2020 Session Archives
The 2020 legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly convened on Wednesday, January 8, 2020, and adjourned “sine die” at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. This early adjournment was due to the public health concerns caused by the pandemic outbreak of the corona-virus COVID-19.
Read MABE’s updated 2020 Legislative Session Summary Report (as of August 14, 2020) for an in-depth analysis of priority education bills, and the funding and policy issues passed & failed in 2020.
FY 2021 Budget information provided by the Department of Legislative Services (State Aid to Local Governments (Education, Libraries, Community Colleges, etc.) and Education Aid by program and county (Categorical Education Aid, and County-by-County pages for all local aid).
MABE’s Legislative Committee met regularly throughout the 2020 session to deliberate and vote on bill positions and to receive updates on pending legislation. The Committee is chaired by Julie Hummer (Anne Arundel County), and the vice-chair is Mavis Ellis (Howard County).
In advance of the legislative session, MABE conducted its annual update of the association’s Continuing Resolutions, which provide the foundation for MABE’s legislative and policy positions. On October 3, 2019, local board members approved MABE’s Continuing Resolutions for 2019-2020. These resolutions provide the foundation for MABE’s legislative and policy positions throughout the year. On November 18, 2019, MABE’s Legislative Committee adopted the following 2020 Legislative Positions.
Following the early adjournment of session, MABE continues to hold scheduled meetings of the Legislative Committee using online video-conferencing tools, to ensure continued opportunities for interactive updates and networking on key legislative and regulatory matters.
For more information, contact John R. Woolums, MABE’s Director of Governmental Relations.
Legislative Position Statements
In addition to identifying legislative priority issues for the 2020 session, MABE has adopted legislative position statements on the following major policy areas:
Priority Issues
MABE’s legislative advocacy priority during the 2020 session was the passage of comprehensive legislation to implement the recommendations of the Kirwan Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education. In the days leading up to the March 18 emergency adjuourning of session, the General Assembly expedited the passage of House Bill 1300, the Blueprint for Maryland's Future Act. For more information on this landmark legislation, go to MABE's Kirwan Blueprint Resources page and MABE’s Kirwan Blueprint priority issue page.
Bill Status Report & MABE Positions
Bill tracking report of all bills being monitored (updated weekly)
Bill Testimony
During the 2020 session, MABE monitored all education-related bills and providing written and oral testimony to the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates.
House Bills
House Bill 1
TITLE: Built to Learn Act of 2020
POSITION: Support w/Amendments
MABE Testimony
DATE: January 23, 2020
COMMITTEE: Appropriations
House Bill 7
TITLE: Environment - Public and Nonpublic Schools - Inspections for Mold Hazards and Mold or Moisture Problems
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: January 28, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means Committee and Environment and Transportation
House Bill 15
TITLE: Public Schools - Student Health - Certificate of Dental Health
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: January 28, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 184
TITLE: Special Education - Judicial Actions - Attorney's Fees and Related Costs
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: January 30, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means Committee and Judiciary
House Bill 202
TITLE: Restorative Schools Fund and Grants - Establishment
POSITION: Support
MABE Testimony
DATE: January 30, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 277
TITLE: State Department of Education - Guidelines on Trauma-Informed approach
POSITION: Support
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 5, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means Committee
House Bill 284
TITLE: Education - Maryland High School Diploma - Civics Test Requirement
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 5, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means Committee
House Bill 347
TITLE: Education - Community and Local Accountability for Struggling Schools (CLASS) Act of 2020 - Innovation Schools
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 19, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 348
TITLE: AP Opportunities Act of 2020
POSITION: Support With Amendments
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 19, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means Committee
House Bill 380
TITLE: Public Information Act - Denial of Part of a Public Record - Investigations by Inspectors General
POSITION: Support
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 11, 2020
COMMITTEE: Health & Government Operations Committee
House Bill 457
TITLE: Environment - Drinking Water Outlets in School Buildings - Testing for Elevated Level of Lead
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 19, 2020
COMMITTEE: Environment and Transportation
House Bill 502
TITLE: Public Information Act - Revisions
POSITION: Support with Amendments
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 11, 2020
COMMITTEE: Health & Government Operations Committee
House Bill 508
TITLE: Education - Public High Schools - Financial Literacy Curriculum and Graduation Requirement
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 14, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 515
TITLE: Public Schools - Staff Members - Report
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 14, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 548
TITLE: Career and Technology Education - Training in Soft Business Skills
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 14, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 617
TITLE: Public and Nonpublic Schools - Medical Cannabis - Policy for Administration During School Hours and Events
POSITION: Support with Amendments
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 19, 2020
COMMITTEE: Health and Government Operations
House Bill 675
TITLE: Education – Public Schools – Seizure Action Plans (Brynleigh Act)
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 21, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 717
TITLE: Public Information Act - Required Denials - Distribution Lists
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 11, 2020
COMMITTEE: Health and Government Operations
