Appropriations Committee approves bills on higher education goals, Carroll County bond, new social agency, child advocacy standards and paid family leave

The Maryland House Appropriations Committee voted during a committee meeting to approve a package of bills affecting higher education goal-setting, county bond authority, a new state agency focused on economic mobility, standards for child advocacy centers and a technical conformity change to the state paid family leave program.

The measures were all approved by roll call and recorded votes were read aloud for each bill.

House Bill 762: higher education goals Delegate Smith, sponsor, described House Bill 762 as “a departmental bill that repeals statutory goals regarding postsecondary degree attainment. Instead the Maryland Higher Education Commission must set higher education goals for the state.” The committee adopted one amendment that struck the bill’s requirement to set goals for research and innovation; the amendment passed on voice vote. The bill passed on roll call; the ayes were recorded and the motion carried.

House Bill 833: Carroll County general obligation bonds Delegate Smith described House Bill 833 as a local Carroll County delegation bill that authorizes the county commissioners to issue up to $36,900,000 in general obligation (G.O.) bonds for acquisition of buildings, facilities and public works projects. There were no amendments. The bill was moved, seconded and passed on roll call.

House Bill 1253: Department of Social and Economic Mobility (speaker's bill) Delegate Smith described House Bill 1253 as the speaker's bill that establishes a renamed agency, to be called the Department of Social and Economic Mobility, with a mandate to focus on small and disadvantaged businesses and to create a small business support program and tracking. Two amendments were adopted (one technical; a second adding small-business provisions and clarifying departmental structure). The bill passed on roll call with recorded yes and no votes.

House Bill 1480: child advocacy center standards Delegate Shetty presented House Bill 1480, which requires that an individual providing medical or mental health services at a Child Advocacy Center be licensed or certified by the appropriate health occupations board and provide services within the scope of that license or certification, and requires each Child Advocacy Center to establish a continuity-of-care plan. A second amendment replaced the Department of Human Services with the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy (GOCAP) as the entity for reporting complaints and establishing standards, and clarified the standards apply to both employees and contractors of centers. In response to a question from Delegate Thalia Schindler, the sponsor said the bill's language was developed with the Maryland Children's Alliance and that the association's remaining stated opposition was rooted in their view that the problem is minimal ("they don't believe this is a problem because there have only been 2 instances of indicated potential violations of cases that violate their own standards"). The amendment and the bill passed on roll call.

House Bill 1503: paid family leave technical conforming changes Delegate Solomon described House Bill 1503 as a departmental, largely technical bill aligning the state's paid family leave program for state employees with the broader paid family leave program that will apply to non-state employees. He said the bill also prevents duplicate employer contributions and will take effect July 1, 2026, under the amendment that replaces the Department of Budget and Management with the employees appointing authority as an administrative lead. Two amendments were adopted and the bill passed on roll call.

Votes at a glance - HB 762: Passed (amendment adopted); roll call recorded. - HB 833: Passed; roll call recorded. Authorizes up to $36,900,000 in G.O. bonds for Carroll County. - HB 1253: Passed (two amendments adopted); establishes the Department of Social and Economic Mobility and a small-business support program. - HB 1480: Passed (two amendments adopted); requires licensed providers and continuity-of-care plans at Child Advocacy Centers and designates GOCAP for reporting. - HB 1503: Passed (two amendments adopted); technical changes to conform paid family leave rules and adjusts administrative responsibility and effective date.

Committee business and next steps Committee leadership said a short voting session may be scheduled the following morning; otherwise the committee adjourned.