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Committee hears bill to streamline public service loan forgiveness certification and outreach
Summary
Supporters said House Bill 795 would require standardized PSLF materials, employer certification processes and clarify adjunct faculty eligibility to expand access to federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness; witnesses testified the bill carries a nominal administrative cost and federal government bears cost of loan forgiveness.
Delegate Ryan Speegle, sponsor of House Bill 795, told the Economic Matters Committee the measure would make it easier for public service employers and employees to access the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program by requiring standardized outreach materials, allowing employers to certify employees with the U.S. Department of Education, and clarifying eligibility rules for adjunct and non-tenure-track faculty.
"This bill ... helps public fees in Maryland get access to critical student loan relief through the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program by making three changes to the program in Maryland," Speegle said, describing required employer materials, certification processes and time-eligibility clarifications for adjunct faculty.
Multiple nonprofit and advocacy groups supported the bill. Amy Salata of the Student Borrower Protection Center said federal PSLF defines full-time as at least 30 hours per week and the rules provide flexibility to account for nonclassroom work by adjunct faculty; she noted prior implementation problems that produced a high rejection rate for early applicants. "By mandating that a multiplier be used to calculate hours worked, that qualifying employers certify employment in a timely fashion, and that employers and the ombudsman regularly share information on the PSLF program, this bill would ensure that those eligible for PSLF in Maryland get to reap the benefits of the program," Salata said.
Teneya Moore of the CASH Campaign of Maryland and Dr. Tisa Silver Kennedy of the Maryland Center for Collegiate Financial Wellness also urged favorable reports, citing outreach and employer-verification challenges that prevent eligible public servants from receiving federal relief. Dr. Kennedy described direct-assistance results from her organization's work; she said her team has helped public servants in Maryland eliminate more than $20 million in debt since 2022 and gave several beneficiary examples.
Sheriff John Carr of Prince George's County said the bill would assist recruiting and retention of public-safety staff by helping eligible employees access loan forgiveness.
Speakers emphasized the bill is focused on state-level certification and outreach; the actual loan forgiveness remains a federal program. Witnesses said the bill's fiscal note shows only nominal administrative impacts absorbable by existing resources, and the federal government would bear the cost of any forgiven loans.
No committee vote is recorded in the provided transcript excerpt.
