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Appropriations Committee hears a batch of funding bills on libraries, literacy, foster-youth protections and ombudsman funding
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Summary
The committee heard a wide set of bills: library and literacy funding proposals, protections for foster-youth benefits, long-term care ombudsman funding, appraisal pipeline bills and a proposed public-service loan-forgiveness program. Sponsors and stakeholders testified across panels.
The House Appropriations Committee’s multi-bill hearing included presentations and panels on dozens of items; committee members heard advocates, agency staff and local leaders on funding and policy measures affecting education, libraries, foster youth, nursing-home residents and state workforce incentives.
On literacy and school supports, Del. Stephanie Smith presented HB 12-77 to create the Maryland Institute for Literacy and Equity (MILE), a university partnership between the University of Maryland and Morgan State that would provide research, technical assistance and implementation support to spread evidence-based literacy practice. University and institute leaders described pilot work, K–12 partnerships and statewide school visits.
Libraries and the State Library Resource Center (SLRC) were the focus of HB 6-60, sponsored by Del. Dana Jones. SLRC leaders and library directors said flat funding has eroded services (broadband, databases, interlibrary loan) and asked for a small per-capita increase beginning FY28 to maintain partnerships, online resources and statewide delivery.
Long-term care advocates supported HB 6-71, introduced by Del. Emily Shetty, to provide a stable state funding stream for the Office of the Long Term Care Ombudsman. The sponsor described a personal experience that led her to support stronger ombudsman resources; the state ombudsman and legal-aid representatives outlined how the ombudsman responds to resident complaints and protects residents’ rights.
On child-welfare finance, several witnesses and legal advocates supported HB 7-68 to ensure federally entitled benefits for disabled and orphaned foster youth are conserved for the child’s direct support and not routinely used to reimburse the state. Testimony from the Children’s Advocacy Institute and legal-aid organizations described cases where children’s assets were frozen or used for state reimbursement, and they urged a favorable report with amendments that lower the fiscal note.
The committee also heard Black Caucus priority bills to address appraisal bias and build an appraisal pipeline (HB 900 and HB 919) presented by Del. Kim Taylor; academic partners and community groups backed scholarship and PREA grant programs to diversify the appraisal workforce.
Del. Tolles presented HB 19 to create a state public-loan-forgiveness program aimed at recruiting and retaining public-service employees; SEIU and other labor advocates urged support as a workforce-recruitment tool.
Committee members generally thanked advocates and asked staff for fiscal follow-up on cost estimates and implementation details; no final votes were recorded at the close of the hearing.
