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THIS WEEK IN ANNAPOLIS

Bills to Restrain Law Enforcement Behavior, Local Agreements Swiftly Move

Legislation in response to the Trump Administration’s merciless tactics in the guise of immigration law enforcement has swiftly passed in each chamber and crossed over to opposite chambers. In alignment with MSEA’s legislative priorities to protect vulnerable Marylanders, MSEA supports the cross-filed bills that would prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies from entering into immigration enforcement agreements: Senate Bill 245, sponsored by Sen. Will Smith (D-Montgomery) is cross filed with House Bill 444, sponsored by Del. Nicole Williams (D-Prince George’s). The Senate passed SB245 in a 32-12 vote and the House passed HB444, 99-40. The bills received the necessary three-fifths support to qualify as emergency legislation that could take effect immediately upon the governor’s signature.

Separate legislation that MSEA supports would prohibit law enforcement officers from covering their faces with masks. The Senate passed Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Sen. Malcolm Augustine (D-Prince George’s), in a 31-13 vote. The bill is in the House Judiciary Committee now. The crossfile, House Bill 155 is sponsored by Del. Nicole Williams, and it is scheduled for its first hearing in the Judiciary Committee on February 24.

Bill Would Give ESP Member Voice on State School Board

MSEA strongly supports House Bill 828 as part of the ESP Bill of Rights to improve education support professionals’ working conditions. Delegate Eric Ebersole (D-Baltimore County) introduced the bill to designate one seat on the State Board of Education (SBOE) for an education support professional member who is actively working in a public school as a noncertificated, nonsupervisory public school employee. As in 2019, when MSEA advocacy won a place on the SBOE for an active teacher, MSEA advocates for ESPs to be represented on the SBOE to better inform the policy-making body. HB828 is assigned to the Ways and Means Committee, where a hearing is pending.

MSEA Testifies for School Funding, Housing, and Labor Rights and against Discrimination.

This week MSEA provided testimony in hearings on bills that would affect labor rights, education funding, accessible housing, and sex discrimination, among other issues.

Labor

In a Finance Committee hearing on Thursday, MSEA President Paul Lemle supported Senate Bill 6, extending collective bargaining rights to nontenure track faculty at Morgan State and St. Mary’s College. Sponsored by Sen. Ben Kramer (D-Montgomery), it is crossfiled with House Bill 106, sponsored by Del. Linda Foley (D-Montgomery).

Funding

On Tuesday MSEA supported House Bill 64 to establish a task force to improve student enrollment data collection. The annual count directly affects funding decisions. Sponsored by Del. Kris Fair (D-Frederick), HB64 is the crossfile of Senate Bill 170, sponsored by Sen. Karen Lewis Young (D-Frederick), which MSEA supported on January 21.

Housing

On Thursday in the Economic Matters Committee, MSEA President Lemle supported House Bill 168, expanding affordable housing programs to educators. It is sponsored by Del. Joe Vogel (D-Montgomery).

Discrimination

MSEA, along with other education advocates, opposes a bill that would allow discrimination against students based on gender identification. House Bill 63, sponsored by Del. Kathy Szeliga (D-Baltimore County) was heard Thursday in the Ways and Means Committee.

Cell Phone Policy

Several bills are being considered this session to address the need for consistent policies around cell phone and technology use in the classroom, where educators are forced to manage the distractions. This week, crossfiled bills that MSEA supported, with amendments, were Senate Bill 79 and House Bill 163, sponsored by Sen. Joanne Benson (D-Prince George’s), and Del. Chao Wu (D-Howard and Montgomery). Supporting a number of bills that address this pressing educator issue, MSEA has been fighting to pass legislation that will guarantee that schools have consistent policies for student cell phone and technology use.   

NEWS AND NOTES

NEA Building Case against ICE, with Member Stories

The National Education Association (NEA) is part of a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s policy of allowing immigration enforcement at or near schools and other sensitive locations. NEA members can support the litigation by sharing their stories about how immigration enforcement activities around schools have impacted them and their students. For example, Minneapolis schools have seen steep drops in student attendance due to fears about aggressive ICE activities surrounding schools. Members can connect with NEA here. 

Congress Adds Oversight to Education Funding in New Federal Budget

The fiscal year 2026 federal budget that was passed this week includes $79 billion for the U.S. Education Department, about $220 million more than FY25. The bill does not prevent the transfer of responsibilities from the department to other departments or agencies, but it requires biweekly reports to Congress on interagency agreements. The spending bill requires the department to maintain a staff necessary to fulfill its responsibilities and execute programs. The budget “avoided cuts to critical resources that serve America’s most vulnerable students…including mental health support, special education services, and opportunities for students in high-poverty districts,” according to a statement from the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

2026 CAMPAIGN NEWS

Hoyer’s Congressional Seat Interests More Democrats

The filing deadline to participate in the June primary is February 24, and so far 20 Democrats have announced their plan to run for the seat that U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-5^th) has held for 40 years. The latest high profile Democrat to join the race is former U.S. Capitol police officer Harry Dunn, who finished second in the 2024 primary in the 3^rd Congressional District, which is now represented by Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth.

Failed Trump Protege Dan Cox Files to Run against Gov. Moore for Second Time

Having lost the 2022 governor’s race in a historic drubbing with 35% of the vote to Wes Moore’s 65%, former State Delegate Dan Cox (R-Carroll and Frederick) announced his plan to run again this year. Cox, who had President Donald Trump’s endorsement in 2022, also lost in a 2016 race for Maryland’s 8^th congressional district seat against U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D), and he lost to Republican Neil Parrott in the 2024 6^th congressional district primary election.

The primary election will be held on June 23, with early voting from June 11-18. Early voting for the general election runs from Oct. 22-29, and Election Day is Nov. 3.