school leaders.

• Reporting:

  • Report findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 2025.

Effective Date

• To establish specific requirements for the execution of wills by individuals who are married or in registered domestic partnerships.

Key Provisions:

1. Execution of Wills:

   • Prohibits a testator who is married or in a registered domestic partnership from signing a will in the presence of their spouse or registered domestic partner.

   • Prohibits an individual who witnesses and signs a testator's will from also witnessing and signing the will of the testator's spouse or registered domestic partner.

Effective Date:

• October 1, 2025.

• School Start Times:

  • Change start times for public middle and high schools to improve student health and academic performance.

Key Provisions:

• Instruction Start Time:

  • Middle schools: Not before 8:00 AM.

  • High schools: Not before 8:30 AM.

• Public Service Campaign:

  • Implement a campaign to raise awareness about the benefits of later start times and address sleep deprivation.

• Waivers:

  • State Board of Education may grant waivers for schools to start earlier under specific circumstances.

Effective Date: July 1, 2025.

• Applicants for Positions Involving Direct Contact With Minors:

  • Ensure thorough review and safety measures for hiring individuals for positions involving direct contact with minors.

Key Provisions:

• Required Information:

  • Applicants must submit contact information for current and past employers, written consent for release of records, and written statements about any past investigations or disciplinary actions related to child sexual abuse, sexual misconduct, or boundary-violating behavior.

  • Include a notarized Child Protective Services background clearance form.

• Review Process:

  • Employers must review the applicant's employment history and contact past employers for information about any allegations or findings of misconduct.

  • Request a report from the Department of Human Services on the applicant's background.

• Reporting and Compliance:

  • Child care centers, youth-serving organizations, and contracting agencies must follow specific procedures when hiring.

  • County boards must report annually to the State Department of Education on training programs, screening policies, and employee conduct codes.

  • The Department compiles and reports this information to the General Assembly.

Effective Date: July 1, 2025.

• Regulate Student Fights and Discipline in Schools:

  • Implement guidelines for school investigations and disciplinary actions related to student fights and physical struggles.

Key Provisions:

• Investigation Requirement:

  • Principals or school administration must investigate each student fight or physical struggle.

• Disciplinary Action:

  • School employees are prohibited from disciplining students who used reasonable force to protect themselves or escape an attack, as determined by the investigation.

• Record Expungement:

  • If a student is disciplined but later found to have used reasonable force, the principal or school administration must expunge the discipline documentation from the student's record.

Effective Date: July 1, 2025.

• To make various alterations to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, focusing on education funding, career counseling, and the career ladder for educators.

Key Provisions:

1. Career Counseling Program:

   • Repeals the Career Counseling Program for Middle and High School Students and its associated funding.

2. Per-School Funding:

   • Requires county boards of education to report on per-school funding for certain programs under the Blueprint for Maryland's Future.

   • Provides a waiver from minimum funding requirements for schools with fewer than 350 students.

3. Collective Bargaining:

   • Limits the authority of the Accountability and Implementation Board over certain collective bargaining processes.

4. Career Ladder for Educators:

   • Alters components of the career ladder for principals and assistant principals.

   • Redefines "Tier I child" to include children with disabilities or from non-English speaking homes for publicly funded prekindergarten.

5. Family Income Eligibility:

   • Authorizes county boards to establish family income eligibility limits for payment of costs for certain post-college and career readiness pathways.

6. Studies:

   • Requires the Accountability and Implementation Board to study the effect of National Board Certification on teachers.

   • Requires the State Department of Education to conduct an adequacy study on Maryland's special education funding.

Effective Date:

• July 1, 2025

• To improve cybersecurity standards, compliance, and audits for local school systems in Maryland.

Key Provisions:

1. Cybersecurity Compliance:

   • Local school systems must comply with the State minimum cybersecurity standards and conduct a cybersecurity maturity assessment every two years.

   • By June 30, 2026, and every two years thereafter, local school systems must certify compliance with the State minimum cybersecurity standards to the Office of Security Management.

2. Support for Local Schools:

   • The Department of Information Technology must assign at least three information security officers to support local school systems with compliance, assessments, and remediation efforts.

3. Annual Updates:

   • The Office of Security Management within the Department of Information Technology will annually update the State minimum cybersecurity standards.

