On February 24, Associate Policy Director Karrington Anderson testified before the Budget and Taxation Committee in support of SB 668 – Children’s Cabinet Fund – Renaming and Funding for Grants to Local Management Boards.
This bill strengthens Maryland’s commitment to children and families by renaming the Children’s Cabinet Fund and establishing a dedicated, increasing funding stream for grants to Local Management Boards (LMBs).
Active in all 24 jurisdictions, LMBs serve as quasi-authorities of local government, bringing together schools, nonprofits, service providers, and county leaders to identify community needs and strategically deploy resources.
Over the past decade, however, state support for the Children’s Cabinet Interagency Fund has declined significantly, even as demand for services has surged, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
By establishing a dedicated and steadily increasing funding stream, this legislation offers a responsible, forward-looking approach to rebuilding critical child- and family-serving infrastructure and ensuring that community-based solutions remain strong and sustainable.
LMBs support a wide range of initiatives that strengthen communities, including reducing youth homelessness and child hunger, mitigating the impact of incarceration on families, and preventing costly out-of-state residential placements. These efforts not only improve outcomes for children but also reduce long-term costs to state and local governments.
SB 668’s cross-file, HB 680, was heard on March 10 in the Appropriations Committee. Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified in support of this bill.
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