Close this form

Search

Local Affiliates

Join MSEA

Get Updates

THIS WEEK IN ANNAPOLIS

$71 Billion Budget Bill Passes Senate; Moves to House

In a vote that included six Republican members, the Senate on Wednesday passed (40-6) a $70.88 billion fiscal year 2027 budget that the House will now take up. Like the governor’s proposed budget, the Senate version keeps the state’s commitment to K-12 public education and balances the budget without adding new taxes or fees.

The Senate version of the budget does reflect some significant changes from what the governor proposed including requiring law enforcement that receives funding to prove they comply with the new law prohibiting coordination with federal immigration authorities; restoring $23 million to a $150 million cut in funding to the Developmental Disabilities Administration; and incorporating an energy cost savings package.

The House Appropriations Committee will finalize its version of the budget, likely next week, and differences between the Senate and House versions will require conference committee negotiations later. The budget must be adopted by April 6.

MSEA Applauds Progress on 2026 Legislative Priorities

Many of MSEA’s legislative priorities made progress this week, and bills that undercut the work of our public schools appear to be languishing. Much legislation has moved swiftly out of committees for a vote in the original chamber this week, the last chance before Monday’s crossover deadline. After Monday, legislation that is passed by the original chamber and sent to the opposite chamber must clear procedural hurdles before being fully considered.

One priority this year has to do with several bills to improve the work and lives of education support professionals (ESPs) whose work supports every student and school. MSEA’s ESP Bill of Rights advocates for ESPs to have better pay, a stronger voice, and protection against privatization of jobs. House Bill 828, legislation to give an ESP a seat on the State Board of Education, is poised to pass the House before the critical Monday deadline. HB828’s sponsor is Del. Eric Ebersole (D-Baltimore County). Progress toward a higher ESP minimum wage has been made with the Senate passage a heavily  amended Senate Bill 764, sponsored by Sen. Craig Zucker (D-Montgomery). Citing the unknown financial impact associated with bringing the starting wage of every ESP up to $25 per hour, senators amended the bill to first have the Maryland State Department of Education conduct a study to accurately estimate the cost. The study would calculate the cost in every county to move up any ESP making less than $25 per hour to that minimum professional starting wage. The crossfile of SB764 is House Bill 1205, sponsored by Del. Greg Wims (D-Montgomery), and it is in the House Ways and Means Committee. Senate Bill 904, also sponsored by Sen. Craig Zucker (D-Montgomery), is a bill that would have prohibited outsourcing of school jobs and improve the onboarding of paraeducators and other ESPs. It was voted out of the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee, but it was amended to remove the outsourcing prohibition and is now centered on professional development concerns. The crossfile, sponsored by Del. Jessica Feldmark (D-Howard), House Bill 1254, is in the Ways and Means Committee.

Several key bills are making progress to expand worker rights. MSEA supports Senate Bill 6 to allow collective bargaining by nontenure faculty. SB6 passed the Senate along party lines (32-12) and is now in the House. SB6 is sponsored by Sen. Ben Kramer (D-Montgomery), and the crossfile, sponsored by Del. Linda Foley (D-Montgomery), is House Bill 106, in the Government, Labor, and Elections (GLE) Committee. House Bill 141, to expand collective bargaining to graduate assistants, passed (98-34) and is in the Senate Finance Committee. HB141 is sponsored by Del. Linda Foley (D-Montgomery), and the crossfile is Senate Bill 84, sponsored by Sen. Ben Kramer (D-Montgomery). In solidarity with our union siblings in AFSCME, MSEA supports Senate Bill 28/House Bill 604 to expand binding arbitration for state employees. Sponsors are Sen. Jared Solomon (D-Montgomery) and Del. Cory McCray (D-Baltimore City). SB28 passed the Senate (34-11) and is in the House. HB604 is set to pass the House before the end of this weekend.

