Legislation - HB0575

Title: Public Schools - Student Attendance - Excused or Discretionary Absences for Civic Engagement
Sponsored by: Delegates Wilkins, Addison, Coley, Ebersole, Feldmark, Mireku-North, Palakovich Carr, Pasteur, Patterson, Roberson, Vogel, Wims, and Young
Status: In the House - Passed Enrolled
Analysis: Fiscal and Policy Note (Revised)

Synopsis

Requiring each county board of education to adopt an attendance policy to excuse certain absences for civic engagement by public school students, subject to certain policies and procedures; clarifying that civic engagement may include testimony virtually or in person at a hearing of a public facing body, meeting with members of the public facing body, contributing to the consideration, development, or implementation of policy issues, or participation in the Maryland General Assembly Page Program; etc.

Committees

Original:: Ways and Means Click to view Recorded Media

Opposite:: Education, Energy, and the Environment Click to view Recorded Media

Committee Testimony

Witness List

Details

Bill File Type: Regular

Effective Date(s): July 1, 2026

History

Legislation History
Chamber House Calendar Date 1/28/2026 Legislative Date 1/28/2026 Action First Reading Ways and Means Proceedings
Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Text - First - Public Schools - Student Attendance - Excused Absences for Civic Engagement Proceedings
Chamber House Calendar Date 2/04/2026 Legislative Date 2/04/2026 Action Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m. Proceedings
Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Vote - House - Committee - Ways and Means Proceedings Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 3/19/2026 Legislative Date 3/19/2026 Action Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means Proceedings
Chamber House Calendar Date 3/19/2026 Legislative Date 3/06/2026 Action Favorable with Amendments {123323/1 Adopted Proceedings 43 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 3/19/2026 Legislative Date 3/06/2026 Action Second Reading Passed with Amendments Proceedings 43 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Text - Third - Public Schools - Student Attendance - Excused Absences for Civic Engagement Proceedings
Chamber House Calendar Date 3/20/2026 Legislative Date 3/08/2026 Action Third Reading Passed (114-16) Proceedings 45 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 3/23/2026 Legislative Date 3/06/2026 Action Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment Proceedings 45 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 3/26/2026 Legislative Date 3/26/2026 Action Hearing 4/07 at 1:00 p.m. Proceedings
Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Vote - Senate - Committee - Education, Energy, and the Environment Proceedings Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 4/13/2026 Legislative Date 4/13/2026 Action Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment Proceedings
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 4/13/2026 Legislative Date 3/25/2026 Action Favorable with Amendments {853224/1 Adopted Proceedings 64 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 4/13/2026 Legislative Date 3/25/2026 Action Second Reading Passed with Amendments Proceedings 64 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber Senate Calendar Date 4/13/2026 Legislative Date 3/26/2026 Action Third Reading Passed (43-1) Proceedings 65 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 4/13/2026 Legislative Date 4/01/2026 Action House Concurs Senate Amendments Proceedings 69 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 4/13/2026 Legislative Date 4/01/2026 Action Third Reading Passed (114-20) Proceedings 69 Click to view Recorded Media
Chamber House Calendar Date 4/13/2026 Legislative Date 4/01/2026 Action Passed Enrolled Proceedings
Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Text - Enrolled - Public Schools - Student Attendance - Excused or Discretionary Absences for Civic Engagement Proceedings

Chamber	Calendar Date	Legislative Date	Action	Proceedings
House	1/28/2026	1/28/2026	First Reading Ways and Means
			Text - First - Public Schools - Student Attendance - Excused Absences for Civic Engagement
House	2/04/2026	2/04/2026	Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m.
			Vote - House - Committee - Ways and Means	Click to view Recorded Media
House	3/19/2026	3/19/2026	Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means
House	3/19/2026	3/06/2026	Favorable with Amendments {123323/1 Adopted	43 Click to view Recorded Media
House	3/19/2026	3/06/2026	Second Reading Passed with Amendments	43 Click to view Recorded Media
			Text - Third - Public Schools - Student Attendance - Excused Absences for Civic Engagement
House	3/20/2026	3/08/2026	Third Reading Passed (114-16)	45 Click to view Recorded Media
Senate	3/23/2026	3/06/2026	Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment	45 Click to view Recorded Media
Senate	3/26/2026	3/26/2026	Hearing 4/07 at 1:00 p.m.
			Vote - Senate - Committee - Education, Energy, and the Environment	Click to view Recorded Media
Senate	4/13/2026	4/13/2026	Favorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
Senate	4/13/2026	3/25/2026	Favorable with Amendments {853224/1 Adopted	64 Click to view Recorded Media
Senate	4/13/2026	3/25/2026	Second Reading Passed with Amendments	64 Click to view Recorded Media
Senate	4/13/2026	3/26/2026	Third Reading Passed (43-1)	65 Click to view Recorded Media
House	4/13/2026	4/01/2026	House Concurs Senate Amendments	69 Click to view Recorded Media
House	4/13/2026	4/01/2026	Third Reading Passed (114-20)	69 Click to view Recorded Media
House	4/13/2026	4/01/2026	Passed Enrolled
			Text - Enrolled - Public Schools - Student Attendance - Excused or Discretionary Absences for Civic Engagement

File Code

Subjects

Statutes