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Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland Requires Cost Justifications for School Service Contracts and Establishes New Training for Support Staff
Last action · April 13, 2026: Senate Requests House RecedeSponsors: Craig Zucker and 2 others
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What This Bill Would Do
Maryland mandates that county school boards submit cost-comparison calculations showing at least 20% savings before entering into s, while requiring the State Department of Education to develop a new professional development system for s and support professionals by July 1, 2027.
School districts face stricter financial hurdles to outsource support operations, and support staff receive mandatory, paid weekday training funded and designed at the state level.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
county boards of education
Must submit detailed cost comparisons, alternative considerations, and employee assistance plans before entering service contracts, and implement state-designed professional development.
paraeducators and other education support professionals
Receive access to a new paid system of professional development during weekday school hours and are covered by transition plans if affected by service contracts.
Key Facts
- County boards seeking a service contract must submit information demonstrating they considered alternatives such as reorganization and reevaluation.
- County boards must submit cost calculations showing that outsourcing will produce savings of at least 20% of the contract value over its duration, excluding savings from lower pay or fringe benefits.
- Cost comparisons must include direct costs, proportional indirect overhead, transition costs, and any additional internal costs.
- County boards must submit a formal plan of assistance for employees adversely affected by a service contract, including placement efforts and advance notification.
Show all 10 facts
- Service contracts are subject to State Department of Education audits for compliance with projected cost savings, with findings made public.
- The State Department of Education must design and develop a new system of paid professional development for paraeducators and support professionals during weekday school hours by July 1, 2027.
- The professional development system must include training on team collaboration, student health and safety, safe physical restraint, crisis de-escalation, and job-specific skills.
- The Department must consult with county boards and nonprofit organizations like the Maryland State Education Association when designing the training system.
- Each county board must provide the new professional development system to all employed paraeducators and education support professionals on or before June 30, 2028.
- The Act takes effect on July 1, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must a county school board prove before outsourcing a service contract?
When must the new professional development system be available for school support staff?
What else do you want to know?
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently passed both. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.
Procedural history
14 actions- Apr 13, 2026SenateSenate Requests House Recede
- Apr 13, 2026SenateFloorSenate Refuses Concur House Amendments
- Apr 13, 2026HouseFloorThird Reading Passed (102-35)
- Apr 11, 2026HouseFloorSecond Reading Passed with Amendments
- Apr 11, 2026HouseFavorable with Amendments { 863924/1 Adopted
- Apr 11, 2026HouseCommitteeFavorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means
Show 8 earlier actions
- Mar 24, 2026HouseHearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m.
- Mar 23, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred Ways and Means
- Mar 23, 2026SenateFloorThird Reading Passed (43-0)
- Mar 20, 2026SenateFloorSecond Reading Passed with Amendments
- Mar 20, 2026SenateFavorable with Amendments { 543425/1 Adopted
- Mar 20, 2026SenateCommitteeFavorable with Amendments Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
- Feb 10, 2026SenateHearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.
- Feb 6, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy45Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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