Maryland bills could delay parts of the Blueprint, require phone‑free schools and create charter maintenance funding

Grace Wilson, director of legislation and policy for AACPS, presented a summary of the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session and its implications for the district.

Wilson said her office tracked 334 bills with potential impact on public education and that 41 bills affecting the board or AACPS passed and were sent to the governor. She highlighted Senate Bill 311 (which delays certain Blueprint for Maryland’s Future requirements, including postponing a national board certification requirement for administrators from 2029 to 2034 and suspending expert review teams for a school year to fund a state literacy program), House Bill 525 (the Joanne C. Benson Maryland Phone Free Schools Act, which requires county boards to adopt policies prohibiting student use of electronic devices during the academic day by 2027–28), House Bill 1326 (expanded disclosure of child abuse/neglect determinations to certain youth programs and employers) and House Bill 1430 (establishing dedicated state funding for public charter school maintenance and operations starting in 2028).

Wilson noted that the governor has until June 2 to act on the bills (sign, veto, or allow without signature) and that staff will monitor implementation details, including funding notes and required policy changes at the local level. One board member asked whether charter allocations would divert capital funds; Wilson said the bill represents a diversion of state maintenance funding away from county boards and that capital funding needs remain for traditional schools.

Why it matters: These bills — if enacted — will require local policy updates, may shift state‑to‑district funding flows, and will affect how AACPS writes and implements policies (for example, on student device use). The items Wilson flagged could change local budgeting priorities and require board‑level policy adoption or regulation updates.