[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6615731,"mediaKeyId","2859090-00e194d16d4d6d6be88c1381de7e4398","parentId",2859090,"title","Committee amends and advances language-access bill requiring state oversight, equipment and funding plan","audioSeconds",1920,"startMs",604000,"endMs",2524000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2859090-00e194d16d4d6d6be88c1381de7e4398&start=604&end=2524","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2859090-00e194d16d4d6d6be88c1381de7e4398/thumbnail_604000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6615731/Maryland/Committee-amends-and-advances-language-access-bill-requiring-state-oversight-equipment-and-funding-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6615731-3cc78e33505a4d8636aab4f79f972a7f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201946&Signature=QOv1Cy0D0Oo9mKiQrOCBA-UDxzaIPVl56luFFh4v5QZILW~tNL0ZtoRv0M8GxYjgFiLgdoJZmhcsyiQyAaS8HWpumlvKrmDy7CRi3orEJ6EmoRDoFwUjjsjic4RJt4q5pFdEqzW6~jLBzG6v1F4k7oG4WGiwgz4ZNBSG7A3f~RF3GZd3PCc8V0jQa-xOTSHv62ca7Gw6N98BExW7Awk2s2yiVhKfc6R9qfx1MQgr2F20ZYps8~kYwYXnSjmZGcBBwdXUN2bRgXiMoEehyPDHL~pNWgNGATVClv4Y-v1P7zFM4AFuJU6kstU5jPcD8yZKXdS696Ur0GGnj~Wh4nFcZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Maryland General Assembly - Education, Energy and Environment","date","2025-04-03T00:51:49.217Z","article","The Senate Education, Energy and the Environment Committee on Wednesday amended and advanced House Bill 983, a language-access measure that would require the State Board of Elections to identify counties with a significant need for voting assistance in languages other than English and to require local boards in those counties to provide specified services.

The bill requires the State Board of Elections to publish by Jan. 1, 2026, a list of local boards that must provide language assistance and gives the state board oversight authority over the program. The amended version requires that, at each early voting center and Election Day polling place, a voter who needs language assistance “shall have the option to communicate with the election judge through a translator or a bilingual election judge.” The committee also added a requirement that the board “shall” adopt implementing regulations and clarified that American Sign Language (ASL) is covered where applicable.

Why it matters: Supporters said the measure fills gaps for voters who need non‑English assistance while preserving flexibility for counties and ensuring state oversight and funding coordination. Opponents raised concerns about potential unfunded mandates for small counties if counties were required to purchase licenses and hardware on their own.

Sponsor and what changed: Sponsor Senator Augustine described the bill as limited in scope — applying where a county’s citizen voting age population crosses statutory thresholds in the draft — and said he worked with the State Board and stakeholders to resolve technical problems. Vice Chair Senator Kagan pressed for clarifications on cost allocation, privacy when using video translators, treatment of ASL, and a phased-in schedule; the committee incorporated many of her changes into a modified Augustine amendment before voting.

State support, procurement and cost: Jared Demarinis, State Administrator of Elections, told the committee the State Board could purchase a single license (citing a $30,000 figure from a Prince George’s pilot) and make access available to counties; counties would pay a per-call usage fee (described in committee discussion as roughly 10¢ per call) and would be responsible for any local hardware needed for audio or video connections. Kevin Kennally of the nonprofit Mako, which worked on drafting and piloting the program, said stakeholders prefer the state hold the primary contract so counties are not forced to buy separate licenses.

Privacy and technology: Senators asked whether video-conference translators could pose privacy risks for voters, and whether rural polling places could reliably access video. The State Administrator said the system could work with audio-only and video, and the committee inserted language that gives counties flexibility and directs the State Board to adopt regulations to address operational details, including privacy to the extent practicable.

Implementation timing and pilot: The committee discussed an optional pilot for the 2026 gubernatorial cycle and full implementation in 2028. Senator Kagan proposed making participation optional in 2026 and mandatory in 2028 to allow counties and the state to collect data from early use. The final amendment preserved the bill’s threshold‑based trigger language while directing the State Board to write regulations and confirming that the state would pay the primary licensing costs.

Votes and next steps: The committee approved a modified Augustine amendment that incorporated many of the vice chair’s clarifications, then approved a separate Kagan amendment to add simplified ballot language (see separate roll-call on that amendment). Later the committee voted to pass the House bill as amended and to conform the Senate cross-file. Committee members directed the State Board to provide a written confirmation of funding and operational arrangements for the record.

What remains unresolved: Committee members asked for a short written explanation from Secretary Day and from the State Board of Elections on how funding, licensing and county hardware responsibilities will be handled in practice; the State Administrator agreed to provide that documentation for committee distribution.

