Ways and Means Committee advances consent calendar and clears five House bills, including education board changes

The Ways and Means Committee voted late Wednesday to advance a six‑bill consent calendar and to move favorable on five individual House bills, concluding a late session that the committee chair said would reduce the need for early‑morning meetings the next day.

Delegate Buckle moved to package House Bills 783, 889, 1050, 1224, 1232 and 1330 as a consent calendar and the committee voiced no objections. The chair announced the suite of bills "moved forward from the Ways and Means Committee."

Delegate Eversol presented amendments to HB 828, which would add an educational support personnel (ESP) seat to the Maryland State Board of Education elected by ESPs statewide. "This bill alters the membership of the Maryland State Board of Education by requiring that one member be an educational support personnel," Delegate Eversol said, adding that the ESP member may attend and participate in executive sessions but would be barred from voting on appeals related to suspension or dismissal of teachers and principals. Amendments that clarified voting thresholds and confirmed the change would…