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Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland expands college tuition exemption eligibility for former foster youth by lowering age requirement
Last action · May 26, 2026: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 785Sponsor: Alonzo Washington
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What This Bill Does
Senate Bill 864 expands eligibility for Maryland's public higher education tuition exemption by lowering the age threshold from 13 to 8 for certain former foster care recipients. Beginning July 1, 2026, individuals who resided in an on or after their 8th birthday for at least one year and were subsequently placed into guardianship, adopted, or reunited with a parent will qualify.
Qualifying foster youth gain exemption from all tuition at Maryland public colleges and universities if enrolled before turning 25 and pursuing a vocational certificate, associate's degree, or bachelor's degree.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Foster care recipients
Qualify for public higher education tuition exemptions at an earlier out-of-home placement age threshold.
Public institutions of higher education
Must exempt eligible foster care recipients from paying tuition regardless of scholarships or grants.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for the expanded tuition exemption under Senate Bill 864?
When does this law go into effect?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
13 actions- May 26, 2026Governor of MarylandEnrolledApproved by the Governor - Chapter 785
- Apr 13, 2026SenateFloorReturned Passed
- Apr 13, 2026HouseFloorThird Reading Passed (137-1)
- Apr 9, 2026HouseFloorFavorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
- Apr 9, 2026HouseCommitteeFavorable Report by Appropriations
- Mar 26, 2026HouseHearing 3/31 at 1:00 p.m.
Show 7 earlier actions
- Mar 21, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred Appropriations
- Mar 20, 2026SenateFloorThird Reading Passed (41-0)
- Mar 19, 2026SenateFloorSecond Reading Passed
- Mar 19, 2026SenateFloorFavorable Adopted
- Mar 19, 2026SenateCommitteeFavorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
- Feb 10, 2026SenateHearing 3/11 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- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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