Ending: The committee advanced the bill to the next stage with the expectation that staff will circulate the agreed clarifications in writing and that regulations will fill operational details.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","EEE Committee Session, 4/2/2025 #1","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Education, Energy and the Environment Committee on Wednesday amended and advanced House Bill 983, a measure that would create a state overseen language assistance program requiring identified counties to provide non‑English voting assistance and giving the State Board of Elections authority to publish required lists, approve signage and adopt regulations.","taxTitle","Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee, SENATE, SENATE, Committees, Legislative, Maryland","taxId",15092,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6615726,"Committee advances a package of bills; key votes and local measures recorded",0,4370000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2859090-00e194d16d4d6d6be88c1381de7e4398&start=4370&end=4370","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2859090-00e194d16d4d6d6be88c1381de7e4398/thumbnail_4370000.jpg","/articles/6615726/Maryland/Committee-advances-a-package-of-bills-key-votes-and-local-measures-recorded","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6615726-e15cdbd35ebcd059dae3b1185083e1e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201946&Signature=h~qFgpEO8n0YSVXMq0GTunztNzbpgqN45tx3GBCbAEX0SY4syPEdQ1lvzCFx3QSkQFHMm8M~Fi~kysOaVKqx99I5HJ4b5Um7Ie6XU75YGdod9kvxkZFZ08NbZLJMjkcssG137iULcJFEJOqWjabYFvtgbcz0TXK0-VvA-4kv~hYAgh4ocSLFBGPOMn9PPKFFGWCyFWZ6cxZTq9Us9I6-t7~i0cNpxzMv4oiKX3JKQ8IFmHdxwzDyuOX-utdEUJl7fQ3eviGNqwKkf2t5FpVke7An8vpJRv-lpjyO285FPgxzlm6TVqd7~I6YrPgumVTwGy1IjZVCSCGtYbWyx0sgww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Education, Energy and the Environment Committee processed a slate of departmental, local and policy measures Wednesday, approving multiple bills (several unanimously) and holding a few items for follow-up. Below are the committee’s recorded actions and outcomes for bills discussed on the floor today.

Votes at a glance

- House Bill 150 (child care staff ratio regulation authority): Motion to move favorable carried; roll call recorded a dissenting vote by Senator Galien. Result recorded as 10–1 in committee.

- House Bill 161 (education: framework for content standards compliance — amendment striking original bill and establishing state corrective authority and potential withholding for noncompliance): Committee adopted the substitute/striking amendment and passed the bill as amended. Final committee tally recorded as 6 yes, 3 no, 1 abstention.

- House Bill 480 (St. Mary’s County: county plan and sewer/water plan adjustments, local bill): Local delegation motion carried unanimously.

- House Bill 491 (St. Mary’s County Metropolitan Commission discontinuance and assessment authority, local bill): Passed unanimously.

- House Bill 1060 (Judicial and public safety service members definitions, cross file of Senate Bill 280): Passed on the list (committee concurrence recorded unanimously).

- House Bill 593 (public libraries AED requirement; Romano A. Russell Act): Committee adopted conforming amendment and passed the bill unanimously.

- House Bill 702 (publication of special education services for parentally placed private school students): Amendment adopted by committee; bill passed unanimously.

- House Bill 747 (on-site wastewater/septic inspections and pumping at sale and rental): Committee discussion lasted into the evening; committee elected to hold the bill for additional consideration (no final vote recorded in this session).

- House Bill 964 (Montgomery County Emery Grove task force; local bill): Amendment correcting historical society name adopted; delegation motion to move favorable carried unanimously.

- House Bill 1064 (Montgomery County Planning Board/WSSC open-meeting streaming exception for site visits): Motion carried unanimously.

- House Bill 1065 (Prince George’s County local appointment/Board of Appeals clarification): Motion carried unanimously in delegation session; committee concurrence carried.

- House Bill 1155 (definition of ecological restoration): Committee moved the bill forward as a consent item; unanimous.

- House Bill 1167 (Montgomery municipal building requirements local bill): Moved forward unanimously.

- House Bill 1195 (WSSC membership and reporting): Moved forward unanimously.

- House Bill 1230 (WSSC system development charge exemptions, Montgomery/Prince George’s): Local delegations presented and committee moved the bill unanimously.

- House Bill 1322 (boat carbon monoxide warning labels; Matthews’ Law, cross file of Senate Bill 1028): Committee adopted sponsor amendments to narrow applicability and remove penalties; the bill passed as amended unanimously.

- Senate Bill 673 (Maryland STEM program / teacher compensation at nonpublic schools): Committee adopted amendments (including nondiscrimination language) and advanced the bill.

Concurrences and conforming votes

The committee also recorded several technical concurrences and conforming votes to reflect House amendments to Senate cross-file bills; those concurrences were approved unanimously in committee.

What was held

- House Bill 747 (septic inspection/pumping at sale and rental): Committee members requested more information and several senators asked that the measure be held for further review rather than voted on Wednesday.

Next steps

Bills carried forward by the committee will be transmitted to the Senate floor or to follow-up committee as appropriate. For measures that were advanced with operational or funding questions (for example, the language-assistance bill and the STEM program), committee members requested written confirmations from the relevant agencies to clarify procurement, funding or regulatory authority before floor consideration.

Note on our reporting: Vote tallies shown reflect the roll calls recorded in the transcript; for several unanimous actions the committee recorded voice approvals without a roll call tally. If a roll-call number was recorded in the transcript, it is reflected above; if not, the outcome is summarized as unanimous or as \"carried\" per the clerk's announcement.","The Senate Education, Energy and the Environment Committee approved a range of departmental, local and policy bills during the session. Several measures passed unanimously; some recorded roll-call tallies are included below. One bill on septic inspections was held for additional consideration.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee amends and advances language-access bill requiring state oversight, equipment and funding plan

Committee advances a package of bills; key votes and local measures recorded