House Bill 718
TITLE: State Department of Education - Early Literacy and Dyslexia Practices - Guidance and Assistance
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 19, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 724
TITLE: Education - Public Charter Schools - Virtual Learning Programs
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 19, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 725
TITLE: Education - Public Schools - Instruction in Print and Cursive Handwriting
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 13, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 743
TITLE: Universal School Start Act of 2020
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 21, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 754
TITLE: Education - High School Graduation Requirements - Students in Foster Care or Homeless Youth
POSITION: Support with Amendments
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 19, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 846
TITLE: Public Schools - Reporting of Assaults, Crimes of Violence, and Felonies (Report Act of 2020)
POSITION:Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: March 4, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 981
TITLE: County Boards of Education - Therapy Dogs - Certification and Use in Schools
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: March 5, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 1005
TITLE: Education - Health and Safety of Students - Notification of Problematic Sexual Behavior
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 26. 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 1008
TITLE: Education - Child Abuse and Sexual Misconduct Prevention - Hiring Emergent Employees
POSITION: Support
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 26, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 1022
TITLE: Education - Alternative Schools - Reporting Requirements
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 26, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 1074
TITLE: Education - Collective Bargaining - Certificated Employees - Class Size
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 28, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 1075
TITLE: Public School Employees - Whistleblower Protection - Civil Actions
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 28, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 1092
TITLE: County Boards of Education - Payment Data - Disclosures
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 26, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 1098
TITLE: Use of Public Funds – Playground and Athletic Field Surfaces – Authorizations, Preferences, and Prohibitions (Safe and Healthy Fields Act)
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: March 4, 2020
COMMITTEE: Appropriations
House Bill 1157
TITLE: Education - Student Grades - Purposeful Misrepresentation
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 28, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 1173
TITLE: Public Schools - Student Meal Programs and Meal Charge Policies
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 26, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 1226
TITLE: Vehicle Laws - School Bus Safety - Occupant Capacity
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 28, 2020
COMMITTEE: Environment and Transportation
House Bill 1250
TITLE: Education – Length of the School Year – Declared State of Emergency (Kathryn Marie Carmello’s Law)
POSITION: Support
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 28, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 1292
TITLE: Public Schools - Special Education Classrooms - Use of Video Recording Devices
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 26, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 1295
TITLE: Public School Construction – School District Energy Use – Policy and Study
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: March 10, 2020
COMMITTEE: Appropriations
House Bill 1298
TITLE:County Boards of Education - Pregnant and Parenting Students - Policies and Reports
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 26, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 1300/Senate Bill 1000
TITLE: Blueprint for Maryland's Future - Implementation
POSITION: Support with Amendments
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 17, 2020
COMMITTEE: Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee
Senate Budget and Taxation Committee
House Ways and Means Committee
House Appropriations Committee
House Bill 1370
TITLE: State-Funded Construction and Major Renovation Projects - Solar Panels - Requirement
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: March 10,2020
COMMITTEE: Health and Government Operations
House Bill 1407
TITLE: Primary and Secondary Education – Student Discipline (Right to Teach Act of 2020)
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: March 4, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 1421
TITLE: Education - Advanced Courses - Automatic Enrollment
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: March 3, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 1422
TITLE: Public Schools - Redistricting - Community Advisory Committees For Student Assignment
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: March 4, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 1451
TITLE: School Bus Purchasing – Zero–Emission Vehicle – Requirement
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: March 4, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 1468
TITLE: Education - Student Behavior - Parent Notice and Required Counseling (Parent Accountability Act)
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: March 4, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 1499
TITLE: Education - Public High Schools - Financial Literacy Curriculum
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: March 4, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
House Bill 1513
TITLE: Public Schools - Health Services - County Boards of Education and Health Departments
POSITION: Support with Amendments
MABE Testimony
DATE: March 3, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means & Judiciary
House Bill 1557
TITLE: Public Schools - Health Services - County Boards of Education and Health Departments
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: March 3, 2020
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
Senate Bills
Senate Bill 34
TITLE: Consumer Protection - Scanning or Swiping Identification Cards and Driver's Licenses - Prohibition
POSITION: Support w/Amendments
MABE Testimony
DATE: January 29, 2020
COMMITTEE: Finance
