Bill > HB140

This bill modifies how vacancies are filled for elected and appointed members of County Boards of Education and the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners. For elected members of County Boards of Education, if a vacancy occurs 55 or more days before the candidate filing deadline for the primary election in the second year of a term, the successor will be elected in the next general election. However, if the vacancy occurs 54 days or less before that deadline, or if no candidates file, the remaining board members will select a qualified individual to fill the vacancy. This selection process involves advertising the vacancy, reviewing resumes, conducting livestreamed interviews, and holding a public vote. For appointed members of County Boards of Education, vacancies will be filled using the board's existing appointment method and must be filled within 60 days. For the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners, vacancies for both appointed and elected members will now be filled according to the general procedure outlined for County Boards of Education. Across various counties, the bill replaces specific, often lengthy, procedures for filling vacancies with a standardized reference to the general vacancy filling process outlined in Section 3-106 of the Education Article, simplifying and unifying these procedures. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Budget and Finance

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0140?ys=2026RS