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Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland Bill Requires Airway Clearing Devices in Every Public School and Authorizes Staff Use
Last action · January 16, 2026: Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m.Sponsor: Johnny Salling
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What This Bill Would Do
s of education in Maryland must establish policies ensuring every public school obtains at least one portable and authorizes school nurses and trained staff to use it during choking emergencies, starting July 1, 2026.
School nurses and personnel responding in good faith receive protection from personal liability for acts or omissions during choking emergencies, except in cases of willful or grossly negligent conduct.
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.
Public school students
Students gain access to portable airway clearing devices in school eating areas during choking emergencies.
School nurses and personnel
Staff members are authorized to use airway clearing devices, subject to training requirements, and receive liability protections for good faith responses.
County boards of education
County boards must establish policies for purchasing devices, storing them, training staff, and reporting incidents.
State Department of Education
The department must create and distribute a standard incident reporting form and collect reports from public schools.
Key Facts
- Each county board of education must establish a policy requiring public schools to obtain at least one airway clearing device per school.
- School nurses and designated school personnel are authorized to use the device during choking emergencies.
- Devices must be stored primarily in areas where students or school personnel eat.
- School nurses and personnel must receive training on recognizing choking symptoms and operating the device.
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- Responding personnel acting in good faith are protected from personal liability unless their actions constitute willful or gross negligence.
- The State Department of Education must develop and disseminate a standard incident reporting form for public schools.
- Public schools must report each incident requiring an airway clearing device to the State Department of Education.
- The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is authorized to use the airway clearing devices in schools?
Where must the airway clearing devices be stored in schools?
Are school employees legally protected if something goes wrong during an emergency response?
How will choking incidents involving the devices be tracked?
What else do you want to know?
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 2/18 at 1:00 p.m.
- Jan 14, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
- Sep 12, 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- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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