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Bill would create Maryland AI partnership inside University System to coordinate research, training and equity work

Appropriations Committee · March 26, 2026

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Summary

SB 597 would place a Maryland Artificial Intelligence Partnership within the University System of Maryland to coordinate AI research, tech extension hubs, an AI fellowship, and an incubation lab; witnesses from UMBC and USM praised the proposal and urged a favorable report.

Senator Katie Fryhester told the committee that Senate Bill 597 would create a centralized Maryland Artificial Intelligence Partnership housed in the University System of Maryland to align AI research, workforce training and industry collaboration. The senator said the FY27 budget includes $500,000 to seed the partnership and that the bill passed the Senate unanimously.

"Maryland currently lacks that centralized hub to coordinate, align, and accelerate artificial intelligence activities," the senator said, citing examples of other states that have created AI nexus centers. The bill establishes tech extension hubs modeled on agricultural extension services, an AI public-service fellowship to place students with state agencies, and positions the Center for Equitable Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning at Morgan State University as a statewide research resource.

Anupam Joshi, vice provost and chief AI officer at UMBC, urged the committee to support SB 597 and described UMBC and USM assets that could be scaled through the partnership, including cyber ranges, data-literacy work and red-teaming of state AI applications. Michael Eisemeier, USM associate vice chancellor for IT, said the system’s statewide structure is suited to serve as a backbone for hubs and the proposed incubation lab and that USM supports the bill.

Witnesses emphasized workforce and equity aims—extending training to small businesses and local governments and expanding pipelines into AI roles—while the sponsor noted a Department of IT amendment clarifying that agency’s role. No committee vote is recorded in the transcript.