Appropriations Committee approves wide package of bills, including permanent $10 million for UMD Capital Region Medical Center

The Appropriations Committee met for a short voting session and approved a package of bills by a mix of voice and roll‑call votes, including measures on school naloxone policies, library funding, higher‑education reporting and scholarships, and a permanent appropriation for the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center.

Delegate Smith, who sponsored multiple education and scholarship items, presented several proposals that the committee moved and passed. On library funding, the sponsor described House Bill 660 as an effort “to keep pace for our libraries,” saying the bill raises the per‑capita funding that will take effect beginning in fiscal 2028. That bill passed on a roll call with one recorded no vote; the clerk read individual member votes aloud.

Another public‑health measure, House Bill 222, would expand local school systems’ opioid‑overdose response policies to allow trained high‑school students to administer naloxone or other overdose medications and to permit local systems to keep records of trained students. The committee approved the bill by voice vote.

The committee also approved bills tied to higher education and workforce pathways. House Bill 900 and House Bill 919 expand scholarship and grant access for applicants pursuing PREA (practical applications of real estate appraisal) training and aim to diversify the appraisal field; MHEC will administer the grant program established by the legislation. Separately, House Bill 10 75 corrected scholarship eligibility to include certain graduate and professional programs.

On social services and child welfare, House Bill 768 removed minimum percentage rules for certain benefits used for children in Department of Human Services custody and—by amendment—directed creation of a foster youth savings program subject to funding availability; the amendments passed and the bill was approved.

One of the lengthier exchanges related to House Bill 15 40, which removes the sunset on a mandated appropriation for the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center. A committee member summarized the change as: “It just makes them get 10,000,000 every year.” Members added cosponsors by oral amendment and approved the bill on a roll call.

Several other bills cleared the committee with little debate, including House Bill 12 92 (child advocacy centers continuity of care standards) and House Bill 13 11 (requiring DPSCS to assist incarcerated individuals in accessing state student financial assistance in consultation with MHEC). The chair announced three bills at the end of the session (House Bill 9 10, House Bill 9 87, and House Bill 12 04) were unfavorable or withdrawn.

The committee completed its voting and adjourned; members were reminded of further budget work scheduled for the afternoon.