MFRW Legislative Update for 4-6-25

Linked is the MFRW Legislative Update for 4-06-2025.  

It has been a very discouraging Legislative Session.  The Majority Party and the State bureaucracy continue to erode local government authority and to centralize decision making power at the State level.  The lack of interest in, or concern for the views of citizens is palpable.  

Monday, April 7th at midnight is Sine Die.  The State Budget and Budget Reconciliation Financing Act are still pending a final vote.  Many additional fees and tax increases are included.  

HB 161 - Comprehensive Health Education Framework has been completely rewritten by the Senate Education, Energy and Environment Committee and passed by the Senate and concurred in by the House of Delegates.  It is now titled "County Boards of Education - Curriculum Guides and Courses of Study - Discrepancies."  It provides authority for the State Board of Education to withhold funds and impose penalties if a county board of education fails to correct a curriculum deficiency identified by the State Superintendent of Schools.

It appears to go beyond the Health Education Framework to include all subject curriculum guides and content standards.

Both the Maryland Department of Education and the Maryland Association of Boards of Education opposed HB 161 on the basis that it is unnecessary. Their testimony is linked above and provides the process they use for developing and adopting standards and frameworks.  It states that "MSDE, in partnership with a diverse cross-section of Maryland citizens, including parents, teachers, local education agency leaders, and associated content experts, is actively reviewing the state standards and frameworks related to this subject."  We need to ensure that there is a fair balance of views on these review panels.  

There are many pending issues including SB 828 - Immigration Enforcement - Sensitive Locations that has been amended to prohibit sheriff or police departments from participating in the 287g program (copied from HB 1222). The Senate will have to accept or reject these amendments.

Sincerely,

Ella Ennis

Legislative Chairman

Maryland Federation of Republican Women