Bill > HB1278

This bill establishes the Maryland Positive Youth Development Commission within the State Department of Education to oversee grant awards to eligible organizations that provide "positive youth development programming," which are structured, evidence-based activities for youth (birth through 25 years old) that include adult mentors and family engagement, and are offered outside regular school hours. The bill also creates the Maryland Positive Youth Development Fund, a special, nonlapsing fund that will receive money from various sources, including judgments or settlements against social media companies found to have harmed youth, and any interest earned on the fund will be added back to it. The Commission will be responsible for setting up a grant process, awarding funds to eligible organizations like community groups, local governments, and schools, and monitoring the effectiveness of these programs, with a requirement for meaningful youth involvement in its work. The bill also specifies that the fund can be used for administrative costs related to legal actions against social media companies, the administration of the commission and its grants, and primarily for grants to support youth development programs, with the stipulation that this funding is meant to supplement, not replace, existing funding. The establishment of these provisions is contingent on the state receiving funds from a settlement or judgment against a social media company related to harm to children, and the bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, unless certain conditions are not met by June 30, 2030.

Budget and Finance

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB1278?ys=2026RS