4. Audits:

   • The Office of Legislative Audits must refer to the State minimum cybersecurity standards when conducting audits related to financial transactions, internal controls, and electronic data processing operations.

5. Reporting Requirements:

   • County boards of education must submit annual reports detailing cybersecurity expenditures and staffing, including full-time employees, vendor-supported staff, contractors, and dedicated cybersecurity professionals.

6. Cybersecurity Staffing:

   • Each county board must provide sufficient cybersecurity staffing as determined by the State Chief Information Security Officer.

   • Local school systems may share services, contractors, or regional support to ensure adequate cybersecurity staffing.

Effective Date:

• July 1, 2025.

• To establish a minimum wage for education support professionals employed by county boards of education and to adjust this wage for inflation annually.

Key Provisions:

1. Minimum Wage for Education Support Professionals:

   • Requires county boards of education to pay education support professionals a minimum wage of $25.00 per hour starting July 1, 2025.

   • "Education support professionals" refers to noncertificated public school employees in nonsupervisory bargaining units.

2. Annual Adjustment for Inflation:

   • The minimum wage will be adjusted each year on July 1 based on the percentage growth in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U).

   • If there is no growth or a decline in the CPI-U, the minimum wage will remain unchanged.

3. Regulations:

   • The State Board of Education is authorized to adopt regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this bill.

Effective Date:

• June 1, 2025.

• To establish guidelines, professional development, and a task force focused on the integration and use of artificial intelligence in K-12 education.

Key Provisions:

1. Guidelines on AI Use:

   • By August 1, 2026, the State Department of Education, in collaboration with the State Board and the Task Force on AI in K-12 Education, must develop or update K-12 guidance on classroom use of artificial intelligence.

   • Guidelines must promote safe, responsible, and ethical AI use and prioritize educational needs using evidence-based approaches.

2. AI Tools:

   • The Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Information Technology, must develop and annually update a list of approved AI tools for school use, ensuring privacy and security.

3. Designated AI Facilitators:

   • Each county board must designate an employee to facilitate ethical AI use in local schools and conduct annual inventories of AI systems.

4. AI Literacy in Workforce Preparation:

   • By October 1, 2025, the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Committee must ensure AI literacy is part of workforce preparation.

5. Needs Assessment and Reporting:

   • The Department of Education must conduct a statewide AI needs assessment to identify local school systems' support needs for AI integration.

   • Annual reports on AI product purchases, uses, and student performance must be submitted by county boards starting July 1, 2026.

6. Professional Development:

   • The Department must promote AI training and workforce development, including courses, training for teachers and administrators, and monthly webinars.

7. Task Force on AI in K-12 Education:

   • A task force will study AI uses in local school systems and make recommendations for guidance, professional development, and policy adoption.

Effective Date:

• June 1, 2025, with the task force provisions expiring on January 31, 2027.

• To apply certain wage deduction provisions of the Maryland Wage Payment and Collection Law to governmental employers and to allow wage deductions for public employees under specific conditions.

Key Provisions:

1. Inclusion of Governmental Units:

   • Expands the definition of "employer" to include governmental units, making them subject to the same wage deduction rules as private employers.

2. Permitted Deductions:

   • Prohibits employers from making deductions from an employee's wages unless:

     • Ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction.

     • Authorized expressly in writing by the employee.

     • Allowed by the Commissioner because the employee has received full consideration for the deduction.

     • Authorized expressly in a compensation or benefit plan for public employees, such as a supplemental retirement plan, adopted by a governmental unit.

     • Otherwise made in accordance with any law or regulation issued by a governmental unit.

Effective Date:

• October 1, 2025.

• To authorize the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) to issue a Class B commercial driver's license with a school bus or passenger vehicle endorsement to certain nonresidents of Maryland.

Key Provisions:

1. Authorization for Nonresidents:

   • Allows the MVA to issue a Class B commercial driver's license with endorsements for operating school buses or passenger vehicles to nonresidents of Maryland.

   • This applies to individuals who hold the equivalent of a Class B commercial driver's license and the appropriate endorsements from a neighboring state.

2. Requirements:

   • The individual must not be a resident of Maryland.

   • The individual must hold the equivalent commercial driver's license and endorsements from the driver's licensing authority of a neighboring state.

Effective Date:

• October 1, 2025.

