State Legislation

2026 Maryland General Assembly Session

MSBCA Executive Director and Legislative Lead Martha "Marty" Lostrom looks forward to advocating on your behalf with the 2026 Maryland General Assembly and thank you for the opportunity.

The 449th Maryland General Assembly opened on January 14, 2026 for a 90 day session. Senate President Bill Ferguson of Baltimore City presides over the Senate, while the House of Delegates welcomes new Speaker Joseline A. Pena-Melnyk of Prince George's and Anne Arundel Counties. It will be a very interesting session with several new committees formed and many new committee and sub committee leaders. Stay tuned...

Below are the bills that are being introduced with the Association's interests in mind.

Updated: 1/15/2026

Bill/Chapter (Cross/Chapter)	Title	Sponsor	Current Status	Org Committees & Hearings
HB0014	County Boards of Education - Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation - Information Collection and Reporting Requirements	Delegate Foley	In the House - Hearing 1/29 at 1:00 p.m.	Ways and Means 1/29/2026 - 1:00 PM
HB0026	Public Schools - Open Enrollment - Policies and Funding	Delegate Toles	In the House - First Reading Ways and Means	Ways and Means
HB0064 (SB0170)	Task Force on Education Funding and Student Population Growth	Delegate Fair	In the House - First Reading Appropriations	Appropriations
HB0076	Local School Systems - School Safety - Grant Allocations	Delegate Griffith	In the House - First Reading Appropriations	Appropriations
HB0079	Climate Solutions Affordability Act of 2026	Delegate Chisholm	In the House - First Reading Environment and Transportation	Environment and Transportation
HB0110	Motor Vehicles - School Buses - Seat Belts	Delegate Taveras	In the House - First Reading Environment and Transportation and Ways and Means	Environment and Transportation Ways and Means
HB0116 (SB0147)	Education - Agreements, Procurement Contracts, and Memoranda of Understanding - Reporting and Publication	Delegate Miller	In the House - Hearing 1/29 at 1:00 p.m.	Ways and Means 1/29/2026 - 1:00 PM
HB0128	County Boards of Education - Therapy Dogs - Policy for Handling and Use in Schools	Delegate Vogel	In the House - First Reading Ways and Means	Ways and Means
HB0154 (SB0099)	Open Meetings Act - County Boards of Education - Enhanced Requirements (Local Boards of Education Transparency Act)	Delegate Korman	In the House - First Reading Ways and Means	Ways and Means
HB0189 (SB0103)	Public Middle, High, and Charter Schools - Start Time for Instruction	Delegate Miller	In the House - First Reading Ways and Means	Ways and Means
HB0273 (SB0014)	Health Insurance – Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Enrollment – Effective Dates	Chair, Health Committee	In the House - First Reading Health	Health
HB0288 (SB0218)	State Superintendent of Schools - Prolonged State of Emergency - Authority to Declare	Chair, Ways and Means Committee	In the House - First Reading Ways and Means	Ways and Means
SB0014 (HB0273)	Health Insurance - Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Enrollment - Effective Dates	Chair, Finance Committee	In the Senate - First Reading Finance	Finance
SB0031	School Construction and Housing – School Zones and Adequate Public Facilities Ordinances	Senator Lam	In the Senate - First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment	Education, Energy, and the Environment
SB0147 (HB0116)	Education - Agreements, Procurement Contracts, and Memoranda of Understanding - Reporting and Publication	Senator Ready	In the Senate - First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment	Education, Energy, and the Environment
SB0170 (HB0064)	Task Force on Education Funding and Student Population Growth	Senator Lewis Young	In the Senate - Hearing 1/21 at 10:00 a.m.	Budget and Taxation 1/21/2026 - 10:00 AM
SB0218 (HB0288)	State Superintendent of Schools - Prolonged State of Emergency - Authority to Declare	Chair, Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee	In the Senate - First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment	Education, Energy, and the Environment

Budget and Taxation

Want to find your lawmakers? Here is a link to locate your representatives both state and federal - https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Members/District

Federal Legislation

2026 NSTA Capitol Hill Bus-In Recap

March 2026, Washington, DC

The National School Transportation Association (NSTA) conducted their annual 2026 NSTA Capitol Hill Bus-In every Spring.

For more information - Annual NSTA Capitol Hill Bus-In

2025 Federal Legislation included:

H.R. 2360 – Driving Forward Act - To permanently extend the exemption from the engine compartment portion of the pre-trip vehicle inspection skills testing requirement for school bus drivers, and for other purposes.

H.R. 2348 – Brake for Kids Act - To direct the Secretary of Transportation to produce and distribute a national public safety messaging campaign, and for other purposes.

NSTA Summary of H.R. 2360 and H.R. 2348 Click Here

In addition, NSTA continues its support for the Clean School Bus Program. Details on funds released to date and expected future of the program can be found in this NSTA summary.

NSTA Clean School Bus Program Summary Click Here

For more informatuoin regarding the NSTA - visit www.yellowbuses.org

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State Legislation

2026 Maryland General Assembly Session

Federal Legislation

2026 NSTA Capitol Hill Bus-In Recap

NSTA Summary of H.R. 2360 and H.R. 2348 Click Here

NSTA Clean School Bus Program Summary Click Here

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State Legislation

2026 Maryland General Assembly Session

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