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Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland Senate Bill 174 Caps State Board Appeals at 90 Days for School Official Removals
Last action · January 16, 2026: Hearing 2/04 at 2:00 p.m.Sponsors: Mary Beth Carozza and 2 others
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What This Bill Would Do
Maryland Senate Bill 174 requires the State Board of Education to complete appeals processes within 90 days when a county board removes a superintendent or a board member, starting July 1, 2026. The 90-day limit can be extended only if required by or to protect public health and safety.
Local school officials and s facing removal will have a fixed timeline for their appeals before the State Board of Education, altering how quickly employment and governance disputes are resolved.
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 superintendents
Subject to a statutory 90-day timeline for appeals concerning their removal by a county board of education.
County board of education members
Subject to a statutory 90-day timeline for appeals concerning their removal from the board.
State Board of Education
Required to administer and enforce the 90-day appeal limit for specified local official removals.
Key Facts
- The State Board of Education must establish an appeals process not exceeding 90 days for actions taken by a county board of education to remove a county superintendent or a county board member.
- The 90-day appeal limit can be exceeded if due process demands an extension or if the State Board determines an extension is necessary to immediately preserve public health or safety.
- Decisions made by the State Board regarding these disputes remain final.
- The Public Employee Relations Board retains jurisdiction to decide controversies or disputes arising under Title 6, Subtitle 4 or Subtitle 5 of the education article.
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- The act is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time limit for appeals regarding the removal of a county superintendent?
Under what conditions can the 90-day appeal limit be extended?
When does this legislation take effect?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently filed. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Committee.
Procedural history
3 actions- Jan 16, 2026SenateHearing 2/04 at 2:00 p.m.
- Jan 14, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
- Oct 31, 2025SenateIntroducedPre-filed
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- Significance45How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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