• Purpose: The bill aims to establish the Maryland Civic Excellence Program as a voluntary program to recognize students and public schools that promote civic readiness and civic engagement.

• Key Changes:

  • Establishes the Maryland Civic Excellence Program.

  • Allows local school systems to participate voluntarily.

  • Awards a Seal of Civic Excellence to students who meet specific criteria, including taking the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment for Government, earning high grades in social studies courses, and completing at least 75 hours of student service.

  • Designates public schools as Centers of Civic Excellence if they meet certain criteria, including having at least 50% of their graduating class earn the Seal of Civic Excellence.

  • Requires participating local school systems to submit annual reports on the program.

• Purpose: The bill aims to establish the Phone-Free Schools Pilot Program to collect data on the effects of limiting student cell phone use during the school day.

• Key Changes:

  • Establishes the Phone-Free Schools Pilot Program.

  • Requires the Carroll County and Montgomery County Public School Systems to participate.

  • Each participating school system must select one middle school and one high school to implement a policy prohibiting student cell phone use during instructional time.

  • Allows exceptions for documented purposes in a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan, for monitoring or addressing a student's documented health issue, or when directed by an educator or administrator for educational purposes.

  • Requires participating school systems to collect data on academic achievement, student classroom engagement, social interactions, behavior and discipline, enforcement challenges, and feedback from students, teachers, and parents.

  • Mandates a report on the effectiveness of the pilot program to be submitted by September 1, 2026.

• Purpose: The bill aims to require certain employers to provide employees with parental school engagement leave to attend meetings and conferences related to their child's schooling.

• Key Changes:

  • Requires employers with at least 50 employees to provide at least 12 hours of paid parental school engagement leave each school year.

  • Specifies that the leave is separate from other leave benefits and must be paid at the employee's regular rate of pay.

  • Allows employees to use the leave to attend school meetings and conferences for their child.

  • Requires employees to provide notice to their employer if the need for leave is foreseeable.

  • Mandates that school administrators provide documentation of the meeting or conference attended by the employee.

  • Establishes penalties for employers who fail to comply with the requirements of the Act.

• Purpose: The bill aims to establish a Task Force to analyze challenges related to student enrollment counts and their effect on school funding.

• Key Changes:

  • Establishes the Task Force on Education Funding and Student Population Growth.

  • The Task Force will consist of members appointed by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and the Governor.

  • The Task Force will analyze challenges related to delays in student enrollment counts and their impact on school funding.

  • The Task Force will make recommendations for improvements to the provision of school funding.

  • The Task Force will report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 15, 2025.

  • The Act will take effect on July 1, 2025, and will remain effective until June 30, 2026.

• Purpose: The bill aims to require the State Department of Education to develop a comprehensive plan for the establishment of Restorative Practices Schools.

• Key Changes:

  • Defines "restorative practices" as a communally and culturally responsive, relationship-focused student discipline model.

  • Requires the State Department of Education to develop a comprehensive plan by July 1, 2026, for the establishment of Restorative Practices Schools.

  • The plan will include a framework for identifying school personnel qualified to provide restorative practices training, model training materials, standards for designating a school as a Restorative Practices School, and intended outcomes and performance metrics.

  • If a county board chooses to establish a Restorative Practices School, it must use the comprehensive plan developed by the State Department of Education

• Purpose: The bill aims to expand the acts for which a child adjudicated delinquent is required to register with the juvenile sex offender registry and supervising authority, and to prohibit in-person school attendance for certain juvenile offenders.

• Key Changes:

  • Expands the acts for which a child adjudicated delinquent must register with the juvenile sex offender registry.

  • Requires law enforcement agencies and State’s Attorneys to notify schools when a child is arrested for certain offenses.

  • Prohibits a child from in-person attendance at a public or nonpublic school that receives State funds if the child has been convicted or adjudicated delinquent of certain offenses.

  • Requires each local school system to provide alternative educational options for children prohibited from in-person attendance.

• Purpose: The bill aims to establish the Youth Enhancement Program within the State Department of Education to provide grants to certain nonprofit organizations to offer services to individuals residing in or attending public school in Baltimore City or Baltimore County.

• Key Changes:

  • Establishes the Youth Enhancement Program in the Department of Education.

  • Provides grants to nonprofit organizations headquartered in Baltimore City that serve targeted individuals.

