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Ways and Means advances a slate of education, tax and program bills; several concurrences approved

Ways and Means Committee · April 10, 2026

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Summary

The Ways and Means Committee on April 9 approved concurrences and moved multiple bills favorable, including HB363 (local government grant), HB525 (student device policy), HB297 (adult education diploma pathways), SB508, HB1028/SB705 and SB204 as amended.

The Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Janelle Wilkins, moved a number of cross‑filed and standalone measures forward during its April 9 voting session, approving concurrences on several House bills and advancing multiple Senate and House bills to a favorable recommendation.

Wilkins opened the session and read a list of concurrence and non‑concurrence items before taking individual votes. The committee concurred with House Bill 363 (local government grant for recipients of the state child tax credit), with Wilkins moving to concur and a colleague seconding the motion. She also led concurrence votes on HB525 (county boards of education student electronic communication device use policy), HB297 (adult education high school diploma pathways) and HB936 (Montgomery County local food procurement), all of which passed on voice votes.

The panel moved Senate Bill 508 (alterations to the Somerset County Board of Education) favorable after a brief summary from Delegate Delia Ebersole, and approved HB1028 and its cross‑file SB705, which increase compensation for members of the Caroline County Board of Education with delegation approval. Senate Bill 204, establishing the Maryland Civic Excellence Program and amended to add a capstone project to align with House Bill 57, was amended and moved favorable as amended.

Several items were recorded as non‑concurrences, including HB1154 (open meetings act changes) and HB175 (income tax credit for venison donation); the transcript records two members — Delia Hartman and Delia Long — opposed on HB175. The committee also held House Bill 1254 for later consideration.

The committee completed its business with a note that one appropriations secondary concurrence remained to be resolved, thanked members for their work and adjourned with plans to resume votes the next day.

Actions at a glance: HB363 — concurrence approved; HB525 — concurrence approved; HB297 — concurrence approved; HB936 — concurrence approved; HB546 — concurrence approved; HB1154 — motion not to concur approved; HB175 — motion not to concur approved (recorded opposition from Delia Hartman and Delia Long); SB508 — favorable; HB1028 / SB705 — favorable; SB204 — amended and favorable; HB1254 — held.

The committee did not record detailed roll‑call tallies for most votes in the transcript; when individual members were recorded as opposed, they are noted above. The committee will resume voting on remaining items at a later session.