Senate Bill 65
TITLE: Counties - Construction of Sidewalks and Crosswalks - Safe Alternative Routes to Public School
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: January 22, 2020
COMMITTEE: Education, Health , and Environmental Affairs
Senate Bill 78
TITLE: Public Schools - Student Discipline Regulations - Remedial Measures
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: January 22, 2020
COMMITTEE: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Senate Bill 241
TITLE: Maryland Healthy Working Families Act - Applicability
POSITION: Support
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 11, 2020
COMMITTEE: Finance
Senate Bill 258
TITLE: Public Schools - Electric Retractable Room Partitions - Operation Requirements
POSITION: Support with Amendments
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 4, 2020
COMMITTEE: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Senate Bill 267
TITLE: AP Opportunities Act of 2020
POSITION: Support with Amendments
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 4, 2020
COMMITTEE: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Senate Bill 275
TITLE: Education - Community and Local Accountability for Struggling Schools (CLASS) Act of 2020 - Innovation Schools
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 4, 2020
COMMITTEE: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Senate Bill 322
TITLE: Public Schools - Health Education - Gambling Dangers and Addiction
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 4, 2020
COMMITTEE: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Senate Bill 367
TITLE: State Department of Education - Guidelines on Trauma-Informed Approach
POSITION: Support
MABE Testimony
Date: March 3, 2020
COMMITTEE: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Senate Bill 371
TITLE: Environment - Drinking Water Outlets in School Buildings - Testing for Elevated Level of Lead
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 4, 2020
COMMITTEE: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Senate Bill 514
TITLE: Public Information Act - Required Denials - Distribution Lists
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 13, 2020
COMMITTEE: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Senate Bill 549
TITLE: Education - Public Schools - Seizure Action Plans (Brynleigh Act)
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: March 3, 2020
COMMITTEE: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Senate Bill 564
TITLE: Education - High School Graduation Requirements - Students in Foster Care or Homeless Youth
POSITION: Support with Amendments
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 18, 2020
COMMITTEE: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Senate Bill 575
TITLE: State Department of Education - Early Literacy and Dyslexia Practices - Guidance and Assistance
POSITION: Support
MABE Testimony
DATE: March 3, 2020
COMMITTEE: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Senate Bill 590
TITLE: Public Information Act - Revisions
POSITION: Support with Amendments
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 13, 2020
COMMITTEE: Education ,Health, and Environmental Affairs
Senate Bill 592
TITLE: State-Funded Construction and Major Renovation Projects - Solar Panels - Requirement
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 19, 2020
COMMITTEE: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Senate Bill 604
TITLE: Public and Nonpublic Schools - Medical Cannabis - Policy for Administration During School Hours and Events
POSITION: Support with Amendments
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 18, 2020
COMMITTEE: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Senate Bill 605
TITLE: Public Schools - Medical Cannabis - Guidelines for Administration to Students
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 18, 2020
COMMITTEE: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Senate Bill 695
TITLE: Education - Comprehensive Health Education Program - Skin Cancer
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
Date: March 3, 2020
COMMITTEE: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Senate Bill 783
TITLE: Special Education - Judicial Actions - Attorney's Fees and Related Costs
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 18, 2020
COMMITTEE: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Senate Bill 791
TITLE: County Boards of Education - Pregnant and Parenting Students - Policies and Reports
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: March 3, 2020
COMMITTEE: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Senate Bill 798
TITLE: Education - Juvenile Services Education System - Establishment, Powers, and Duties
POSITION: Support with Amendment
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 18, 2020
COMMITTEE: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Senate Bill 830
TITLE: Education - Alternative Schools - Reporting Requirements
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: March 3, 2020
COMMITTEE: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Senate Bill 992
TITLE: School Buildings - Drinking Water Outlets - Elevated Level of Lead (Safe School Drinking Water Act)
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 11, 2020
COMMITTEE: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Senate Bill 892
TITLE: Public Schools – Mathematics Credit – Computer Science or Computer Programming Course
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: March 3, 2020
COMMITTEE: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Senate Bill 894
TITLE: County Boards of Education - Computer Science Courses
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: March 3, 2020
COMMITTEE: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Senate Bill 983
TITLE: Education - Maryland Data Analysis and Accountability Program - Established
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 26, 2020
COMMITTEE: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Senate Bill 986
TITLE: Public Schools – Agricultural Education and Grant Programs
POSITION: Oppose
MABE Testimony
DATE: March 3, 2020
COMMITTEE: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Senate Bill 1000
TITLE: Blueprint for Maryland's Future - Implementation
POSITION: Support with Amendments
MABE Testimony
DATE: February 17, 2020
COMMITTEE: Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee
Senate Budget and Taxation Committee
House Ways and Means Committee
House Appropriations Committee
Calls to Action
As MABE monitors and takes positions on bills, any Calls to Action will be distributed electronically and posted as soon as possible. If you are not receiving MABE emails, please contact Jen Beltz, Director of Communications & Marketing.