The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s work in the area of education policy in the 2025 General Assembly session.
Counties support education as the largest component of their budgets, with operating and capital support for schools typically representing a larger share of a county budget than all other functions combined. Statutory formulas drive most state-level funding, which requires constant attention to the state-county balance in funding responsibilities. The burden of costly mandates can fall on county budgets unless state resources are provided. MACo typically advocates for fair and accountable school funding and opposes unfunded new requirements.
Maryland’s 447th legislative session convened amidst a substantial concern over the State’s fiscal situation, with weakened revenues and cost increases for many services at every level of government. Despite the fiscal limitations, a wide range of policy issues received a full debate, with many resolutions arising from the 90-day annual process. MACo’s legislative committee guided the association’s positions on hundreds of bills, yielding many productive compromises and gains spanning counties’ uniquely wide portfolio.
Follow these links for more coverage on our Conduit Street blog and Legislative Database.
As amended, MACo took no position on HB 1105/SB 770 – Applicants for Positions Involving Direct Contact With Minors – Required Information, Review Process, and Reporting – Alterations. This bill originally attempted to expand the employee application and review procedures required for school systems, childcare centers, and youth-serving organizations, which, for counties, means extending these requirements to include recreational programs, summer camps, and recreational sports programs and teams. MACo shared feedback on how these positions are recruited for, vetted, the scope of work, and time spent with minors. Those circumstances are vastly different from school-based programs and year-round childcare services. As amended the bill was narrowed to focus on a school system requirement to build out crisis support teams and require the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to study the impact of requiring a new category of boundary-violating behavior in the candidate review process. The bill passed out of the Senate but stalled in the House and did not pass.
Bill Information | MACo Coverage
MACo supported HB 1245/SB 852 – Blueprint for Maryland’s Future – Alterations with amendments. This bill seeks to adjust a number of components of the State’s visionary education plan, the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (Blueprint), focusing broadly on early education, teacher development, college and career readiness, and resource allocation. The primary goal was to ease some implementation barriers the school systems have been experiencing as the Blueprint rollout continues to unfold. This bill did not pass but a handful of components were included in HB 504 / SB 429 as seen below.
Bill Information | MACo Coverage
MACo supported HB 772 – Education – Career Counseling Program for Middle and High School Students – Alterations with amendments. This bill would continue the intent of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (“The Blueprint”) that local workforce development boards receive funds dedicated to student career counseling and readiness and oversee such programs in collaboration with local school systems and community colleges. While this bill did not pass, the meaningful provisions it included were adopted in HB 504 / SB 429.
Bill Information | MACo Coverage
MACo supported HB 504/SB 429 – Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act with amendments. This bill adjusts the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (Blueprint), focusing on bolstering recruitment and retention efforts for certified teachers and pausing and scaling back certain elements to adjust strategies. This bill passed in the early evening hours of Sine Die. The budget-based provisions of the bill were an obvious middle ground between the House and the Senate. The final agreement was to pause the implementation of collaborative time for three years and pick back up in FY29. Funding for the program will remain as planned at $163 per pupil in FY26 and then pause for FY27 and FY28 before picking back up in FY29. When funding resumes it will be at the per pupil amount designated for FY27 at $334 per student. MACo also respectfully requested a couple policy amendments to the bill, some of which were adopted before final passage including measures from HB 772 to continue the funding for ongoing implementation of the career counseling programs as well as requiring the AIB to assess the overall progress of this initiative.
Bill Information | MACo Coverage
For more on education-related legislation tracked by MACo during the 2025 legislative session.