  • Targets early adolescent children and young adults who qualify for free or reduced-price meals and are members of historically disadvantaged groups.

  • Focuses on mentoring and academic and social instruction, including lifelong health and wellness, mental health, character development, and college and career readiness.

  • Services are provided during out-of-school and out-of-work time and partly delivered by individuals who previously received services from the nonprofit organization.

  • Requires the Department to administer the program and establish application procedures.

  • Allocates $1,000,000 annually for the program starting in fiscal year 2027.

  • Mandates annual reporting by nonprofit organizations on services provided and student progress.

• Purpose: The bill aims to alter the membership of the State Board of Education to include a school principal as a member.

• Key Changes:

  • Adds a certified principal who is actively leading a school to the State Board of Education.

  • The principal member will be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, following an election by principals in the state.

  • The principal member may attend and participate in executive sessions of the State Board but may not vote on matters related to appeals to the State Board under certain sections of the Education Article.

  • The initial term of the principal member will begin on July 1, 2026.

• Purpose: The bill aims to require each county board of education to develop and implement a policy that prohibits students from using a cellular device during the school day, except under certain circumstances.

• Key Changes:

  • Defines "cellular device" as any portable, wireless communication device, including a smartphone, tablet, or wearable device.

  • Defines "instructional time" as any time during the school day, except a student's lunch period.

  • Requires each county board to develop and implement a policy to prohibit the use of a cellular device by students during instructional time.

  • Requires students to store their cellular devices in a secure storage container during instructional time.

  • Allows exceptions for documented purposes in a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan, for monitoring or addressing a student's documented health issue, or when directed by an educator or administrator for educational purposes.

  • Includes appropriate disciplinary measures for violations of the policy.

• Purpose: The bill aims to authorize the reallocation of grants from the Safe Schools Fund to local school systems that have fully expended their grant allocation and demonstrate unmet need within the same fiscal year.

• Key Changes:

  • Allows grants to be reallocated to local school systems that have fully expended their allocation and demonstrate need within the same fiscal year.

  • Maintains the requirement for the Governor to include an appropriation of $10,000,000 to the Fund in the annual budget bill for providing grants to local school systems and local law enforcement agencies.

• Purpose: The bill aims to authorize certain individuals honorably discharged from military service to obtain a high school diploma if they withdrew from school to enlist in the armed forces during an armed conflict.

• Key Changes:

  • Allows individuals who withdrew from a public or private high school to enlist in the armed forces during an armed conflict authorized by the President or Congress to apply for a high school diploma.

  • Requires individuals to apply to the county board in the county where they reside or where the school they withdrew from is located.

  • Mandates that each county board adopt rules and regulations to establish procedures for awarding diplomas under this section.

• Purpose: The bill aims to require the Governor to include certain appropriations in the annual budget bill for the State Department of Education to support driver education and career and technical education in Prince George’s County.

• Key Changes:

  • Requires the Governor to include specific appropriations for fiscal years 2027 to 2032 to increase access to driver education and career and technical education.

  • Allocates funds for professional development for career and technical education teachers, transportation of students to and from training activities, and support for career and technical education events.

  • Mandates an annual evaluation of the impact of the funding on increasing the number of career-ready students.

  • Requires the Department to hire an independent contractor to conduct the annual evaluation.

• Purpose: The bill aims to authorize the State Department of Education to engage in or control procurements of certain local food.

• Key Changes:

  • Allows the Department to procure food grown within a 200-mile radius from an elementary or secondary school for which a local school system enters into a master contract with the Department.

  • Permits the Department to procure food grown at a certified local farm.

  • Authorizes the procurement of certified Chesapeake invasive species provided by a certified Chesapeake invasive species provider.

  • Requires the Department to coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and other relevant state units to establish a centralized platform to encourage participation in procurement opportunities.

  • Mandates an annual report to the General Assembly on the total number and dollar value of master contracts with local school systems, certified local farms, and certified Chesapeake invasive species providers.

• Purpose: The bill aims to alter the projects eligible for funding under the Community Health and Safety Works Grant Program and expand the authorized uses of the Fund.

• Key Changes:

  • Expands the definition of eligible projects to include community or business district improvement projects, community-centered crime and violence intervention and prevention projects, and other recognized crime prevention strategies.

