Bill > SB923

This bill requires the Maryland State Department of Education to develop and periodically update a list of similar high school sports for boys and girls, with the first list to be created by September 1, 2025, in consultation with the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association. When categorizing sports as similar, the department will consider factors such as the season, rules, number of officials, type of officiating services, and competition time lengths. County boards of education must ensure that high school sports officials receive equal pay when they are performing similar officiating roles in sports categorized as similar. The bill mandates that county boards reject bids or proposals that would result in different pay for officials in similar sports and requires them to solicit bids for each sport within a reasonable time frame. The legislation clarifies that pay parity is only required within a single county and does not apply across different counties. Local school systems can extend existing procurement contracts for high school sports officiating services to align timelines for similar boys' and girls' sports, but these extensions cannot go beyond July 1, 2029. The bill will take effect on July 1, 2025, and will only apply to future procurement contracts.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0923?ys=2025RS