Bill > SB420

This bill requires public institutions of higher education in Maryland to collect and report data on students who are parents or legal guardians, including the ages of their children and the nature of their caregiving responsibilities, such as whether they are single parents or share responsibilities. The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) will develop the specific questions for this data collection and establish a common format and timeline for reporting. Additionally, all public higher education institutions must adopt a plan to support pregnant and parenting students, which will include referrals to on- and off-campus services for government assistance programs like WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children) and childcare scholarships, as well as information on adoption services, institutional accommodations, and a network of healthcare providers. These plans must be posted on the institutions' websites by October 1, 2026, and MHEC will submit a summary report of the collected student parental status data to legislative committees annually starting September 1, 2027.

Education

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0420?ys=2026RS