  • Allows governmental units of political subdivisions and institutions of higher education in collaboration with local neighborhood associations to apply for grants.

  • Repeals certain requirements for projects to purchase or install camera networks.

  • Removes minimum and maximum grant amounts, allowing the Department to determine grant amounts.

  • Expands the authorized uses of the Fund to include administrative and operating expenses of the Department of Housing and Community Development.

• Purpose: The bill aims to rename the Board of Trustees of the Maryland Teachers and State Employees Supplemental Retirement Plans to the Board of Trustees of the Maryland State Employees Supplemental Retirement Plans.

• Key Changes:

  • Renames the Board of Trustees to reflect the new title.

  • Specifies that the renamed Board is the successor of the previous Board.

  • Ensures continuity of all personnel, records, files, properties, and obligations under the new name.

  • Requires the use of existing letterhead, business cards, and documents with the old name until they are depleted.

  • Mandates the correction of cross-references and terminology in the Annotated Code of Maryland to reflect the new name.

• Purpose: The bill aims to alter the additional percentage the Uninsured Employers’ Fund Board may direct the Workers’ Compensation Commission to assess on awards and settlements if the Board determines that the reserves of the Fund are inadequate to meet anticipated losses.

• Key Changes:

  • Allows the Board to direct the Commission to assess up to an additional 2% on awards and settlements, instead of the previous 1%.

  • Specifies that the assessment applies to awards for permanent disability or death, including awards for disfigurement or mutilation, and amounts payable under settlement agreements approved by the Commission.

  • Excludes certain medical benefits from the assessment if specific conditions are met.

  • Establishes joint and several liability for corporate officers or members of limited liability companies who knowingly fail to secure workers’ compensation insurance if the assets of the corporation or limited liability company are insufficient to satisfy an assessment.

• Purpose: The bill aims to establish an optional self-employed enrollment program for the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program and to alter the definition of "application year."

• Key Changes:

  • Requires the Maryland Department of Labor to adopt regulations for an optional self-employed enrollment program.

  • Repeals certain requirements related to the payment of contributions by participating self-employed individuals.

  • Excludes participating self-employed individuals from certain provisions of law governing the payment of benefits.

  • Alters the definition of "application year" to mean the 12-month period beginning on the Sunday of the calendar week in which leave begins.

• Purpose: The bill aims to repeal the requirement that certain child care centers have a specific ratio of staff to children who hold a certificate in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

• Key Changes:

  • Repeals the requirement for child care centers serving more than 20 children to have a ratio of at least one certificate holder for every 20 children.

  • Maintains the requirement that at least one individual responsible for the supervision of children holds a current certificate in basic first aid and CPR training.

• Purpose: The bill aims to require each member of a county board of education to complete certain antibias training at least once during their term.

• Key Changes:

  • Requires each member of a county board of education to complete antibias training developed by the county board.

  • Specifies that the training must be conducted separately from the public school employee training.

  • The training will be based on guidelines developed by the Department of Education, which include lessons in cultural awareness, reducing implicit bias, and combating prejudices faced by historically marginalized groups.

• Purpose: The bill aims to increase the scholarship award for a student member of the Anne Arundel County Board of Education who completes a full term on the county board.

• Key Changes:

  • Increases the scholarship award from $8,000 to $15,000 for a student member who completes a full term on the county board.

1. **Repeal of Digital Device Purchase Requirement**: the bill removes the mandate for county boards of education to prioritize the purchase of digital devices using certain funds.

2. **Compliance with State Cybersecurity Standards**: it requires each local school system to adhere to and certify compliance with the State's minimum cybersecurity standards.

3. **Biennial Cybersecurity Maturity Assessment**: the bill mandates that local school systems conduct a cybersecurity maturity assessment every two years.

4. **Annual Updates to Cybersecurity Standards**: the Office of Security Management within the Department of Information Technology is tasked with annually updating the State's minimum cybersecurity standards.

5. **Provision of Information Security Officers**: the Department of Information Technology is required to provide a specified number of information security officers to assist local school systems with cybersecurity functions, focusing on a particular standard for a designated school year.

6. **Incorporation of Cybersecurity Standards in Audits**: The Office of Legislative Audits within the Department of Legislative Services is directed to reference the State's minimum cybersecurity standards when conducting relevant audits. If enacted, the bill is scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2025.