Several important education policy bills are also advancing. Legislation is moving in the right direction to eliminate the disruption from, and set consistent policies concerning, cell phones, technology, and artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom. Senate Bill 928, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Harris (D-Prince George’s and Calvert), consolidates good ideas from several bills to require boards of education to establish student technology (cell phone) use policies for the 2027-2028 school year. SB928 passed second reading with amendments on Thursday and is expected to pass the Senate by Monday. The crossfile is House Bill 525, sponsored by Del. Adrian Boafo (D-Prince George’s). Senate Bill 720, which would require professional development and guidelines in schools concerning AI, passed second reading with amendments and is also expected to make the crossover deadline. SB720 is sponsored by Sen. Katie Fry Hester (D-Howard and Montgomery), and the crossfile is House Bill 1057, sponsored by Del. Eric Ebersole (D-Baltimore County). In a positive step to reduce the educator shortage, identical versions of the school psychologist interstate compact legislation, Senate Bill 238/House Bill 340, have passed both chambers in unanimous votes, and have crossed over to the opposite chamber. Sponsors are Sen. Malcolm Augustine (D-Prince George’s) and Del. Bernice Mireku-North (D-Montgomery).

Other bills that MSEA has worked for or against affect public school funding and educators’ financial wellbeing. Senate Bill 170, to establish a task force that will analyze challenges associated with accurate enrollment counts, has passed the Senate. Sponsored by Sen. Karen Lewis Young (D-Frederick), SB170 is in the House Appropriations Committee. The crossfile is House Bill 64, sponsored by Del. Kris Fair (D-Frederick). House Bill 478 passed the House (134-0) to make preschool educators eligible for tax deductions associated with school supplies they pay for out of pocket. HB478 is sponsored by Del. Edith Patterson (D-Charles). The crossfile is Senate Bill 262, sponsored by Sen. Bryan Simonaire (R-Anne Arundel). SB262 was reported favorably with amendments out the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, where HB478 is now.

Progress is building in MSEA’s priorities regarding racial, social, and economic justice, made more urgent by the hostile environment of aggressive federal law enforcement. The No Kings Act, Senate Bill 346, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher (D-Montgomery), is expected to be voted on the Senate floor today. The bill would let Marylanders sue federal agents in state courts for constitutional violations. The crossfile is House Bill 332, sponsored by Del. Lorig Charkoudian (D-Montgomery). Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Sen. Malcolm Augustine (D-Prince George’s) to prohibit law enforcement from wearing face coverings, passed the Senate (31-13), and is in the House Judiciary Committee. The crossfile is House Bill 155, sponsored by Del. Nicole Williams (D-Prince George’s).

House Bill 1017, to prohibit the operation of an immigration detention facility without proper zoning authority, passed the House (98-36) and is in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. HB1017 is sponsored by Del. Melissa Wells (D-Baltimore City), and the crossfile is Senate Bill 984, sponsored by Sen. Will Smith (D-Montgomery). House Bill 1018 would establish minimum standards and regulations for operating an immigration detention facility. HB1018 passed the House (98-37) and is in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. The crossfile is Senate Bill 985, sponsored by Sen. Will Smith (D-Montgomery).

On March 25, the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee (EEE) will hear House Bill 1341, legislation to prohibit public school security personnel from engaging in federal immigration enforcement. HB1341 passed the House (90-34), and the crossfile is Senate Bill 810, which is in the EEE and Judicial Proceedings committees. 

Fair housing regulations and affordable housing legislation are progressing and are supported by MSEA. House Bill 573, sponsored by Del. Deni Taveras (D-Prince George’s), would prevent housing discrimination. It passed the House (96-36) and is in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. The crossfile is Senate Bill 274, sponsored by Sen. Charles Sydnor (D-Baltimore County). House Bill 168 to establish workforce housing grants for educators is on first reading in EEE after the House passed it (111-22).  Del. Joe Vogel (D-Montgomery) sponsors HB168.