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SB 764MARYLANDSession 2026State Billpassed chamber

Passed

Maryland Senate Bill 764 Sets $25 Hourly Minimum Wage for Education Support Staff by 2028 and Requires Cost Study

Original title: Education - Minimum Wage for Education Support Professionals - Report on Estimated Cost

Last action · March 23, 2026: Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m. (Ways and Means)Sponsors: Craig Zucker and 11 others

Companion · HB 1205same policy, House version

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

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What This Bill Would Do

Beginning July 1, 2028, county boards of education in Maryland are required to pay noncertificated s a minimum wage of at least $25.00 per hour. Prior to implementation, the State Department of Education must submit a comprehensive cost estimate report to the Governor and General Assembly by December 1, 2026. The Act takes effect July 1, 2026, and is set to sunset on June 30, 2027.

Why it matters

Local school systems face potential mandatory cost increases to raise support staff pay to $25 per hour, which may require adjustments to state funding formulas and local county education budgets.

Background

Education support professionals include noncertificated school personnel such as bus drivers, custodians, food service workers, and classroom assistants. context
State legislative measures addressing minimum wage floors for public school employees often require coordinated fiscal analysis between state agencies and local school boards. context

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.

Directly affected

Education support professionals

Noncertificated public school employees in nonsupervisory bargaining units will receive a guaranteed minimum wage of at least $25.00 per hour starting July 1, 2028.

Directly affected

County boards of education

Directly affected

State Department of Education

The department must conduct a wage study, calculate implementation costs, and submit a report to state leadership by December 1, 2026.

Key Facts

Beginning July 1, 2028, each county board of education must pay each education support professional a minimum wage rate of at least $25.00 per hour.
An education support professional is defined as a noncertificated public school employee designated as part of a nonsupervisory bargaining unit.
The State Department of Education must study staff wages and calculate the cost of implementing the $25.00 per hour minimum wage.
Cost calculations must include positions with an hourly wage of less than $25.00 and exclude positions already at or above $25.00.

Show all 8 facts

The department must identify the amount by which the target per pupil foundation amount needs adjustment to fund the wage mandate.
The State Department of Education must submit a cost estimate report to the Governor and General Assembly on or before December 1, 2026.
The State Board may adopt necessary regulations to carry out these provisions.
The Act takes effect July 1, 2026, and is abrogated and expires on June 30, 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who qualifies as an education support professional under this bill?

An is defined as a noncertificated public school employee who is part of a nonsupervisory bargaining unit.

When does the $25.00 per hour minimum wage take effect?

The minimum wage requirement takes effect on July 1, 2028.

What is the deadline for the State Department of Education's cost report?

The report estimating the total cost of implementing the wage rate must be submitted on or before December 1, 2026.

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Where This Stands

Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.

Procedural history

8 actions

Mar 23, 2026House
Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m. (Ways and Means)
Mar 21, 2026HouseCommittee
Referred Ways and Means Appropriations
Mar 20, 2026SenateFloor
Third Reading Passed (31-11)
Mar 19, 2026SenateFloor
Second Reading Passed with Amendments
Mar 19, 2026Senate
Favorable with Amendments { 193925/1 Adopted
Mar 19, 2026SenateCommittee
Favorable with Amendments Report by Budget and Taxation

Show 2 earlier actions

Feb 11, 2026Senate
Hearing 3/03 at 1:30 p.m.
Feb 6, 2026SenateIntroduced
First Reading Budget and Taxation

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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